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You want to move to Spain and wish to know whether you can take your vintage Bentley with you. The answer is a simple yes and any other car you may have can be taken and used on Spanish roads.
By virtue of the fact that the vehicle has been purchased “tax paid” in the EU there are no import taxes or other duties but you will have to pay the fee for Spanish plates. |
On such a car as we have mentioned this is likely to be very little because of its age but on an average car the cost is likely to be around 700 – 1500 Euros - a significant sum of money for what is little more than an administration exercise. There is a way around this but it may not prove too useful for those wishing to live permanently in Spain and have full, year round access to their vehicle.
Any vehicle may be imported into Spain for a period of six months and used but at the expiry of this time must either be removed from the country for a period of six months or "bonded".
Bonding is simply a system of having the police visit you and attach seals to your vehicle so as to prevent its use. Breaking the seals and using the vehicle can have serious financial and other consequences. When the six months is up you may again use your vehicle for a further six months and so on. In the case of a prized Bentley or similar, the need to bring this with you is understood but if you are looking for a vehicle to serve you well on Spain’s roads, then one with the steering wheel on the right hand side is unlikely to be it. It is not at all uncommon to see a RHD vehicle which has been involved in an accident, either because of overtaking difficulties or because they have turned the wrong way into a road. The sooner you are behind the wheel of a LHD vehicle, the safer you will be. We can help you find appropriate transport be it new or used and at the best possible prices. If you require this service, just ask.
There are other problems apart from safety such as the difficulty experienced by drivers in trying to enter car parks, where a ticket has to be selected from the left hand side of the car or dealing with a traffic officer who having stopped you, embarrasses himself by asking your wife why she was driving so fast before realising that the steering wheel is on the other side of the vehicle. In Spain left is best - and far safer.
Spanish roads are generally superb. Smooth, fast, no speed cameras – (although it is said they are on their way) driving is a joy. Minor roads may not be up to the same standards but the significant road network is and you will notice the difference immediately. Over the past 35 years, Spanish driving standards have risen quite a lot. The habit of supplying all vehicles with the horn “hot-wired” to the battery so as to sound constantly has long since been abandoned but notwithstanding this impressive progress, Spanish drivers suffer five times more accidents than do UK drivers. A figure made worse by the realisation that the UK has a population which is 20 million greater than Spain’s. |
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The main problem with Spanish drivers seems to be their intense dislike of anything in front of them. Most will make every effort to overtake at every opportunity. Particularly annoying is that a significant percentage do not indicate, particularly at traffic islands, which leads to them cutting across other vehicles. Of those who do indicate, it is not at all unusual to see some of them go in any direction apart from the one they are indicating.
On the motorways it is not unusual to see high speed streams of traffic poorly spaced. As bad as this is, if your own driving is good you can avoid most of the problems you are likely to encounter. If beside you, Pepe is bouncing the valves in his Fiat 500, let him pass - it’s much safer and besides which, it gives him his “daily rush” and makes him happy! First to the next red light or first to the next accident is a saying which many Spaniards, especially the young are not aware of.
In case of accident or breakdown, all cars driving on Spanish roads are required to carry two red and white warning triangles, a yellow or orange day-glow jacket for any person outside of the vehicle and all documentation relating to the vehicle which includes the circulation permit, M.O.T. (I.V.A.) and insurance.
Failure to do so results in over the top fines which have been reported to be in excess of 600 Euros. If you are a foreigner, you must carry your I.D. card and if British, your passport. If you wear glasses for the purpose of correcting your vision,Spanish law requires that you must also carry a spare pair. Failure to do so could result in another O.T.T. fine, although you are unlikely to be troubled by the police unless your driving draws attention to you.
Car tax varies in price all over Spain, each autonomy setting its own rate. However, on average, car tax is around 40 – 75 per cent cheaper than is the case in the UK depending upon the type of vehicle you drive and its age. Since oil prices topped $140 per barrel prices in Spain for both petrol and diesel have now risen to around €1.22 per litre but are still noticeably cheaper than the UK.In actual fact, it's very difficult to compare prices between the two countries now because the British pound has slipped so much against the Euro. Tyres are also cheaper. New cars are cheaper than in the UK but second hand cars hold their price for an unbelievable amount of time. |
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Many people building their own house ask for a garage to be included. It’s worthwhile noting that the vast majority of people do not bother to garage their cars, the climate not calling for it. Car ports which shield the car from the sun may be just as effective as a garage and certainly far cheaper. However, unlike a car port, a garage offers security for your car as well as a place for storage.
