Moving back to UK, can I take my spanish car?

Hi,
I have a great car in Spain, but as you all know there is no work in Spain right now and I am moving back to the UK. I have a really nice car and I dont really want to buy another car in the UK, so I want to take my Spanish registered and purchased car to the UK. Does anyone know what I have to do and what the situation is in terms of my registration, breakdown cover and insurance? I would rather not have to register the car again in the UK as it is already two years old - but I am worried that if I do not do that I will not be allowed to have breakdown cover or insurance.

Any help would be great!
Vince

Veronica Alicia

You can, of course, bring your car back; as for Registration, etc., why not contact the AA (Automobile Association) or even the DVLA, if you don't get a definitive answer here.

rose1

Sorry to hear you're leaving us............but yeah after 17 years here in Spain it has crossed my mind too:(
I only know that I have a Spanish license and when I returned for a while 2 years ago, I was told by alot of insurance companies in the UK that they could only insure me for a year before I would have to change my license for a UK one. Don't ask me why as we are in the EU etc etc.
Why not drop the DVLA a line and ask them, they will be able to help I am sure.

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/

I wrote to them recently regarding my license and they were very good.
I looked on their website and wasn't sure if it would cost me to get a UK license if I had had one years ago (17 years). Apparently not, it's free!! Bl@@dy hell something free from the UK government........normally they charge you for everything........

Alternatively ask the RAC they will also tell you about your breakdown cover etc

http://www.rac.co.uk/web/

Good luck if you go back

dinner nanny

I have some friends who came over from the Netherlands and they could keep their car here on Dutch registration, MOT and insurance for 12 months and then had to register/ insure/ MOT in England after that. Hope that helps

photog

You will effectively have to "import" the car into the UK.
In practice this will mean having it registered in the UK and getting UK plates etc.

J G

All you need to know;
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/index.htm

The only thing you should need to do other than register it is to swap the headlights for RHD ones prior to the car's first MOT.

As above, you can use the car on Spanish plates in the UK for twelve months.

Michael S

Hi Vince,
You can import your car to the UK. Make sure that your insurer knows you are driving in the UK. Remember though, your headlights will illuminate the wrong way! Use your mirrors more and use signals more since you will be on the wrong side of road! Have a safe journey home. If you intend keeping the car though, remember to obtain UK plates, MoT will be needed if the car is more than 3 years old and insurance will need to be changed. The legal stuff applies if you intend to permanently move to the UK.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: