How much to change British car to Spanish plates please?

Question

Car is 13 years old and we've been told that by law it should not cost any more than 250 euros. . . one place has quoted 900. . . anyone else with similar stories and is this another "rip off" because we're Brits!!!!

Answer 1

i changed mine to spanish plates cost 530 euros but the hassle its not worth it and dont listen to all this cr##p about getting them an mot here all you get it a check to tell the owner that it would pass an mot. At the moment in malaga some 50 forien regestred cars are being conficated a week for not having legal documentaion for the counrty of registration to be honest your better buying a spanish car at least you will be sat on the right side of it when driving

Answer 2

don't bother, if you are planning to become a resident, by a spanish plated car. changing them from a UK reg sometimes can cost more than the car is worth.

Answer 3

NigelS is right. I have heard of people being charged arond 500e. But why bother to change, sell the UK right hand drive and get yourself a Spanish car after all you are living in Spain and every carpark, motorway and electronic gateway will have the ticket entry on the left.

I never understand Brits who still have a UK car unless you regularly return to the UK and will use it there aswell. Apart from that it makes you stand out as being a foreigner and a target for rip off merchants and thieves if it's parked outside your house. I have lived in Spain 16 years and never lived in a Brit community or driven a UK plated car (at least after the first 6 months anyway) I have translated at alot of police stations for  victims of crime here, but you don't have to take my advice of course. (By the way not all the rip off merchants you will meet are Spanish.....there are more Brits who take advantage of other Brits coming to Spain and rip them off. )People trust their own and sometimes that is a big mistake unfortunately. Good luck

By law, after you have registered on the electoral role at your local town hall you MUST change them within 90 days. Of course if you don't own property in Spain and are not on the electoral role you can do what you like.

Answer 4

leave it as it is i drive a British car you can get inurance and MOTS here so why spend the money. the other way is to sell ot over here as there are plenty of people advertising and then buy a left hand drive.

the 3 month thing mentioned above is that you can only have your car outside of britain under the insurance policy that you brought the car over on.

as for residencia there is no legal need to do it now as you automatically get it now after 6 yrs, no need to apply, although you still can

Answer 5

Hola

My dad had his 10 year old BMW 728i changed to Spanish plates 2 months ago and cost €1310.

Import tax on a 10 year old 7 series BMW - €780

Re-registering - €450

Suma / Road tax - €80

He also had to buy new Headlights because his couldn't be altered to point the correct way so it might be worth going to ur garage to see if ur's can be altered.

The MOT in Spain is called an ITV if they find something wrong with ur car u will need to get that fixed before they will put ur car on Spanish plates.

It is true that a lot of English drive round on their English plates but if u are stopped by the Guardia Civil they will give u 6 months to have the car changed over and if u don't they will issue u with a big fine.

My dad had his car changed at a local garage (a Welsh Company) called MVM it might be worth having a look at their website and contacting them for a quote - www.quesadalife.com/catrallife/

they have a front advert.

I honestly don't think €900 is a rip off.

I hope this helps.

Answer 6

Don't change the plates. Lots of people drive English cars here and now you can get them a mot here it's not a problem.

Answer 7

No its not a rip off because your Brits, I moved here from the UK ,8 years ago, And thought about bringing my car, Believe me its  more economical to sell your car in the UK , and buy one here. with a 13 year old car it will cost more to re register it here than its value.250 euros is for the change of registration, but there are more hidden costs, you have to pay the Guardia Civil Traffic, for a cert, plus one to the local council, also the insurance will be much higher because it is RHD.

Answer 8

Warning: Do not take the advice of StephenHarris! Not only is it illegal to drive a car registered in another country if you are have spanish residency (which you should be if you stay longer than 90 days), if you are unfortunate to be involved in an accident with someone who has not proper / adequate documentation (ie a REAL MoT), the insurance company will probably not pay out!  Perhaps the wide boys who view the spanish law with such contempt should return to their motherland......

PS I changed my plates with an excellent german lady organising everything. Cost about 500€. With hindsight it would have been better to buy a car here but circumstances were difficult and it made sense for me to keep the english car that was and (fingers crossed) is still running well.