The Crazy Guy recently completed the process of importing a UK vehicle to Spain and re-registering it onto Spanish number plates.
Much to his surprise he found it extremely straightforward.
When I decided to buy a UK vehicle here in Spain, I knew I needed to re-register it as soon as possible. I asked some friends who’d already done this and they referred me to companies on the coast that do it for you for a pretty hefty fee.
I decided that I probably didn’t need to waste money I didn’t have so I decided to do it myself with the help of a gestor.
Irene, the gestora, told me what I needed to do and how much each stage of the process would cost. Once I’d completed the process, I just needed to bring all the paperwork in and she would deal with tráfico in Málaga. All for a fee of just 80 euros!
This is what I had to do:
Get an independent engineer’s report (una ficha técnica reducida). She gave me the phone number of a local engineer, Natale, and told me it would cost 110€.
It cost…110€.
I had to get the headlights changed, as it is a right-hand-drive vehicle. My neighbour Antonio, a car mechanic, did that for 380€.
Next, I had to go to the ITV station to request an inspección técnica de vehículos, like a super strict MOT. A few days later I was contacted with an appointment. They did the test. It passed. 150€.
I returned to Irene, my gestora, and gave her all the paperwork. A week later I was contacted to be told everything was in order with tráfico in Málaga. I just needed to pop into the office to pay some tax and the gestora’s fee.
A few days later I was summoned again to collect my new placas, number plates. Bob’s your uncle! My car was now Spanish and legal.
Here’s my final bill:
Ficha técnica reducida €110- Change of headlights €380
- ITV €150
- Import tax €600
- Gestora fee €80
TOTAL €1,320
Please note:
My vehicle was imported to Spain before the UK left the EU. From 1 January 2021 onwards, you have to pay import duty on top.
Tags:
car registration, change of headlights, ficha técnica reducida, gestor, import a foreign vehicle, import tax, independent engineer’s report, inspección técnica de vehículos, ITV, re-register a foreign vehicle, van, VW Transporter