Take a lot of care

Driving in Spain can be quite "interesting" at times to say the least.  If you're planning to drive down to Spain or just wondering about licences, ITV (Spanish MOT) certificates, etc, then post your questions here, or any useful comments that others will find of interest.

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When we go over this October it will be the second time I would have hired a car and driven over in Spain. The first time I drove I was unaware of some of the regulations regarding driving, for example; I wear glasses to drive, by Spanish law you need to have a second pair with you in the car or so I was told.

Are there other rules that are applicable to Spanish driving, maybe the EoS team or someone who regularly drives in Spain could shed light on the rules of driving in Spain.

Thanks, Sping…..

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I'm not sure if this applies to Spain or France (or both, in fact), but we just drove from Paris to Duquesa and back and every time we saw a breakdown on the road, we saw the people put on yellow (fluorescent, I believe) jackets. I read something in our car hire literature that they were required to be carried in the car, but as I said am not sure whether it applied to Spain, France or both countries. One of the hire car firms websites should enlighten you - Avis has alot of online information about different country requirements.

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Yes, you are required by law to carry yellow fluorescent jackets in the car in Spain.

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you also need warning triangles and a full set of spare bulbs.Its worth checking hire cars but you will find most items are "missing" with most hire companies.

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If these items are a legal requirement, are the hire companies liable for not supplying them or does it fall to the driver to make sure we have all the required bits and pieces??

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The hire companies tend not to bother putting the required items in the cars such as jackets, two warning triangles, spare bulb kit etc because they either get stolen or lost and it is cheaper for them to pay the cost of the fine than it is to stock the cars with all the requirements as well. If you hire a car here it is worth mentioning to the company that the legal requirements are missing as they most likely will be when you pick up the car, to get an undertaking from them that they will cover the cost of the fine if you get nicked. The police in Marbella and surrounding areas have become a lot hotter of late on things like seatbelts and mobile phones and an on the spot fine is 140€ but if paid immediately is discounted to 90 to 100. If you are driving on a UK licence this has to be paid immediately by default. The police can be quite "philosophical" and seem to be happy not to delay things by the formality of paperwork! 

In theory it is correct that if you wear glasses for driving you are required to have a spare pair in the car.

Recent scam here is to put a lot of leaflets on back screen of a 4x4 or estate car under the wiper - driver starts the car only to notice all the flyers and then get out of the car to remove - leaving in neutral - perp then jumps in and drives off. Heard of three instances in the last couple of weeks. Either drive a little way before removing or dont leave the key in the car.

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Hi - We have recently taken a UK reg. moped to our house in spain.  What are the legal requirements for registering it over there? Will we have to pay an import duty? Any ideas? Thanks

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Dont know where you are Karen but on the Costa del Sol so many bikes and cars that are UK plated it probably wont make too much difference. There are though laws regarding this that relate to cars and I assume any motorised vehicle. You need to check this but my understanding is that as long as the vehicle is only in use here for no more than 6 months of the year you can leave it on UK plates and registration. I believe that the vehicle physically has to leave Spain - i.e. cross the border. But this being Spain I have been told that you can simply drive it back in again.

There are however two problems. It is illegal to drive a vehicle on the roads without the necessary documents (insurance, MOT etc) and on UK plates you would theoretically have to take back to the UK for the MOT every year and without the MOT any insurance cover is invalid. Regarding import duty you would need to speak to one of the specialist companies (Gestor) around that deals with this. It will be dependant on age and original price of the bike as to whether any duties are due. If there are then you have to weigh up the value in taking it back to the UK for the MOT every year or changing it to Spanish plates. Depending where you are Gestors that offer this service should be relatively easy to find as they seem to advertise quite a lot in the local English speaking press -the Gestor will charge for their services and there will be fees to pay for the Spanish road tax and ITV (MOT) which is bi-annual.

Hope this helps

Rgds Smiley

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Do you have to have these yellow jackets in rental cars, as I am coming out for a week from the 9th.  When I eventually move out at the ens of January, where can these jackets be bought as I will be looking for a car to but.  On this subject where is a good and reliable place to but a decent car.
Tricia

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Hi Tricia second hand cars here seem to hold their value extremely well - nothing like the UK - no car supermarkets selling on pre registered cars. Depends on your budget where to buy. There is a lot of "clocking" here if you are going for second hand. The Spanish have little respect for their own or other people's vehicles - bumpers are meant to be bumped if necessary.

New cars not particularly cheap and hard to negotiate discounts unless you speak good Spanish - the play dumb and assume you will get tired before they do. If you are looking for something nearly new you could do worse than buy an ex rental. The rental companies have a special deal on the import duty on cars. However they are supposed to keep them for 2 years but invariably want to move them on after 6 months to a year. They will sell you the car but will not change the registration until the vehicle is 2 years old so it is then not subject to the import duty. However make sure you do this with a reputable company - one of the bigger names. I had concerns but there were Spanish doing the same thing so it put mymind at rest a little. I ended up saving about 12,000 Euros on list over two VWs - six months old with few kms on each one. If I had bought older used cars of same model from a second hand dealer I would have got less but paid more.

Regards Smiley

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Sorry forgot to mention the flourescent waistcoats can be bought almost anywhere. Less than 5 Euros

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Dear Smiley Many thanks that brill.  Will no doubt be contacting you again as am complete novice.  Where are you based ? Am going to be in San Cayetano.
Tricia F

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Hi Tricia I live between San Pedro de Alcantara and Estepona on the Costa del Sol. Sorry but I dont know where San Cayetano is ..... so many urbanisations and so many places with similar names. Thus apologies if I sound a bit dim. I have been here a little over three years and almost every day is an adventure - like a kid with a Christmas present - I am one of those people that likes to find out what is at the end of the road - even if its only a bloody dead end - and to be honest there are a lot of those around in Spain so I think I will tire of it before I run out of roads to explore - either that or I will need to get a 4x4.

Rgds Smiley from a very wet and quite chilly (only about 18 degs today) Costa del Sol - never mind three or four days and we will be back to sun and reasonably warm

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Hi Smiley, thanks for your reply - I think you are quite a sistance from San Cay; I am near La Manga,  if you are ever on one of your roads to wherever, we must meet up.  Am coming out on Thursday for a week to look for a place to rent in my area, so I do hope the weather has got warmer than you are experiencing right now.  I am so looking forward to getting out there full time but am now getting quite nervous, there seems to be so much to learn legally etc and to do to get settled.  Am I right in saying you can't buy a car till you have become a citizen there?  To do this and other  things, do you have to prove you have enough money to live on?  Awaiting your next contact in anticipation
Tricia F

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Hi Smiley - me again, mant thanksfor note re cars - second hand is what I'll be looking for, but not too old - don't really have a budget yet, will probably decide that when I see whatcars cost but if I was inuk would not want to spend more than about £6 - £7 grand.  Is that possible to get something decent?  Am looking for something ford focus size.  Have also been recommended golfs too.  What do you think and which rentals should I go to.  When you alk about their cars, are you talking right hand inported, cos I want to get left hand spanish registered one.
Cheers yet again
Tricia F

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Hi Tricia to buy a car you need an NIE number - have a look at the boards on NIEs. Let you decide how to do it but my clients etc tell me the UK system sucks although it appears some have had success. Guess you looking at about 11,000 Euros. I bought a Golf Mark 5 TDI - 6 months old for 18,500Euros - 7,000kms on the closk and 2 year manufacturer warranty (list price brand new was about 26,000€ and for a Brit hard to negotiate discounts) from Hire Company but they arent down your end. A Focus should be cheaper but re age I really dont know. Think they hang onto the Fords longer as well for some reason but dont know. Yes I am talking LHD - a lot of right hookers here and people seem to think they are ok but with some of the slip roads onto major carriageways it can be a nightmare plus if you are on a Toll Road you cant reach the Tolls. Diesel here cheaper than petrol unlike the UK.

Hope helps

Smiley

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Hi Smiley
Sorry for such a long delay in replying, but I have been out in Spain finding a letting place for a few months will my place is ready.  Success have a lovely place down near the La Manga strip and am flying back out there this Wednesday 22nd for good. Can't wait - have been back her in UK for three days and it's cold, damp and miserable.  Oh for the blue skys !!!!!!   Anyway, many thanks for you info on NIE, I am actually going up to Alicante on Friday morning to sort this out then I hope to start looking for a car as I will be renting one till I purchase one.  Sadly I will not have any computer connection in the apartment I am renting, so after Tuesday night there will be no contact from me other than through an internet cafe which I will try to visit at least once a week.  Anyway, from Wednesday my adventure begins...........................
Tricia

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This message was last edited by JeansSis on 5/16/2007.

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