DRIVING BACK TO THE UK IN OUR SPANISH INSURED, PLATED AND ITV'd LEFT HAND DRIVE ALFA ROMEO

Has anyone any advice please? We are going back to the UK in  April/May and will be driving our black Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 TS petrol 2003 car which is registered in Spain and is on Spanish plates. Has anyone done this before and sold on the car when back in the UK (Marlow) It is fully insured until May 20 2015 and has its ITV. It has a high mileage and doubt it is worth over £2000.  Maybe someone wants a great little car to travel back to SpainI in? I would be grateful for any advice/suggestions. We live in Jerez.

Spanish cars in the UK do sell for a lot less than in Spain but you are potentially giving yourself a big problem because it is an older car and the cost of registration to a new owner would be high, plus how long is left on the ITV

The car would be worth more in Spain and you would be better selling it here

Have you considered part excahnging the vehicle for a UK registered car in Spain, there are lots of garages that sell these

If you did this just before you go back you could drive the UK car back and have something to use in the UK, or even sell

Thank you for your advice. I have just spoken to our insurers in Spain who say not a problem taking it back as it will be insured in the UK with my policy for up to 90 days there. I have considered exchanging it here in Spain for a UK car as well or maybe as not worth a great deal just driving it back and taking it for scrap??? But maybe I can check out the forums and see if anyone wants a Spanish car and has a UK car to sell, but the trouble with this is we know this car and would not know anything about an English car if we bought one. The ITV is being done next month and would then have almost the year left.

I forgot to say if we did manage to sell to someone wanting to drive a Spanish car back to Spain do you see any problems as the insurance would be valid?

It would only work if they  insure the car before they leave, in their name, because strictly spaking you cannot insure a car that you don't own

You cannot afford to let them drive back on your insurance, even though in Spain you insure the car not the drivers

You are running a big risk if you don't transfer the ownership of the car correctly because you will be liable for any fines etc

I persnally would keep it simple and sell the car in Spain

Thank you and point taken and we will take your advice.

If you sold the car in the UK the new owner would have to take out insurance for the car, personally l don't see any point in driving what would be classed as a banger back to the UK it is going to cost a small fortune to drive it back unless you have a boot load of drugs to cover the cost of a 1,900 mile journey I would find a buyer in Spain and catch a £75 one way flight back 

Thank you Roy for your very helpful advice which we are following. In fact the small garage owner where we bought the car offered to buy it back only this week and nearer the time we are going to do this. We much appreciate your comments and thank you so much.

No problem always a pleasure to help

Hi Marlowjen,

I have PM'd you - hope thats OK. May have a solution for you.

Thank you Woodbug but we are selling the car locally now.