Vehicle registration & Driving Licence - what to do?

I am planning to drive over in January and should no longer have a UK address. Is my best policy to export the car and register it in Spain or use a British address to leave it UK registered. My intention is not to return permanenentl and to buy a new spanish car in the first 3-6 months - hopefully using my British car for some kind of trade-in.

Hi scampi

Wouldn't it be easier to just sell your car before moving here?  You won't get much for it when selling a RHD car in Spain.

Registering the car in Spain isn't particularly cheap. 

I think that if you sold your car in Spain you will get less for it than if you sold it in the UK and transferring it to a Spanish reg isn't cheap either.  So the money you save you can use to get your stuff transported to Spain and then just buy something when you get here.

Much easier in my opinion

Justin

I see your point of course - but because of the location of my house I need a car from day 1 - and hirecar costs quickly add up. I want to buy a new car in Spain but hate the idea of being rushed into it. My curent thinking after all of the helpful comments is to leave my car registered in the Uk - and either p/e it for a new spanish car or drive it back and sell it in the UK. Given 2nd hand car values at the moment - any action is likely to be expensive!. It makes you wonder what the point of the EU is when something that should be so easy is made so complex and expensive!

Hi Scampi - after considering all the options - and getting lots of good advice here on the forum - I decided to do what Justin advised.  I sold my car in the UK and hired a car here in Spain.  It only took about 3 weeks to get the car I wanted as I had done my homework in the UK and knew what I was looking for.  I made sure that the rental company would let me extend the car hire if required and this made all the difference.  I hadn't realised how expensive a new car was going to be, but otherwise it was really quite easy and I now have a lovely new Seat Leon which I am delighted with.

Best of luck!

My friend runs a service which helps expats buy a new car in Spain.  Check out his site:

Personal car shopper

Probably worth chatting to him about your requirements and see what he advises anyway.

Justin

Many thanks!!