Registering UK Cars in Andalucia
Taking British Right-Hand Drive Automobiles Into Spain
If you're relocating to Spain and want to know how to import your UK vehicle, this article will outline some of the basic requirements.
If you’re moving over to Spain with your car the first thing you need to do is apply for your residence card and register in your local town hall. Having a residence card is not a necessity now, an NIE should suffice, you can save the vehicle importation tax if you apply for non-payment of the tax within a month of you moving to Spain.
The first step in registering your car in Spain is a Ficha Reducida (technical data sheet) prepared by a Perrito (technical inspector) this costs 116 Euros.. Your nearest ITV (ministry of transport inspection test) station can give you a contact number for the inspector. With that piece of paper, a copy of your empadronamiento, (registration in your local town hall) your National Identity Document (DNI) or Foreigners Identification number (NIE) and your Spanish headlights fitted, your car can now have an ITV test costing €110.73.
Next, visit the Hacienda to pay the car importation tax, which is 7% of the car's value. At the Junta de Andalucia pay €123.76 Euros and then go to the local Ayuntamiento to pay the year's car tax. This yearly tax varies according to age and potency of your vehicle.
Now with all the rather expensive bits of paper, it's off to Traffico, and a queue for one form and three windows you're papers, if all are present and in order will be kept. They can be collected two or three days later and will have your new Spanish number plate details printed on them.
Next pay a visit to the Spanish number plate shop, with your car documents and new number plate information and part with another €15.
Now you can get Spanish car insurance and the permiso de circulacion (permission for your car to be on the roads) and you can get it on the road - legally.
Please remember this is how it works in Jaen, Andalucia. It is not necessarily the same throughout Spain Each region (and even different provinces) may have slightly different requirements but armed with this overview, you'll be off to a good start.
There is an ITV station in Jaen city, Poligono Industrial Los Olivares and one in Alcala la Real on the Priego de Cordoba road.
Spainvia offers lots of information and Living and Working in Spain by David Hampshire, published by Survival books and updated regularly, is an excellent resource book for all your questions about moving to Spain.
