Need to register your foreign vehicle onto Spanish Plates ?
We manage the full import process including ITV test, all paperwork, customs formalities and more...
Need to Import Your UK Registered Car onto Spanish Number Plates?
If you have a UK or other foreign registered vehicle in Spain, you have probably wondered how long you can legally drive it here and whether it now needs to be registered onto Spanish number plates.
At Car Registrations Spain, we help clients every day with the process of changing foreign vehicles onto Spanish plates as economically, efficiently and correctly as possible.
How Long Can You Drive on foreign plates?
As a general guide, a non-resident can normally drive a foreign registered vehicle in Spain for up to 6 months before it is expected to be registered onto Spanish plates.
If you are a Spanish resident, the timescale is much shorter and is generally just 30 days.
Keeping the Vehicle Legal
While the vehicle remains on its foreign registration, it must still be fully legal in the country of current registration.
For a UK vehicle, that would normally mean valid tax where applicable, a current MOT where required, and proper insurance cover while the vehicle remains on UK plates.
Will It Be Expensive to Re-Register?
In many cases, changing a UK registered car or other vehicle onto Spanish number plates costs much less than people expect.
The price is mainly influenced by two key factors:
Vehicle Value
The higher the value of the vehicle, the higher the registration tax is likely to be.
CO2 Emissions
Vehicles with lower CO2 emissions generally attract less registration tax than higher-emission vehicles.
If you have an older model vehicle with lower emissions, the cost may be relatively modest. Newer vehicles or vehicles with larger engines may attract higher import duty, although the other fees involved are often fairly consistent for most vehicle types.
How Complicated is the Import Process?
It is possible to import a vehicle yourself, but the process can be fairly involved if you are not already familiar with the Spanish system.
There is usually a considerable amount of paperwork, administration and official process involved, and if you are not fluent in Spanish or used to dealing with the authorities, it can quickly become difficult and time-consuming.
How We Help
At Car Registrations Spain, we specialise in all aspects of importing vehicles onto Spanish number plates and provide a low-cost, professional and, most importantly, fully legal service.
Our aim is to make the entire process as straightforward and stress-free as possible while keeping costs under control.
Get a Free, No Obligation Quotation
If you would like us to tell you exactly how much it is likely to cost to import your vehicle onto Spanish plates, we normally just need a few basic details from you:
Call or Email Us
If you would like your questions answered straight away, please do not hesitate to call us. Alternatively, you are very welcome to email us and we will respond as quickly as possible.
We understand that dealing with Spanish authorities can feel daunting, particularly if you speak little or no Spanish. That is where our experience comes in.
Cost-Effective and Hassle-Free
Our team works to provide the most cost-effective and practical solution for your particular vehicle and circumstances.
We also recommend reading our What You Need to Know section, which explains the import process in more detail and answers many of the common questions people have before getting started.
Read Our Latest Customer Reviews
Ian O - Murcia
“Absolutely perfect service, not the easiest car to do but sorted well within the deadline. You will not find a better company to sort your transfer for you. Very happy customer.”
See more reviewsShelley K - Alicante
“Really happy. Competitively priced and a brilliant service. The whole process was explained thoroughly, I was kept informed throughout and all promises were kept.”
See more reviewsLet Us Help You Register Your Vehicle in Spain
Get in touch today for a free quotation and clear advice on importing your UK or foreign registered vehicle onto Spanish number plates.
Driving on Foreign Plates in Spain? Here Are The Rules…
Fines & Confiscation
Residents have 30 days to re-register. Non-residents get 6 months. Miss that deadline and you could face major fines or even have the vehicle removed from the road.
Insurance Issues
UK insurance may not cover you properly if the vehicle is being kept in Spain longer than permitted. If there is an accident, that can become very expensive very quickly.
Keeping Legal
Please bear in mind that your car must still be taxed and MOT'd in the country of registration... and insured whilst on foreign plates. The Spanish Authorities can easily check details via the UK DVLA database.
Is it expensive to re-register on to Spanish Plates ?
It may cost much less than you think to change your foreign registered vehicle
onto Spanish plates.
The price is largely dependent on two factors:
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Need to register your foreign vehicle onto Spanish Plates ?
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