Spanish plates

Terranical · 03-01-2011, 18:03

Well, the time has come to consider putting my T2 on to Spanish plates - been driving it on and off over here in Andalucia for 13 months now (and my daughter uses it when me & the missus are back in the UK). Supposed to be re-registered and have Spanish plates fitted after being in the country for 6 months, so I've been driving illegally for the past 7, plus just found out that if it remains unregistered after 6 months that invalidates the insurance, and the guardia will a) confiscate and crush the car, b) fine or imprison me for having no insurance and c) fine or imprison me for driving an unregistered car - WOW!!! Strict or what! So I've set the wheels in motion to get Spanish plates (fitted LHD headlights and rear lights) but the car has to have a pre-registration test which is similar to a UK MOT but apparently VERY much more strict, think I can feel a second mortgage coming on - after all, it's a 17 year old car. Plus I've been told a bull bar will fail it, so that's just come off, and if I have no documentation to prove my towbar was professionally fitted that will fail it too, so that's going to have to come off as well (fitted it myself). Lord knows what else they will find. And the charges by the Ayunamiento (local authority) for all this? Around £1000! Apparently the Spanish government don't want people bringing cars into the country, they want them bought over here, but the prices are a joke e.g. a 12 year old Ford Escort is locally being advertised for 4000 euros - 4x4's? Don't even ask! So they make the procedure expensive and difficult in the hope that people will purchase cars locally. Terranos are like hens teeth, in spite of every 5th car being either a Terrano or a Maverick, in fact, I have never seen one of either for sale over here, and the breakers laugh at you if you ask them for Terrano spares! Oh well, Happy New Year!

03-01-2011, 18:03	#1
Terranical Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Resident in Bristol, Terrano in Spain Vehicle: 1994 Terrano 2.7TD SWB Posts: 1,398	Spanish plates Well, the time has come to consider putting my T2 on to Spanish plates - been driving it on and off over here in Andalucia for 13 months now (and my daughter uses it when me & the missus are back in the UK). Supposed to be re-registered and have Spanish plates fitted after being in the country for 6 months, so I've been driving illegally for the past 7, plus just found out that if it remains unregistered after 6 months that invalidates the insurance, and the guardia will a) confiscate and crush the car, b) fine or imprison me for having no insurance and c) fine or imprison me for driving an unregistered car - WOW!!! Strict or what! So I've set the wheels in motion to get Spanish plates (fitted LHD headlights and rear lights) but the car has to have a pre-registration test which is similar to a UK MOT but apparently VERY much more strict, think I can feel a second mortgage coming on - after all, it's a 17 year old car. Plus I've been told a bull bar will fail it, so that's just come off, and if I have no documentation to prove my towbar was professionally fitted that will fail it too, so that's going to have to come off as well (fitted it myself). Lord knows what else they will find. And the charges by the Ayunamiento (local authority) for all this? Around £1000! Apparently the Spanish government don't want people bringing cars into the country, they want them bought over here, but the prices are a joke e.g. a 12 year old Ford Escort is locally being advertised for 4000 euros - 4x4's? Don't even ask! So they make the procedure expensive and difficult in the hope that people will purchase cars locally. Terranos are like hens teeth, in spite of every 5th car being either a Terrano or a Maverick, in fact, I have never seen one of either for sale over here, and the breakers laugh at you if you ask them for Terrano spares! Oh well, Happy New Year!