If you are a Gibraltar resident you can drive it in Spain for 6 months in any year so long as it is legal in Gib. If you have been officially resident in Spain for more than 6 months you cannot drive it.
Non EU citizens who are tourists in Spain for less than six months a year may keep their foreign plated cars in Spain as long as they have them "sealed" or "precintado" by customs officials.
Vehicles from the UK can be temporarily imported into Spain for up to six months in any period of 12 months. In order to stay on the right side of the law, the following documents should always be carried: Full, valid UK driving licence.
The absolute maximum time a UK registered car could possibly be kept in Spain, regardless of whether you´re resident in Spain or not, is technically a year (less a few days). The DVLA deems a vehicle to be permanently exported once it has been out of the country for 12 months or more.
If you need to drive someone else's car, you can't do it under your own insurance. In Spain, you can't use your car cover to drive other cars. The owner of another car needs to ensure that you are included in their car policy.
Spanish law allows foreign nationals, both residents and non-residents, to purchase a car in the country. According to the General Directorate of Traffic, about 861,000 cars were sold in Spain between January and December 2021.
A MOT is not possible in Spain or Gibraltar. If you are intending to live in Spain full time then after a short while it will become illegal anyway.
You will need an IDP to drive in Spain after Brexit if you have: a paper driving licence - green or pink version. a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
UK vehicles are currently treated the same as vehicles from other EU countries when it comes to registering them in Spain. If no deal is agreed stating otherwise, when the transition period ends, UK cars brought to Spain will be treated as non-EU imports. This means they will need to go through customs.
BREXIT UPDATE. Immediately after Brexit Your UK licence will remain valid for driving in Spain for 9 months, (assumed to be 31/09/2021). Thereafter, the licence needs to be exchanged within 6 months of arrival in Spain.
Vehicles imported from the U.S to Spain must be registered. Once your vehicle is cleared through customs, it must be registered at the nearest traffic department, or Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico. You will be issued a temporary license plate.
If you are non-resident in Spain but have a Spanish registered car, you may be unwittingly registered as a Spanish tax payer – meaning you are liable for changing your foreign licence to a Spanish one, and may face a hefty fine for not doing so.
They'll give you your licence plate number and the final documentation and you'll have to pay 94 euro. Take all your documents to a specialist and have them make up the number plates for you using your new number. It will cost between 6 and 50 euro.
To do this, you must go to the Dirección Provincial de Tráfico with all the documents obtained during the previous stages. You must also provide all proof of payment of taxes related to the import of your car in Spain. It is mandatory to go to the Dirección Provincial de Tráfico on which your residence depends.
Spain requires foreign drivers who have a license in English to obtain an IDP prior to arriving in Spain. This driving permit is a requirement to drive in Spain, and without the permit, you could face punishment if stopped by law enforcement officials while driving.
EU licence-holders living in the UK can continue to use their licence if it is valid, subject to UK licence renewal requirements. This means an EU licence must be changed to a UK licence at the age of 70, or three years after the driver becomes resident, whichever is later.
You do not need to carry a green card when you drive in the EU (including Ireland), Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia, and Switzerland. You still need valid vehicle insurance.
For driving in Spain, Cyprus or Malta you need a GB sticker no matter what is on your number plate. But from 28 September, the sticker needed will be changing from GB to UK, at which point you will need a sticker to drive abroad even if you have GB on your number plate.
If you live in Spain and drive a vehicle on Spanish roads you will need an ITV which is the equivalent of an MOT in the UK. The inspection determines whether your vehicle is roadworthy or not.
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory. The Office of the Governor supports the Governor and Commander-in-Chief in carrying out his constitutional role and duties as Her Majesty's Representative in Gibraltar. The Governor has special responsibilities for the conduct in Gibraltar of: external affairs.
However, you will need to provide: Your NIE (número de identidad de extranjero) – your foreigner ID number. Proof of permanency in the form of your house deeds or a rental contract for a minimum of one year. A proof of residence (certificado de empadronamiento) which is no more than three months old.
Non-EU Vehicles
10 per cent import duty (IPSI, Impuesto Sobre la Producción, Servicios e Importación) based on the original market price with reductions based on the age of the vehicle, payable at customs offices. 21 per cent VAT (IVA), payable at customs offices.
Ample time to get your car matriculated onto Spanish plates, and take your ITV test. 60 days is more than enough to book an ITV and get your car passed , deal with the Spanish paperwork for your green number plates and get your real Spanish reg plates delivered and your car now registered fully in Spain.
How long does it take to register a car in Spain? Normally about 7-10 days if everything is correct, if the vehicle has to be homologated the process takes longer and depends on each vehicle.
Yes, you can drive in Spain using your full UK driving licence. But you must be at least 18 years old and, obviously, it must be in-date. Unlike in some other European countries, you don't need an international driving permit to drive there.