If you are thinking of moving to Spain you should know that not all the rules and regulations are the same as in your home country – it is up to you to find out what they are and organise things accordingly so you can be sure to stay out of trouble! If you have a car that is registered in another country here are a few things that you should know…

A car with a foreign registration can’t remain in Spain for more than six months. After this time you must either change the registration to a Spanish one or take the car out of the country.

If you have a foreign registered car you are not allowed to be a resident in Spain, work or have a business in Spain or allow another person to drive your vehicle if you are not in the car!

Changing your car to a Spanish registration is quite a complicated process, and will involve a good level of Spanish language skills – it is usually quicker (and less stressful) to hire a Consultant (Asesoría) to do this for you.

The cost is based on the age of the car and its cylinders – however it is likely to cost upwards of 1,200 euros

No matter what car you are driving in Spain you should always carry the following documents:

• The vehicle documentation
• Driving Licence
• Insurance
• Latest MOT Certificate (in Spain this is an ITV)
• Residence Card or Passport
• A document that has your address in Spain – your NIE or Residence Certificate for example.

It is also a good idea to carry authorised, stamped photocopies rather than the originals. In Spain you can obtain authorised stamped photocopies from the town hall local to you, usually free of charge, by presenting the originals.

A note on traffic fines – if you are a Foreign Resident you have 30 days to pay any fine providing you can prove that you are a resident by showing the Police or Guardia Civil an official document showing your address in Spain.

If you are a Non-Resident you have to pay the fine on the spot, otherwise you run the risk of the car being impounded until the fine is paid.

All of the above information was correct as of 2008 however these rules can change so it is advisable to check for up to date information in Spain at your local town hall (ayuntamiento).