Has anyone found a relaible site giving correct information for a nonresident having a UK car in Spain. Everything I've found gives conflicting information. Thanks

You can take a UK registered car to Spain and drive it there for up to six months each year. If you want to stay longer, you should complete the import procedure (sometimes called matriculation or reregistering) and pay the appropriate taxes/costs for doing this. It's often more convenient to just buy a car locally.

Many people keep UK registered cars overseas for more than six months. It's easier to get away with this if you are travelling around or if you are in a larger city rather than in a smaller community. If you get caught breaking the rules, you could get the chance to take the car back to UK or you could have the vehicle confiscated.

To be legal, the car will need to be MOTed and insured at all times. Insurance is sometimes checked by customs officials but, because MOT certificates are not the same in every country, MOTs are checked less often. Some insurance companies will not give cover beyond six months in any year.

Google for "spain car import" for more links.

http://www.buypropertyspain.info/spanish_property_guide/tax_spain/car_tax.aspx

http://www.justlanded.com/english/Spain/Tools/Spain-Guide/Travel-Leisure/Importing-a-Car

Maxsteam, Many thanks for the information and the links. Someone told me they had changed things in August 2008 and you could only keep a UK car in spain for 90 days. I was thinking of buying a UK car keeping it fully legal with Tax, MOT and Insurance. Using it whilst on holiday,several times a year for 2 or 3 weeks each time and bring it back to the UK each year for its MOT. When I'm back in the UK to leave it at the Airport in a car park. Seem to be several good value ones at Alicante Airport. I was thinking of taking a car out in September and bring it back the following June, then take it out again in September. Like that it would be out in Spain less than 6 continious months in any year. Think I'm trying to bend the rules! Don't fancy my chances arguing with a Policeman do you!

I'd not heard anything about a rule change. The six month limit is fairly standard within the EU and the UK government site is still saying six months for here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/DG_10014623

I reckon that you'd have a good chance of getting away with your plan if the car was to be parked out-of-view in a garden or garage somewhere but in an airport car park it's quite likely to be seen by an official and if they wanted to make a fuss, you wouldn't be there to argue. As it would be in Spain for more than six months, you shouldn't be surprised if it disappears while you are away. You may still decide to take the risk with an old £500 car but it's not worth taking the chance with anything expensive. The rule is six months per car per driver per year so if the car is there for 6+ months, it breaks the rules, if you are driving different cars there for 6+ months, you are breaking the rules and so on.

It's usually more expensive to drive than to fly to Spain so it's worth investigating buying something there, in my view, if you are going to use it.

Hi Maxsteam, Once again many thanks for your help and advice. Unless we can spend a lot more time there it is probably easier to rent a car. I've found one for the next 2 weeks at 50 Euros a week. In the end buying a Spanish car maybe the more sensible option. Thanks for your help.