Bringing our car

[redswanlady]

Does anyone know how much it costs to register a car in GC? and is it worth it?

[Owen]

If I remember correctly, mine was 600 euros but 9 years ago and no, they are so cheap to buy here compared to the uk

[CSI Fan]

found this on www.eurosol.com/consul/

Importation of vehicles
25. Genuine tourists and short-term visitors are permitted to bring in a foreign registered car with them for their personal use during a holiday or visit. There is no problem, provided that the owner is not resident in Spain and the car is taken out of the country on departure.
26. If the vehicle is left in Spain, the owners can, before departure, apply to the nearest customs authorities to have the car sealed and subsequently arrange with them to have the car unsealed on their return to Spain.
27. Any person who spends more than a total of six months in any one year in Spain is considered resident for the purpose of importing a car. The regulations relating to the import of cars into Spain are extremely complex, and although the motoring associations in the UK and the Real Automovil Club de Tenerife (RACE), Calle Galcerán, Edificio El Drago, 38003 - Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Tel: 922-532060, Fax: 922-532071) can sometimes provide guidance, the authoritative source of information about the procedure involved is the Directorate General of Customs in Madrid. See Annex K.
28. Any vehicle to be imported must be registered for the road by the local authorities. A certificate is currently being refused for right hand drive cars, on the grounds that the driver's visibility is impaired. Conversion to left hand drive would make the car acceptable to the authorities but the expense involved is usually prohibitive.
29. If permission is granted for a car to be imported permanently, it is understood that the present regulations of these Islands call for the payment of a Luxury Tax in the case of cars, boats or caravans. This must not be confused with Customs duty - it is a Free Port - the tax is quite apart and nothing to do with Customs. The amount of tax payable varies with the capacity of the engine and the age of the vehicle.


This is mainly about Tenerife but may apply to GC so I would check if I were you.

[redswanlady]

Had a look at a couple of websites yday, they say that at this end I simply notify the dvla. It is up to the GC authorities to decide & set a price to transfer it to GC plates.

Thanks Owen, youv'e been the first person to come up with a price even if it was 9 yrs ago. No body seems to know a price???

oh well I'll keep serching

[mary]

Personally i would get rid of it and buy when you get here. left hand drive cars are a real pain and the police have more reason to stop you and check paperwork etc Extra hassle for you.
People in the past on here have driven all their worldly goods in their cars as it seems a sensible thing to do but then have spent a fortune shipping their car back to the uk to sell it - as noone will buy it here and its hard to drive on the 'wrong' side of the road

[redswanlady]

We wouldn't be looking to ship it back or sell it, We have a range rover and both of us love our car it also fits so much stuff in it it is very practical. Also if hubby drove him and the dog over it would save us quite a bit, as to fly the dog was going to cost £400 without adding in hubby's plane ticket. We drive it in france quite often and soon get used to driving on the right side of the road.

We know how much we would get for it here if we sold it, how much would a 4x4 cost us over there?

[Ghoulie]

my m8 ended up giving away a left hand drive merc he drove over from the uk to GC - said they wanted a lot of money just to register it - more than the car was worth -so he literally gave it to a guy (who'd done him a couple of favours) who took it to mainland spain to sell on there - easier. He ended up buying a new diesel Renault Kangoo in GC - & said it was cheap & wished he hadn't bothered with the merc in the 1st place.

I also hear they charge a lot for insurance for large 4x4s in Spain - don't know if it applies to GC.

Flog your Rangey in UK & buy in GC

[Owen]

yup, also used my car to bring over a ot of stuff including my dog and did some sight seing on the mainland on the drive down. Brought it as a way to get more stuff and my dog here cheaper and only registered it as I didn't know any better at the time but would have given it away too if I'd realise all the costs and paperwork involved.

[redswanlady]

We need to weight up all the costs and options, it would be cheaper to bring dog by that route but only if the cost to put GC plates on it wasn't a stupid price.

Have to do some more research, thanx for all your help.:)

[CSI Fan]

Aren't British cars RIGHT HAND Drive?????????

[redswanlady]

I agree, but I'd ignored that mistake!! Hehehehehe:grin:

[J1969]

Why not bring it here and drive it on Brit plates for a couple of years or until the police catch up with you !! (not advise, just what I did)The info on the Eurosol site, posted above is clearly out of date. so, it really depends on the value of the car.Driving a RHD drive here is absolutely no problem. I've done it for over 3 years.

[Paul.Carde]

Ummmm yep, just ran out to have a look and your quite right.... my Clio is a right hander.......(writing this in Cardiff Wales......):nodding: