For anyone thinking or starting the process of matriculating their UK registered vehicle, I hope this information will be useful. A friend of mine recently started the matriculation process of her UK registered car, and like most people including myself she thought that the first part of this process was to gain a mechanical report and ITV on the vehicle, she then discovered that the next process was the online completion of a form to the traffico department in Tarragona, which required a gestor's electronic signature.

Today we attended an appointment with the English speaking geston in Jesus, who told us the first thing to be completed is a visit to the British Consulate in Barcelona, who on production of your UK log book will issue you with a document. On production of this document to the traffico department you will then have NO import duty to pay on your UK car to Spain. He says this is a unique agreement between the UK and Spain. In my friends case this would have saved 600 euros. After gaining this document from Barcelona you then have one month to gain ITV on your vehicle and get the documents into Tarragona Traffic department.

In addition the gestor's charges for Matriculation of a UK vehicle is less than 100 euros for his services. Both my friend and I would recommend that you use the services of a Gestor to complete the process in a stress free and cheap manner. You yourself however have to attend the consulate in Barcelona, he then does the rest.

Hope this is of help to some of you.