Hi all whilst over last week I wondered how do you go about buying ,taxing ,regestering a car/van in Spain if you only have a parcel number ;D

I think you need an NIE Number to buy a car!!

Thanks Hazel ,I have the NIE certificate, but what about address etc any ideas :D

I think you also need an empadremente to say that you live in a village

Are you saying non residents cannot own a vehicle ?
If so, how very typical of Catalan.

Probably...

Also, the Police are getting a bit shirty about foreign registered cars, one friend has had his towed by Policia Local and not returned as "It has been in Catalunya for over a month, so must be re registered"

Yes folks, never mind European Law, if asked, tell them you come and go all the time, this person had receipts for a trip home and its MOTing [equivalent] from just a couple of months ago.

We do not have residencia documents,live on a finca with only parcel poligon address and an empadron with that address and own 2 spanish vehicles. As an eu citizen residencia is not neccesary. We both have nie's and I have a Spanish social security number and have worked here for a catalan construction company perfectly legally.
So you don't have to be resident to own a vehicle here.

Re the previous post what does mot "equivalent" mean? An unregistered(in Spain) vehicle requires a mot of it's country of registration to be legal. I am not surprised the local police are getting "shirty" I know of people who are driving uk vehicles that haven't had mot's or tax for five years. But they think it's ok as they have insurance. I am sure in the event of a serious accident the insurance company will refuse to pay out on the grounds the vehicle wasn't roadworthy etc but as long as they seem to be covered when they "get pulled" by the police then everything is fine!

wrote on Jul 18^th, 2010 at 10:42am:

Are you saying non residents cannot own a vehicle ? If so, how very typical of Catalan.

Having an NIE doesn't make you a "resident".

EU law clearly states that a vehicle can be used in another EU country for up to SIX MONTHS before it neads to be registed locally.
Why are the Catalooonians not complying with this law ?

wrote on Jul 18^th, 2010 at 12:40pm:

We do not have residencia documents,live on a finca with only parcel poligon address and an empadron with that address and own 2 spanish vehicles. As an eu citizen residencia is not neccesary. We both have nie's and I have a Spanish social security number and have worked here for a catalan construction company perfectly legally. So you don't have to be resident to own a vehicle here. Re the previous post what does mot "equivalent" mean? An unregistered(in Spain) vehicle requires a mot of it's country of registration to be legal. I am not surprised the local police are getting "shirty" I know of people who are driving uk vehicles that haven't had mot's or tax for five years. But they think it's ok as they have insurance. I am sure in the event of a serious accident the insurance company will refuse to pay out on the grounds the vehicle wasn't roadworthy etc but as long as they seem to be covered when they "get pulled" by the police then everything is fine!

By "Equivalent" I mean from their country, this is not the UK, or Spain, I have deliberately not put any more details as I do not want to stir up further problems for him.

So, just to summarise, he has a perfectly legal EU reg. car from his homecountry, with all paperwork in order, the Police are trying to bully him into re registering it against EU law.

Is that perfectly clear now  ?


I also believe that you can get a Spanish ITV on your UK car and that this is legally accepted by Insurance Co's.

You can get an I.T.V. on a British reg. car here, also pay for insurance, they are willing to take your money,  BUT,  if you are involved in an accident, you could find out that you are not covered.

Thanks all for the advise,I dont live in Spain, and if the great day comes, and  I can afford to retire!!!!!! would prob only stay for six months a year, so would need something cheaper than hire car, what about a quad ?are they as complicated to buy and be legal ? the farmer below me, has a little ASP sorry if spelt wrong, one of those 3 wheeled trucks, So he also must only have a parcel number ?
I new this was going to be a difficult subject ! :-?

A quad a Scooter a Moto or a Trike all require registering, your neighbours 3 wheel truck is probably a Piaggio Ape, Quads are seriously stupid money in Spain about twice the price of buying a second hand one in the UK!! if you are trekking over on a regular basis till you retire you are probably better off driving here in your UK registered car as you probably wont't stay for more than 6 months at a time!!

With regard to 3 wheeled tractors and infact any engine propelled farm machinery it has to be registered to the Parcela.
You then have to pay a tax,which is included in the yearly rates bill and includes a form of road tax and insurance.
As we are all finding out slowly,NOTHING is free in Catalooonya,especially if you are English !

philmountains wrote on Jul 19^th, 2010 at 7:23am:

Thanks all for the advise,I dont live in Spain, and if the great day comes, and  I can afford to retire!!!!!! would prob only stay for six months a year, so would need something cheaper than hire car, what about a quad ?are they as complicated to buy and be legal ? the farmer below me, has a little ASP sorry if spelt wrong, one of those 3 wheeled trucks, So he also must only have a parcel number ? I new this was going to be a difficult subject ! :-?

If you want to see the cost of second hand Motos and Coches see http://www.segundamano.es/

Hi thanks for the link,god its dear here, cheapest thing I saw was a 91 polo at 950 euros ! not going to get many blocks etc in that ? yes drive down seems best(cheapo Transit) ;D but the cost of fuel ,ferry, compaired to flying would be the main prob, plus the 2 1/2 day drive from North Yorks !! anyway still a pipe dream at moment as struggling here let alone the dream  life in Spain,saying that it still does me good to have a few days strimming, but boy was it hot over there last week how do you all cope ?

wrote on Jul 18^th, 2010 at 1:42pm:

EU law clearly states that a vehicle can be used in another EU country for up to SIX MONTHS before it neads to be registed locally. Why are the Catalooonians not complying with this law ?

Yes, you are totally right, it is 6 months.

Cataloonies think they can force/bully people into paying them taxes, ha ha, the little Cataloonie wins, unbelievable, sad, retarded and insular, but that is exactly how they are.

Likewise the Cedula......

I've heard that cars have been impounded for 'overstaying'. Anyone know definately if this is true?

This is not as simple as it seems, got this off the internet


Foreign registered vehicles which are circulating temporarily in the UK are usually exempt from UK registration and licensing. The exemption (provided under EC Directives) allows foreign vehicles to circulate within the UK without the need to register or pay certain duties in this and limits visits to six months in a twelve month period.
To qualify a visitor must have their normal residence outside the UK and live there for at least 185 days in each calendar year because of personal or occupational ties. The vehicle must also comply with the registration and licensing requirements of its home country and be insured for the duration of its stay in this country.
Anyone whose normal residence is in the UK or whose vehicle has been used in the UK for more than six months in any twelve has to make an application to register and license the vehicle here.
Just to clarify that point – any vehicle that has been used in the UK for more than 6 months in any 12 has to make an application to register the vehicle.

I know this is UK legislation but as it says it is an EU directive so should be the same in Spain even Catelonia.  The crunch is the bit about normal residence to qualify for the exemption from registration.  The moment that you change your residence from UK to Spain this exemption does not apply.  So basically if you live in Spain permanently you should register your car immediatly. Visitors who have not been in Spain for less than 6 months are not affected

Hope this helps