European law states that your car must be registered with Spanish plates within 6 months of your arrival in Spain. After that period it must have Spanish registration or it must leave the country for a continuous 6 month period.  

This is so that you can register your car for use on public roads.  If your UK tax disc has expired your car is no longer licensed for use on public roads in the EU

Unlicensed cars which are being used on public roads either in the UK or Spain can be impounded by the UK or Spanish police.

In order to pay road fund license in Spain you must re-register it with Spanish plates.

EU law states that all vehicles in Spain must remain fully road legal in the country of registration. In the case of a UK registered car that means that it must display a current, valid road tax disc from the UK and have a valid MOT also from the UK.

Whether you are a resident or not you can only keep a car here on UK plates for up to six months (183 days) in any 12 month period. Then it has to go back to the UK for a further full, continuous six months or be re-registered.

In the unfortunate event of you being involved in a serious traffic incident you would probably be asked  by your insurance underwriter to provide proof of continuous residence in the UK for a full six month period within the twelve months up until the date of your accident. This would include credit card receipts, debit card receipts, petrol receipts, rent/ mortgage payments etc. They would also wish to see your passport stamped at the correct dates with entry and exit stamps.

There have been some recent cases of cars being impounded in Benelmadena and Torrevieja. The most recent happened in November 2011. The reason being given by the Policia Local was that they had exceeded the six month time period and had still not been re-registered with Spanish national plates.

There have also been cases of cars being impounded in Marbella, Barcelona, Alicante and Tarragona.  The reason given in all cases was that the six month time period had been exceeded.

The Police will target UK registered cars which have exceeded the six month period for compulsory re-registration.

Remember, in order to pay Spanish road tax your car will have to be re-registered with Spanish plates.


The easiest way is to re-register your car and buy Spanish insurance.

It really is a simple as that.


If you are still in any doubt as to the legality of your car then simply ask your insurance company for a letter stating that they are aware that you are a permanent resident in Spain but that you are still driving a UK registered car with no Tax or MOT but they are quite happy to carry on insuring you on a fully comprehensive basis.

Once you have that letter, keep it with you at all times!   (good luck, we've not seen one yet)