Driving a Spanish car in the UK

[Alan.P]

Hi all, I would like to pick the forum brain, I've just driven my Dad's Spanish registered and plated car back from Spain, it's right hand drive, speedo is in mph, since then I've read conflicting stories on whether it is legal for me to drive it, the car is fully Spanish legal with their mot equivalent (itv) being up to date, over there it's the car and not the person that is insured.

So, the question, has anyone else, does anyone else drive a non UK registered car in the UK, anyone shed any light ? I've rang the police, they told me to use the WWW :yikes: I've rang DVLA they said ring my insurance, I have, they just said that I wasn't covered on my insurance, very confusing.

Thanks for any help.

 

[John Benton]

You will have to get the headlights re-aligned Alan for driving on LHS of road. They will be setup for driving on RHS and will cause glare to oncoming drivers with present setup.

 

[Alan.P]

You will have to get the headlights re-aligned Alan for driving on LHS of road. They will be setup for driving on RHS and will cause glare to oncoming drivers with present setup.

I have just been looking at them from Halfords, will get some today, so you think / know, that once that is done the car will be legal for me to drive ? Any experience of this ?

 

[DHTiling]

I am surprised the police did not offer you advise...


This will help you >>> Visitors to the UK

 

[John Benton]

Not personally, but my neighbours son-in-law got given his fathers Merc, but that was LHD and he told me he had to get the headlights sorted but we never spoke about any other legalities.

 

[Alan.P]

I am surprised the police did not offer you advise...


This will help you >>> Visitors to the UK

So was I, more than surprised, shocked at being told to look on the net, anyway, a lot of good reading there Dave, thanks, still can't find the answer of insurance though 🙁

I will get the car re-registered as well as soon as I can.

 

[DHTiling]

Are you keeping the car here or just visiting with it..?

 

[Alan.P]

Are you keeping the car here or just visiting with it..?

They are going to be staying I think, it's not a definite though, so until then the car is staying on Spanish plates, we'll know soon ( a month or so ) so plenty of time to re-register the car.

This is the grey area that I can't get an answer to, in Spain it's the car that's insured not the driver, anyone over 25 can drive the car as long as they have a full licence etc, the car has a 'green card' meaning it can be driven in most EU countries, the UK is ok, so, am I insured or not, no-one can answer this question..................yet.

 

[DHTiling]

I would say you are but is probs wise to get cover anyway..

 

[Alan.P]

I would say you are but is probs wise to get cover anyway..

Just got back from the police station, they say I will be covered so that's a relief 🙂