Driving a car in Spain - Spanish Residence

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Driving & owning a car in Spain

The minimum age to drive a car in Spain is 18, and the minimum age for a motorcycle (up-to 50cc) is 14.Non residents can drive on their international licence, and can drive a Spanish registered vehicle for up-to six months each calendar year. Spanish residents however must hold a full Spanish driving licence.

As expected, vehicles must be insured when entering Spain, and the "basic levels" of insurance are the same of those in the U.K. For further information on roadside assistance, personal injury cover and liabilities - talk to your insurance company. The good news is, that if you wish to insure yourself in Spain with a Spanish company, the larger and well know companies (such as Direct line) offer some of the lowest premiums in the EU.

If you are not taking your own vehicle to Spain, again you will be pleased to know that car rental companies in Spain are generally the cheapest in Europe (due to the high number of companies competing for the business) . It is highly recommended that you check that the hire company's price is including IVA (tax), insurance cover is adequate and that you have no restrictions on the distances you travel.
We would be happy to recommend a local company to you on your visit

Buying as new car in Spain is a good experience for most people from the UK as car prices and fuel costs are substantially lower than that back home. You can buy a Spanish registered car as a non resident providing you have a property in Spain, or you are renting a home in Spain for one year and over, or if you are registered as an inhabitant of your municipality. Regulation can very from province to province, so again it is a better idea to check beforehand.
Second hand or used cars (de segunda mano) are far more expensive than used cars in the UK and most of the surrounding EU countries. If you decide to purchase a used car in Spain

It is important to check the following:

Does it have a current IVA certificate
That it has not been involved in a major accident
The chassis number tallies with the registration document
That you recieve the tranfer of ownership document
The seller de-registers the car at the local traffic department

If you are happy that these processes, and/or any other checks are satisfactory - you then must register the car within 30 days

If you decide to sell a car in Spain, you first must obtain and complete a transfer of ownership document (as mentioned above). Transfer tax is also applicable - and varies depending on market value, age and so on. This is usually paid by the buyer as most "sellers" include this in the car price (and is the sellers responsibility) - this is an important consideration before you set a final price for your vehicle.

As in most countries - there is a form of Road Tax, in Spain this is called impuesto municipal sobree vehiculos de tracción mecánica. Tax levels are set by individual municipalities, and is mostly based on horsepower of the vehicle. this is paid to the local authority (usually between March and May)

Finally, a few regulations which must be followed:

Motorists must carry two officially approved warning triangles
Seatbelts are compulsory
Do not drive in tram, taxi or bus lanes
The use of a "horn" is against the law at night in town
3 point turns and reversing is forbidden in town
Hand held phone usage is illegal when driving
You should understand and familiarise your self with the Spanish highway code

Speed limits (generally ) are:

Motorway (autopistas) - 120km / h
Dual carriageway (autovias) - 100km / h
Main roads (carreteras) - 90km / h
Buit up areas / towns (vias urbanas) - 50km / h