Taking a car to Spain from England

Like all bureaucratic processes in the Iberian Peninsula's largest country, taking a car from England to Spain can be complicated and tedious. There are companies out there who you can pay to organise most of the paperwork, and if you have the money and don't feel like wasting your time, this is a much less stressful option.

For those that don't mind doing the legwork you'll need to get temporary Spanish plates within the first thirty days of entrance and then you'll need to register the car within the first six months of entering the country. Both of these processes must be done at the provincial traffic department (Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico).

In order to register the car it's necessary to pass an official control test - known in Spain as an ITV test. To take the ITV test expats bringin their car from London to Spain will need to have the following documents on hand:

• The vehicle's technical specifications (provided by the vehicle manufacturer or representative), as well as a Spanish translation
• Receipt of payment of duty (original and photocopy)
• Purchase receipt (original and photocopy)

Once you get this certificate, it's then possible to start the registration process. You'll also need to get Spanish car insurance to legally drive your Spanish registered car in Spain. Most insurance providers will be happy to cover you once you show them the successful results of an ITV test.