Details

If you drive a car in Spain you must have the following:

2 Warning Triangles
1 Luminous Jacket
Spare Glasses if you wear them
1 First Aid Kit

It is also advised to have a fire extinguisher fixed in a prominent place
A Fire Extinguisher is mandatory in a commercial vehicle

DRIVING LICENSES

UK
You may only drive in Spain with a UK driving license in a Spanish car and you are non resident IF IT IS STAMPED in Almería at Trafico with your permanent address
If it is the old pink paper type you must attach a photo to it

The new EU driving license with a photo card
Both the paper part and the photo card must be carried
It is proposed that from this year but as yet is not in effect that it will be mandatory to be resident and have a Spanish driving license before purchasing a new or second-hand car.

SPANISH DRIVING LICENSES

Can be obtained through you Gestor or Lawyer or easily yourself in Trafico in Almería
The following is needed:
1 copy of both sides of UK driving license plus original
1 copy of residencia plus original
1 copy of passport plus original

Cost 16.20€ at present at the Trafico in Almería

UK VEHICLES

You may only drive a UK vehicle for a maximum of one year before it has to be imported into Spain if you live here permanently (more than 183 days of the year)
The vehicle must be in possession of current tax and MOT
However it is possible to MOT (ITV) a foreign vehicle but a Spanish ITV certificate is only valid in the UK for 3 months

Vehicle tax is paid through your local Town Hall. But at present there is some debate as to whether this is mandatory, some town halls allow and some don’t

Ask for leaflet on the Foreigner and the Car in Spain for details of importing a vehicle

You must at all times carry the original papers of the following:

Your Insurance Certificate
Tarjeta Inspección Tecnica de Vehículos ITV (MOT)
Permiso de Circulación ( car paperwork)
Your Driving License

Not all Insurance Companies cover driving in Gibraltar

IMPORTING CARS

Tax is about 70 to 900Euros
ITV at Lorca is about 250Euros