Do You Want To Drive To The UK In Your Spanish Car? Here’s What You Need To Know

No doubt the easiest way to travel between Spain and the UK is to fly, particularly with the abundance of low cost airlines offering great deals between the 2 countries right now. But if you’re laden down with luggage (or with a mountain of Christmas presents) then you might want to drive to the UK in your Spanish car.

But if you have a Spanish car and plan to drive it to the UK then we have a whole sheet or rules and regulations to share with you.  Since Brexit, when the UK left the EU, there have been some changes to the rules around driving a Spanish car in the UK.

Here’s what you need to know:

Can I Drive My Spanish Car in The UK?

The short answer to this question is yes! It’s good news for Spanish drivers planning on bringing their cars to the UK, because you are allowed to do so.

According to the UK government website it is perfectly legal to drive a vehicle with foreign number plates there without registering it or having it be taxed providing all of the following criteria apply:

• You’re visiting and do not plan on living in the UK.
• The vehicle is registered and taxed in its home country (in this case, Spain)
• You only plan to use the vehicle for up to 6 months in total - this can be a single visit, or several shorter visits over 12 months, but you can drive your Spanish car in the UK for longer than 6 months out of a year.

This very generous set of criteria means that as long as your car is taxed, legal and roadworthy (which it should be for you to drive it in Spain anyway) and you don’t intend to stay in the UK permanently or semi-permanently.

What Documents Will I Need To Drive My Spanish Car In The UK?

It’s important to ensure you’re prepared and that you have all the documentation you need before you start your long drive. You’ll need to make sure you have:

Your Passport. This should go without saying really, as you can’t enter the UK without it! But it’s good practice to ensure you have your passport, or a copy of your passport, with you when you drive your Spanish car in the UK.

Your Driving License. You can drive in the UK using your Spanish driving licence: you won’t need to apply for a UK driving license or an international driving license to drive here.
EU/EEA driving licences are accepted in the UK despite Brexit.

Your car insurance .You’ll need car insurance that is valid and up to date to drive in the UK.  Most insurance in Spain covers driving in the Euro Zone as well as the UK, but it’s better to be safe than sorry so if you’re not sure then check with your insurance provider before you travel.

Driving In The UK

In case you didn’t already know, they drive on the left hand side of the road in the UK. This is likely to take some getting used to, especially if you’re driving a right hand side vehicle.

To make things a little easier you may want to buy stickers to correct the beam of the headlights so that they don't dazzle oncoming drivers – you can buy these online, from specialist car shops or at ferry/tunnel terminals. These are not compulsory for most drivers but they are advised for safety reasons, and may be a condition for insurance cover when driving in the UK. Check with your insurance provider before you decide!

How To Get To The UK From Spain With Your Spanish Car

There are 2 main options to get to the UK from Spain if you want to bring your car: take the ferry, or take the Eurotunnel. If you want to take the Eurotunnel then you’ll need to drive up through France before you make your crossing. This is also true if you want to take a cross channel ferry, which tend to be the cheaper ferry options. You’ll also find you have a wider range of options if you choose to travel to the UK from France. But there are also ferry routes that will take you straight from Spain to the UK. The crossing time is significantly longer, but your drive time will be much shorter. It’s for you to decide which works best for you.

The routes to choose include Calais to Dover, Calais to Folkstone, Caen to Portsmouth, St Malo to Plymouth, Cherbourg to Portsmouth and Le Havre to Portsmouth.

What To Expect At The Border Crossing?

It doesn’t matter whether you travel to the UK from a port in France or in Spain, you should expect to be asked some questions from the authorities at border control. Some of the questions you should be prepared to answer include the reason for your stay and the duration of your stay. You might also be asked for the address of where you’ll be staying during your time in the UK (this could be the address of a hotel or a private address).

You might also be stopped by the police during your stay in the UK (although this is unlikely) so you should be prepared for that too. They may ask to see your driving license and proof that your vehicle is taxed and registered. Other documentation that you may be asked to show includes

• The amount time you’ve been in the UK (such as a ferry ticket)
• Your vehicle’s eligible for relief from VAT and duty (such as a customs relief form)

What Can You Bring Into The UK With You When You Drive From Spain?

If this is your first time driving to Spain, or your first time driving to Spain after Brexit, then you need to know that some of the rules have changed regarding what you can or can’t bring into the UK when you drive.

The first thing to think about is travelling with your pets. The UK has agreed to continue accepting the EU pet passport, so if you’re travelling with your pets then you won’t have to fill in any extra paperwork provided they have a pet passport in place. This is true both for taking your pet into the UK and then travelling back with them again.

While many people choose to drive so that they can bring  back gifts for their friends and family (especially during the holiday season), there are now strict rules in place about what you can and can’t bring into the UK with you.

Bringing gifts of jamón serrano or Manchego cheese is absolutely OK but be careful of bringing volumes that might be considered importing for commercial reasons. There are also strict limits on the amount of alcohol you can bring into the UK from the EU, so check these and adjust the alcoholic drinks you bring with you accordingly.

Are you thinking of moving to Spain? Dream of retiring away from the cold and rainy weather in the UK and making an escape to the sun? Then why not get in touch with our local property experts, who are perfectly placed to help you buy the Spanish home of your dreams. We’re excited to help you make your next move your best move!