Its done! Forums

Cocky

Hi all,

Jill and I have now moved to Spain but of course have taken our Carthago with us (it is now our UK home when we return for holidays)..

We have just gone through the process of importing the MH into Spain, what a nightmare! If you think there is red tape bringing one into the UK, think again! Importing it from Germany to the UK was a breeze compared to the Spanish experience.

THe big subject for us now is changing the insurance. We are currently insured with the Caravan Club, but of course need to find a competive quote here in Spain or a European insurer..

Any help would be appreciated. We had quotes of 1700 euros at a local broker today..

Cheers,

Colin

thieawin

Under EU rules you must insure witha company issuing policies and having offices in the country of registration. So you must use a Spanish insurer.

Just as in UK lots of choice and lots of different pricing. There are bound to be specialist insurers. maybe through a Spanish Motorcaravan club.

Get hold of a Spanish motorhome magazine and see, you must have some grasp of the lingo to get where you did. Remember now you are Spanish registered your UK insurance is no longer valid, so do hurry

One thing, why re register? You can keep a vehicle in Spain for 6 months per year on UK plates, the ITV test is much tighter than MOT and the 6 months is very liberally interpreted as "on the road". In other words keep a record and all the days off road in a park, as long as not taken out, or for a car in garage, don't count. I have an IOM registered car in Spain, had it there for 4 years,not brought it back, we don't have MOT in IOM, but as it is garaged for 200+ days it is OK

I presume you are not permanent spanish residents and haven't taken out spanish residency? If you have, then you do have to register straight away.

billym

I do not know the answer but surely there are loads of adverts in the Costa Blanca/ del Sol News etc for insurance brokers in English. I guess it is just like here you have to trawl through them all. One day one will be cheaper than another, the next the opposite. Try www.mvseguros.com who do motorhomes .

Cocky

Thanks both,

We will be more in Spain than anywhere else, so importing the MH makes sense and in real terms we will be residents as we are likely to spend the most amount of time at our house in Almeria region.

It is all well and good running around on UK (or other EU) plates so long as you keep the legal requirements for that Country up to date, ie for the UK a current MOT test certificate and excise licence! The Guardia in this area have been having a huge clamp down here, I am not surprised nor do I blame them. We see dozens of vehicles with tax discs displayed that ran out 4 years ago! Offenders are having their vehicles seized and crushed.. So be warned if you are keeping such vehicles in Spain or at least our region.

Thanks for the link for the MH specialists, that is the sort of info we are really after.. I'll look out for a Spanish MH magazine.. I expect I'll have to find a newsagent on the coast .. our town has only just dicovered newspapers let alone periodicals!!

Cheers

Cocky

Cocky

Detourer

Hi Cocky

As your vehicle is now Spanish reg'd your only problem is insurance [as you say]. The concept of Motorhomes is at a loss with most Spanish insurance companies, result is they do not offer cover. I in fact know of only one company here......Unfortunately details are not to hand but I will forward asap......

Registration is not an issue, as you have done it........But for those starting the expensive and complicated process I would say the best advice is form some of the Spanish ex-pat forums.......such as

Cocky

Detourer

[quote="I would appreciate the company details.. I take it they cover fro trips to other parts of Europe and north Africa!!

Cheers,

Cocky[/quote]

I will get company details to you as soon as I get docs back that I have left in a vehicle I have loan'd out Rolling Eyes

Most/all of the Spanish insurance co's are NOT including North Africa [Morocco] in new policies.......but ARE covering rest of Europe without the time/duration restrictions of UK isueing companies.

hogan

Hi Colin
Having the same problem,but as i lived here before I imported from Germany it was even more stressfull I have just found this insurance company in Madrid that specialises in motorhomes give them a ring on 914087841 ask for george or pilar or e mail them at