SteveBarbosa - 14 May 2009 05:50 PM
I am staying for the long term as my wife is spanish and we are moving back to start a business. Its registered in my name at the moment in UK. We will drive it down and register it within 6 months as we need to insure it. My wife will do all the paperwork so no need for an agent. The car is only worth 4k in the UK (Its a Renault Gran Scenic 1.6 VVT 2004). This is the practical option but its not a reliable car and I hate it.
I have another car which is my pride and joy, but its not practical - 3ltr coupe bmw 330 sport worth about 5k. Wife says I have to get rid, but this car is much more reliable and at least the air con works!!!
Was thinking of selling both cars in the UK. Then with the cash buy another car e.g. Mazda 6 in UK. Then take that down to Spain as its cheaper to buy it 2nd hand here than it is in spain.
Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?
In a word yes,
If you are going for LHD, they will be just as expensive to buy in the UK as in Spain, and once you have gone through the registration process you will find the total costs IE Purchase, Ferry/drive down costs/registration, will probably be more than if you had purchased in Spain, Second point with the current financial climate there are many many bargains about for cash, from both dealers and Expats going back to UK. I bought my first car in UK (LHD) and registered here, to find it would have cost about the same in overall terms, since then I have bought in Spain, through Ebay from an Ebay dealer down in Cadiz, cant fault the car, 12 months any garage guarantee, all transfer done for me in the price , car delivered to my door in Murcia from Cadiz, and the Car was 2300? cheaper than any other alternative I could find both locally, on the net, and from UK Dealers, I checked with 6 other buyers from this guy before i committed.
company was lhd 4 spain, Great to deal with, fantastic value and smooth transaction ,, My advice keep an eye on ebay for them if you have time, and you will get a great deal,
Thirdly if you are moving to Spain and starting a business, there are plenty of issues you will need to be chasing on for big bucks than trying to save on car purchase( like legality of house, horrendous paperwork, etc etc)..