Motorhome insurance for Spanish xpats (1 Viewer)

Dec 26, 2014
447
170
Devon
Funster No
34,560
MH
C
Exp
2014
My friend is a Spanish resident but still as a uk passport.
he now as a motorhome in the uk does anyone know of any insurance company that would insurance his van so he can drive it in the uk
 
Aug 18, 2014
23,539
131,301
Lorca,Murcia,Spain
Funster No
32,898
MH
Transit PVC
Exp
16 years since restarting
My friend is a Spanish resident but still as a uk passport.
he now as a motorhome in the uk does anyone know of any insurance company that would insurance his van so he can drive it in the uk
He needs to sell it. As a spanish resident (passport has nothing to do with it) he cannot legally drive a UK registered motorhome in spain.
EU law. You can only drive a vehilce registered in the country in which you are a resident.
If he gets stopped in spain & pulls out the spanish licence that he should have swopped for, they will realise straight away& usually issue replate papers.
If he is only going to be using it when in the UK he could register it with Liberty Seguros in spain on brit plates as they offer the service & also they notify the midatabase weekly tuesday/Friday of UK plated vehicles they have insured.
 
OP
OP
Rds559
Dec 26, 2014
447
170
Devon
Funster No
34,560
MH
C
Exp
2014
He want to drive it in the uk and keep it there and insure it with a uk company he doesn’t want to bring it to Spain

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Mar 11, 2014
934
1,330
Lincs
Funster No
30,480
MH
PVC
Exp
Since 2010
My friend is a Spanish resident but still as a uk passport.
he now as a motorhome in the uk does anyone know of any insurance company that would insurance his van so he can drive it in the uk

Does he have a UK driving licence? If so down under insurance may cover him.
Friends of friends use them as they are not resident in the UK but keep their motorhome here.

 
Oct 12, 2009
10,430
23,268
SW London, Poland and all Europe
Funster No
8,876
MH
A Class N+B Arto 69GL
Exp
Since 2009
He needs to sell it. As a spanish resident (passport has nothing to do with it) he cannot legally drive a UK registered motorhome in spain.
EU law. You can only drive a vehilce registered in the country in which you are a resident.
If he gets stopped in spain & pulls out the spanish licence that he should have swopped for, they will realise straight away& usually issue replate papers.
If he is only going to be using it when in the UK he could register it with Liberty Seguros in spain on brit plates as they offer the service & also they notify the midatabase weekly tuesday/Friday of UK plated vehicles they have insured.

G-L

I think you are complicating the answer.

The OP's question was about use in the UK.

His friend has a UK passport.

Presumably the MH is registered in the UK.

If he can supply a UK address, which he has to do for re-registering a UK MH in his name, he can use that for insuring with any UK Insurance Company.

It seems it could all be UK-based, with no need for any Spanish involvement. Remember the UK does not have any system of registering Residence in UK, and therefore no requirement to report one has moved country of Residence, so nobody in UK has recorded that he is Resident in Spain.

Geoff
 
Jul 29, 2013
9,048
18,087
Salisbury
Funster No
27,215
MH
Hymer B678DL A class
Exp
since 2011
Would he not need a UK driving licence? As if he had surrendered it for a Spanish one he would need to retake his test?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Rds559
Dec 26, 2014
447
170
Devon
Funster No
34,560
MH
C
Exp
2014
He’s call Liberty seguros no and no to udinsure.
got a spanis licence
 
Aug 18, 2014
23,539
131,301
Lorca,Murcia,Spain
Funster No
32,898
MH
Transit PVC
Exp
16 years since restarting
G-L

I think you are complicating the answer.

The OP's question was about use in the UK.

His friend has a UK passport.

Presumably the MH is registered in the UK.

If he can supply a UK address, which he has to do for re-registering a UK MH in his name, he can use that for insuring with any UK Insurance Company.

It seems it could all be UK-based, with no need for any Spanish involvement. Remember the UK does not have any system of registering Residence in UK, and therefore no requirement to report one has moved country of Residence, so nobody in UK has recorded that he is Resident in Spain.

Geoff
True but as a spnish resident he will have a spanish exchanged licence.
Would he not need a UK driving licence? As if he had surrendered it for a Spanish one he would need to retake his test?
It doesn't work like that.If you surrender any EU licence for exchange in another country you just do the same again if you wish to revert back to your national licence.
He’s call Liberty seguros no and no to udinsure.
got a spanis licence
He will struggle when they ask if he has a UK licence as they'll want to know why he hasn't. He'd have been better buying a spanish one & leaving it in the UK with a run back once a year for the itv. Full,comp, full green card for everywhere, full 365 day european travel.
 
Jun 8, 2019
4,931
18,759
Bexley Kent
Funster No
61,505
MH
Given up Motorhoming
Exp
May 2019
Could he get someone in the uk to insure it and put him down as a named driver? He can pay the insurance cost to whoever insures it. Seems like putting the Mrs down a a second driver.
 
Aug 18, 2014
23,539
131,301
Lorca,Murcia,Spain
Funster No
32,898
MH
Transit PVC
Exp
16 years since restarting
Could he get someone in the uk to insure it and put him down as a named driver? He can pay the insurance cost to whoever insures it. Seems like putting the Mrs down a a second driver.
Problem will come then that the person insuring it isn't the registered keeper or the owner. Should be some companies who will do it though as someone else had the problem this week.
Even if you go down that route when you name the person as a "named driver" there will be an increase in the premium as he will have to state that he has a spanish licence.
 
Jun 8, 2019
4,931
18,759
Bexley Kent
Funster No
61,505
MH
Given up Motorhoming
Exp
May 2019
I don’t pay extra for the wife. The insurance co will not care who owns it they just want your money. What’s wrong with putting down Joe Blogs or whatever their name is as the registered keeper the log book is not proof of ownership. I would not do anything illegal. Tell them the truth see what they say. Nothing to lose. Can he get an international liecence?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

bobandjanie

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 28, 2008
8,144
15,700
Javea, Spain
Funster No
2,360
MH
Pilote V600g
Exp
2007
G-L

I think you are complicating the answer.

The OP's question was about use in the UK.

His friend has a UK passport.

Presumably the MH is registered in the UK.

If he can supply a UK address, which he has to do for re-registering a UK MH in his name, he can use that for insuring with any UK Insurance Company.

It seems it could all be UK-based, with no need for any Spanish involvement. Remember the UK does not have any system of registering Residence in the UK,

and therefore no requirement to report one has moved country of Residence, so nobody in UK has recorded that he is Resident in Spain.

Geoff

I do try to keep out of all these threads, ? because people always seem to think they are above the law, and are not happy and refuse any advise unless it's what they want to hear. ?
Where as Richard is a very good at going round in circles and :banghead:. ?


If that's the case Geoff Nichols why would they ask my wife who was driving our UK registered motorhome back to sell it.
What is the purpose of your visit and how long are you staying .

All I will say is the very day we became residents in Spain, our bank accounts where closed, when we went into the bank the next morning, she looked on the computer and said....... ah that's because your residents and that account is a non resident account. ?
Gone have the days in Spain, when they said don't tell them. ? Bob.
 
Last edited:

Falcon 269

Free Member
Jul 11, 2013
381
1,335
Melton Mowbray, UK
Funster No
26,897
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
2014
My friend is a Spanish resident but still as a uk passport.
he now as a motorhome in the uk does anyone know of any insurance company that would insurance his van so he can drive it in the uk

Probably be helpful to clarify your friend's exact status as far as residence and vehicle ownership/registration goes.

I'm assuming he is a Brit by birth, hence the Brit passport. I'm also assuming that he lives in Spain most of the year, which is why he holds Spanish resident status (residencia).

Alternatively, has your friend moved back to the UK to live permanently? If so, this changes things considerably. For starters, he will have to exchange his Spanish driving licence for a UK one again.

Is the motorhome UK-registered or Spanish-registered?
 
Oct 12, 2009
10,430
23,268
SW London, Poland and all Europe
Funster No
8,876
MH
A Class N+B Arto 69GL
Exp
Since 2009
I do try to keep out of all these threads, ? because people always seem to think they are above the law, and are not happy and refuse any advise unless it's what they want to hear. ?
Where as Richard is a very good at going round in circles and :banghead:. ?


If that's the case Geoff Nichols why would askthey my wife who was driving our UK registered motorhome back to sell it.
What is the purpose of your visit and how long are you staying .

All I will say is the very day we became residents in Spain, our bank accounts where closed, when we went into the bank the next morning, she looked on the computer and said....... ah that's because your residents and that account is a non resident account. ?
Gone have the days in Spain, when they said don't tell them. ? Bob.

Very confusing post.

Who is Richard?

The 'Nichols' boldened in your post comes up as a Free Member from Miami, so that cannot be me as I live in Poland.

As for "why would askthey my wife who was driving our UK registered motorhome back to sell it." - who was 'they'? Anyway we are discussing using a UK-registered MH in UK only.

Your banking in Spain seems to be irrelevant to this thread.

As for suggesting that some ideas are illegal, I hope that was not aimed at me. If it was, please state which ideas.

I suggest your whole post needs re-thinking.

Geoff Nicholson

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

bobandjanie

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 28, 2008
8,144
15,700
Javea, Spain
Funster No
2,360
MH
Pilote V600g
Exp
2007
nicholsong I don't know why it did that, the question is
WHY WOULD THEY Being border control at Calias ASK MY WIFE WHO IS SPANISH RESIDENT DRIVING A UK REGISTERED MOTORHOME
WHATS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR VISIT AND HOW LONG ARE YOU STAYING. ? Bob.
 

Minxy

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 22, 2007
32,488
66,008
E Yorks
Funster No
149
MH
Carthago Compactline
Exp
Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
nicholsong I don't know why it did that, the question is
WHY WOULD THEY Being border control at Calias ASK MY WIFE WHO IS SPANISH RESIDENT DRIVING A UK REGISTERED MOTORHOME
WHATS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR VISIT AND HOW LONG ARE YOU STAYING. ? Bob.
Because she's a Spanish resident so they want to know why she is visiting the UK, we have been asked before by French passport control (in the UK) why we are going abroad. The fact that the MH is UK registered has nothing to do with it unless they were just intrigued why she had it and not a Spanish registered one.
 

bobandjanie

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 28, 2008
8,144
15,700
Javea, Spain
Funster No
2,360
MH
Pilote V600g
Exp
2007
Because she's a Spanish resident so they want to know why she is visiting the UK, we have been asked before by French passport control (in the UK) why we are going abroad. The fact that the MH is UK registered has nothing to do with it unless they were just intrigued why she had it and not a Spanish registered one.

What Geoff nicholsong said was It seems it could all be UK-based, with no need for any Spanish involvement. Remember the UK does not have any system of registering Residence in UK, and therefore no requirement to report one has moved country of Residence, so nobody in UK has recorded that he is Resident in Spain.

So we are British Citizens with our passports, and that's all you hand over, and I was pointing out they know we are Spanish residents. ?
You have a short period after obtaining your residency to drive a UK registered vehicle, then you put it on Spanish plates or sell it. ? Bob.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Rds559
Dec 26, 2014
447
170
Devon
Funster No
34,560
MH
C
Exp
2014
He needs to sell it. As a spanish resident (passport has nothing to do with it) he cannot legally drive a UK registered motorhome in spain.
EU law. You can only drive a vehilce registered in the country in which you are a resident.
If he gets stopped in spain & pulls out the spanish licence that he should have swopped for, they will realise straight away& usually issue replate papers.
If he is only going to be using it when in the UK he could register it with Liberty Seguros in spain on brit plates as they offer the service & also they notify the midatabase weekly tuesday/Friday of UK plated vehicles they have insured.
So are you saying with a uk license you can’t drive a Spanish registered car os Spanish license drive a uk registered car.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Minxy

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 22, 2007
32,488
66,008
E Yorks
Funster No
149
MH
Carthago Compactline
Exp
Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
So we've now established that the OP's friend:
  • Is resident in Spain
  • Has a UK passport
  • Has a Spanish driving licence
  • Has a UK reg motorhome which will ONLY be used in the UK
I can't see how he'll be able to insure it and leave it in the UK permanently unless someone else puts it under their name as the owner with him as an additional driver. The fact that he's got a Spanish and not a UK driving licence may not allow this though. It would obviously mean that he in effect wouldn't own the MH either so the new 'owner' could do what he/she wanted with it and the OPs friend might end up with no MH if they fall out!

Unless there is a specialist insurer who can sort this out I suspect the OP's friend will either have to sell it or take it to and register it in Spain, bringing it back to the UK when he wants to use it here.
 

Minxy

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 22, 2007
32,488
66,008
E Yorks
Funster No
149
MH
Carthago Compactline
Exp
Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
So are you saying with a uk license you can’t drive a Spanish registered car os Spanish license drive a uk registered car.
I believe you can but ONLY if you don't own the vehicle in question (think hire-cars).
 
OP
OP
Rds559
Dec 26, 2014
447
170
Devon
Funster No
34,560
MH
C
Exp
2014
I own a Spanish registered car and drive it on a uk driving license but no deal brexit then driving permit needed

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

bobandjanie

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 28, 2008
8,144
15,700
Javea, Spain
Funster No
2,360
MH
Pilote V600g
Exp
2007
I own a Spanish registered car and drive it on a uk driving license but no deal brexit then driving permit needed

If your Spanish resident, you had two years to change your license to a Spanish one, but for a long time you are advised to change it before Brexit because you might end up taking a driving test in Spain. ?
Probably better if you and your friend to contact Citizen Advise Bureau Spain, and get the latest on these things. ? Bob.
 
OP
OP
Rds559
Dec 26, 2014
447
170
Devon
Funster No
34,560
MH
C
Exp
2014
i do not have Spanish residency but my friend as and a Spanish driving license
 

bobandjanie

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 28, 2008
8,144
15,700
Javea, Spain
Funster No
2,360
MH
Pilote V600g
Exp
2007
i do not have Spanish residency but my friend as and a Spanish driving license


OK, you should check your green card because when we looked into it, you only had 30 days trips out of Spain being non resident, also might still be worth your friend contacting them, they are very good and tell you the rules, can and can't do. ? Bob.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top