Cars

[bookman]

I am expecting to spend more time on the Island and want to
look at buying a second hand car.
I have seen on the forum some suggestions for car dealers,
can someone advise me on.
Insurance.     Car or Driver?
Spanish MOT ?
Vehicle Tax ?
Anything else I should be aware of.

[Mr G]

We used About Cars, they advertise on here.
Car sold with 2 year warranty,2 year mot(itv),
They arranged insurance with Direct Line, a great hassle free experience.
Wieberen is very good. Would recommend as many others have.
Good luck

[MLA]

Insurance - Car not driver I believe

[paully]

I believe you need to have a residents card called NIE, before you can buy one. If its a used car you need to check if there is any debt on it, as such a debt transfers with the car, ie outstanding HP or traffic fines. The Spanish test certificate is called an ITV and is valid for 2 years, so make sure it isnt imminently due for one.

  The Insurance is much more straight forward than the rip off UK, and basically anyone over 25 can drive it. (British Insurers will never allow this to happen in case it dents shareholder profits!!).

   Others have reported very satisfactory purchases of ex hire cars from Overcame, the Opel dealers in Rosario. These cars come thoroughly repaired, resprayed, full service and 12 months dealer warranty. I also understand that said dealer has English speaking sales staff, so that might help..

[bookman]

Thanks everyone.  Can anyone confirm the resident requirement. I own a property and have a bank account here.

[Globetrotter]

I believe you need to have a residents card called NIE, before you can buy one. If its a used car you need to check if there is any debt on it, as such a debt transfers with the car, ie outstanding HP or traffic fines. The Spanish test certificate is called an ITV and is valid for 2 years, so make sure it isnt imminently due for one.

  The Insurance is much more straight forward than the rip off UK, and basically anyone over 25 can drive it. (British Insurers will never allow this to happen in case it dents shareholder profits!!).

   Others have reported very satisfactory purchases of ex hire cars from Overcame, the Opel dealers in Rosario. These cars come thoroughly repaired, resprayed, full service and 12 months dealer warranty. I also understand that said dealer has English speaking sales staff, so that might help..

Only up to 10 years, after its every year 

[Globetrotter]

Thanks everyone.  Can anyone confirm the resident requirement. I own a property and have a bank account here.

Much tighter now, requirements now include proof of income or job, health cover so not a burden on the State, and also consider the driving licence requirements.

[decho]

Thanks everyone.  Can anyone confirm the resident requirement. I own a property and have a bank account here.

If buying from Orvecame you will need an empadron as well as NIE.

[SheilaW]

If you own a property then you either have or can easily get the documents you need. Just a current white NIE certificate needed (not the green 'registro') and the padron.

[Globetrotter]

The Padron always seems to me to be a bit of a grey area, it is supposed to be a database of residents living there I presume like the UK register of electors, but you can have one if not living there, the local Government use the figures for funding purposes.

[bookman]

Where would I get the NIE and Padron ?

[Globetrotter]

NIE from the National Police Station in Rosario, the Padron from your local Town Hall.

[emmi]

bookman, as you have stated you own a property, then you should already have your NIE - your lawyer handling your purchase would have obtained it for you as part and parcel of the deal.  You should have a piece of paper which shows your NIE number and it will also appear in the escrituras ( deeds) of the property. 

Just an addition, you do not need to be a permanent resident to have an NIE or empadron, the fact you own a property is enough.
You can then easily get the empadron, by taking your deeds ( or a copy of them) with your passport and NIE. to the town hall and registering there.  You will need to ask for an empadron certificate for purchasing - a car for example. It is really easy.  Which part of the island do you have your property?

[bookman]

Sorry for the delay. Papers back in UK. Checked the paperwork and can only find ref to  DNI/ NIF.
One is just numbers, the other finishes with a letter.

[PHo]

NIF and NIE are the same, just a tax identification number. It is called NIE for residents and NIF for foreigners, but most people call both NIE.

[Grampiangranny]

We purchased a second hand car for use in Fuerte last year after doing a lot of homework. I would advise anyone buying one to buy in Gran Canaria. Prices are way cheaper, particularly in dealers showrooms and it cost us the princely sum of 3.30Euros to bring it back to Fuerte on the ferry.  The total cost of the operation being less than £100 and a lovely mini-cruise day out to boot.  We got a 3 year old Fiat Panda with 48K kms on the clock and a year's warrantee for 4900Euros, which equated to about £3500.  Very pleased with it. It is the car that is insured in Spain, so anyone over 25 years of age with 2 years driving experience is insured to drive ours.

You will need NIE documentation updated, if you bought your property a year or two ago, but in doing so at the Town Hal for around 8/9 Euros, you then get the same travel discounts as locals for the following 6 months ( ie, do it before possibly travelling to another island........we could have saved ourselves 50 quid!

This is a very useful website for anyone looking for cars.....

http://www.coches.net/

and for insurance.......Atlantic Insurance in Corralejo

Email: info@aibsl.net

Telephone: 928 537 730

Mobile: 646 008 496

Address: Avenida Juan Carlos 1, No. 27, Corralejo

Good luck!

[Black 5]

Just curious , what is an updated NIE? mine is just a sheet of A4. Also why does a dealer need an Empadron , I bought my car privately and Traffico only needed NIE and passport.
Cheers