Save time and money: How to handle the purchase and export of classic cars from Spain.
Buying a classic car that’s over 25 years old in Spain is undoubtedly a very attractive option. You could save a lot of money if the car is in good condition and the information provided is clear and complete.
Exporting any goods and a car in particular involves several parties: the previous owner, the land carrier, the traffic authority, the shipping company, the agent at the destination, national tax agencies, and, in some cases, a car dealer. Let’s take a look at some of these parties and the key questions to ask to ensure a successful export.
OWNER
It’s important to know who the previous owner is so you can speak with them directly, including whether there’s a representative acting on their behalf. Here are three questions to help you avoid a lot of headaches:
Why are you selling the car?
How often have you used it?
Have you been in any accidents with it, or has it had any mechanical problems?
Owners are neither better nor worse than dealers; they are people with their own interests.
At this stage, it’s easy to spot any issues, and resolving them would be inexpensive; for example: missing MOT certificate, outstanding debts or tampering, or incomplete documentation. If any of these problems arise after you’ve already purchased the car and it’s on its way to the port, stay calm: it would be better to cancel the transaction or call your Spanish agent!
DEALERS
Car dealerships may have a “bad” reputation (though not particularly in Spain)
That’s pretty unfair. They often don’t know how the car has been maintained or its full history, but they’ll be more reliable when it comes to meeting deadlines and more resourceful in the face of any obstacles.
The main issue:
Car dealers don’t lie any more than car owners do. They need to maintain their reputation to keep selling, unlike the owner, who will forget about the buyer once the money is in their pocket, knowing that the next owner will be from abroad.
Please note that, before purchasing the vehicle, the dealership must send you
The dealer may be acting on behalf of the owner or on their own behalf. Ask them. Therefore, don’t buy cars from a dealer who purchased the car from another dealer: this is what we call a dead end.
TRAFFIC
Anyone who has had to deal with them knows that the officials at the Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT, which stands for Dirección General de Tráfico) live in a world of their own.
So be patient and hire a professional.
The vehicle must be deregistered in order to export it; it’s a very simple process… or a real headache, depending on the car’s previous status (whether it passed or failed its inspection, etc.) and the region of Spain where the car is purchased… And it also depends on the clerk who happens to be working on your case that day!
The typical behavior of Spanish civil servants could fill a lengthy treatise. Simply knowing that the staff at the DGT will treat you slightly differently than, say, the staff at the Hilton Hotel will make the process less painful.
TRANSPORT COMPANIES
Without a doubt, transportation is the most dangerous part of the process.
Remember: it’s not the owners, the dealers, or the traffic agents, it’s the carriers who make the difference between a dream and a nightmare.
Make sure that you or your representative chooses a suitable carrier and ask about the total cost of transporting the vehicle.
Generally, when shipping a vehicle by boat to another country, there are two stages:
1. Ground transportation
The cost of which can be high relative to the total cost of transportation.
2. Maritime transport
The price varies depending on the distance and also depends on the weight, the type of container used, etc.
Our most recent transport from the port of Nerja to the port of Málaga cost us €900 plus €200 for a crane to load the car onto the truck. This price is very high and could have been lower… if we’d had enough time to shop around. But the ship was about to arrive, and the land transport had to be completed within two days.
Shipping to a port in the Netherlands or Norway can cost around 800 euros from a Spanish port. Shipping to the U.S. East Coast could cost around 1,800 euros. It’s essential to compare several quotes and be well-informed, as any lack of information will cost you money. Trust your instincts when dealing with shipping companies. Choosing the right agent is more a matter of intuition than numbers, as “unexpected” expenses can drastically increase the final price.
For example: Parking a vehicle at a port while waiting for the ship to arrive costs about €100 a day: make sure your car arrives at the port on time and not days before departure.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you proceed with caution, take every detail and every link in the chain into account, and seek expert advice. Your representative in Spain will handle any issues that arise and keep you informed in real time.
We handle all the necessary paperwork so that your only concern is enjoying the vehicle when you receive it.
On this regard, visit www.despachocarrion.com, where you’ll find experts with extensive experience in this field. And call Carr & Asociados at +34 91 9546375 (Spain) or +44 141 4882222 (United Kingdom and the rest of the world).
It’s a win-win!