Hi, newbie in UK temporarily

M

Miri

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Aug 4, 2025
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Globecar Globescout
Hi all,
I live in Spain but am in the UK for a few months and I've just purchased a Globecar Globescout (2019).
Have joined because, amongst loving all things motorhoming and camping, have become a fan of the "Globies" thread which has 27 pages of Globecar modifications made by members.
So, here's hoping I get a chance to make some mods myself, whilst trying to get out and about for a few days here and there with the van!
Thanks for having me!
Miri
 
DBK said:
Welcome! I'm assuming you bought the van in Spain? If not...
Click to expand...
We actually bought it here in the UK - it belonged to an elderly British couple who were resident in Spain when they bought it. They then brought it back and returned to the UK to live due to health reasons. They imported it into the UK, but they haven't told Spain that they took it out, so...😜
 
w2f


Miri said:
They imported it into the UK, but they haven't told Spain that they took it out, so...😜
Click to expand...
Spain would have been notified as to import it in to the UK they would have had to supply dvla with the ficha tecnica & the permiso de circulacion , which would then have been reeturned to spain

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gus-lopez said:
w2f



Spain would have been notified as to import it in to the UK they would have had to supply dvla with the ficha tecnica & the permiso de circulacion , which would then have been reeturned to spain
Click to expand...
"would have", "should have" being the operative words :) In reality, they don't really communicate any more, have already been onto the DGT and the only thing outstanding was the road tax with the town hall...that's since been paid and nothing standing in our way to get her into our name. Once we go back over this winter, we'll take the registration docs (we have the original Ficha Técnica and we'll have a new Permiso de Circulación in our name) into a shop, get the plates made up (on the original Spanish number) and put them on, pop through the ITV, and all sorted!
 
Miri said:
We actually bought it here in the UK - it belonged to an elderly British couple who were resident in Spain when they bought it. They then brought it back and returned to the UK to live due to health reasons. They imported it into the UK, but they haven't told Spain that they took it out, so...😜
Click to expand...
So you have a set of Spanish plates and a set of UK plates ?
Interesting, I'd keep that very quiet!

Just ensure that you remain taxed and insured on the UK plates until you arrive in Spain.
Then SORN the vehicle for the UK and cancel the insurance.
It means you can always bring it back to the UK if you need to.
(Make sure it's registered in your name to a UK address)

Then put on the Spanish plates, gut it TuV'ed, insured etc and you should be good to go.

You will just have to be really careful about exactly where and when to switch identities.
(Same applies if you drive back in to UK and switch the identity again)

As I'm sure you are aware; you are not permitted to have a UK plated vehicle in Spain longer than 6 months, or a Spanish plated vehicle in the UK longer than 6 months.
 
Miri said:
We actually bought it here in the UK - it belonged to an elderly British couple who were resident in Spain when they bought it. They then brought it back and returned to the UK to live due to health reasons. They imported it into the UK, but they haven't told Spain that they took it out, so...😜
Click to expand...
Cunning! If it still has a Spanish registration all should go well I suspect but one of the Spanish experts here should be able to confirm that. Peavy jumar jumartoo ?
 
And you can technically only SORN when the vehicle is in the UK
 
Well, it helps that I hold dual nationality and have lived in Spain for many, many, years :)
I have a digital certificate, so I can just do the transfer with the DGT online, myself - I had the vendor sign a Spanish sale contract with his NIE details and his Spanish address where the van was registered.
When I get back, I'll leave it on the UK plates and UK insurance for a couple of months, as it covers me in Europe for 60 days, and, just before the end of that, I'll get the Spanish plates back on and ITV it. The plan is to then let the DVLA know that I'm exporting - I don't think I'll ever want it back on UK plates as it's a Spanish van, it's LHD, and the UK is too expensive nowadays for me to come for anything longer than a short holiday...
In all honesty, had this van not come up and had these rather "special" circumstances, we wouldn't have gone ahead in the UK at all with a purchase, because it has become nearly impossible to register a British motorhome in Spain, for anyone other than people who are actually in the process of becoming a Spanish resident now, so it just didn't make any sense and we would have waited to get something once we got back.
As it is, we got it for a great price in today's market and, if we wanted to (and haven't yet fallen head over heels with it!) we could just sell when we get back and we'll have had the pleasure of it virtually cost-free, for the months we keep and enjoy it.
 
Brains said:
So you have a set of Spanish plates and a set of UK plates ?
Interesting, I'd keep that very quiet!

Just ensure that you remain taxed and insured on the UK plates until you arrive in Spain.
Then SORN the vehicle for the UK and cancel the insurance.
It means you can always bring it back to the UK if you need to.
(Make sure it's registered in your name to a UK address)

Then put on the Spanish plates, gut it TuV'ed, insured etc and you should be good to go.

You will just have to be really careful about exactly where and when to switch identities.
(Same applies if you drive back in to UK and switch the identity again)

As I'm sure you are aware; you are not permitted to have a UK plated vehicle in Spain longer than 6 months, or a Spanish plated vehicle in the UK longer than 6 months.
Click to expand...
Maybe he needs some of these😁

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Illustration Reaction GIF by Kochstrasse™ .agency
 
Miri said:
Well, it helps that I hold dual nationality and have lived in Spain for many, many, years :)
I have a digital certificate, so I can just do the transfer with the DGT online, myself - I had the vendor sign a Spanish sale contract with his NIE details and his Spanish address where the van was registered.
When I get back, I'll leave it on the UK plates and UK insurance for a couple of months, as it covers me in Europe for 60 days, and, just before the end of that, I'll get the Spanish plates back on and ITV it. The plan is to then let the DVLA know that I'm exporting - I don't think I'll ever want it back on UK plates as it's a Spanish van, it's LHD, and the UK is too expensive nowadays for me to come for anything longer than a short holiday...
In all honesty, had this van not come up and had these rather "special" circumstances, we wouldn't have gone ahead in the UK at all with a purchase, because it has become nearly impossible to register a British motorhome in Spain, for anyone other than people who are actually in the process of becoming a Spanish resident now, so it just didn't make any sense and we would have waited to get something once we got back.
As it is, we got it for a great price in today's market and, if we wanted to (and haven't yet fallen head over heels with it!) we could just sell when we get back and we'll have had the pleasure of it virtually cost-free, for the months we keep and enjoy it.
Click to expand...
Personally I'd simply SORN it in the UK after 60 days in Spain.
It's simple to do on line and costs something like£15.
You just need to have a UK address for the paperwork.
You dont need to do any more.

But it means when you come to sell it the very unique Dual Nationality feature would make is very sellable to a certain sector of the market.
YOU may not want to bring it back to the UK, but it would be nice to give the next owner the option.
 
Brains said:
Personally I'd simply SORN it in the UK after 60 days in Spain.
It's simple to do on line and costs something like£15.
You just need to have a UK address for the paperwork.
You dont need to do any more.

But it means when you come to sell it the very unique Dual Nationality feature would make is very sellable to a certain sector of the market.
YOU may not want to bring it back to the UK, but it would be nice to give the next owner the option.
Click to expand...
Hmmmm, not a bad idea, might just do that - no issues with having an address for paperwork :)
 
Brains said:
But it means when you come to sell it the very unique Dual Nationality feature would make is very sellable to a certain sector of the market.
Click to expand...
But unfortinately it is also totally illegal. Regardless of who & how it ended up with two regustrations,when it is found out all the blame will fall on the owner,certainly in Spain it will. Even if the spanuiards in authority made the mistakes the fault is yours for not knowing there job,rules & laws better than they do.I've had it before.Never ceased to amaze me that it was my fault that I didn't correct them at the time. & that's another impossibility.
 
And just a small point...if it's left Spain and gone into the UK DVLA system and then finds it's way back to Spain, would that need Import duty being paid...
It's such a unusual scenario there isn't any yes or no answers to any of the questions other than what gus-lopez has written about the legality..

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I hope everything goes well

Best wishes and welcome to the Fun House
 
Miri…..As a “Free Member” on the MotorhomeFun Forum, you are entitled to 5 free posts only. This provides a taste of the community before deciding whether to subscribe for full access. Once those five posts are used, you must subscribe to continue posting. You have now had your 5.

I wonder how wise it is to post all of the details of what appears to be an illegal activity on an open forum for all to see. If someone at the DVLA (or Spanish Authority) reads this thread, it seems you have already confessed! If challenged it will be difficult to plead not guilty.
 
Millcourt said:
Miri…..As a “Free Member” on the MotorhomeFun Forum, you are entitled to 5 free posts only. This provides a taste of the community before deciding whether to subscribe for full access. Once those five posts are used, you must subscribe to continue posting. You have now had your 5.

I wonder how wise it is to post all of the details of what appears to be an illegal activity on an open forum for all to see. If someone at the DVLA (or Spanish Authority) reads this thread, it seems you have already confessed! If challenged it will be difficult to plead not guilty.
Click to expand...
Deleted, Gif doesn't work. :rolleyes:
 

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