Buying a bike in Spain

[ClaudeNfat]

Can a foreigner (non-EU, in fact Canadian) buy a bike in Spain? what would be the requirements?

[xfiltrate]

Hi , ClaudeNfat you have a great web site!!!! I am a US citizen and this year bought a new BMW in Spain. This was possible because I am a legal resident of Spain - having jumped through all the immigration hoops several years ago.

I am in Spain and just phoned up my BMW dealer to confirm that as a Canadian you cannot purchase a vehicle or motorcycle in Spain unless you are a diplomat or a legal resident. Info to the contrary appreciated.

I was surprised that only one name is allowed on each Spanish vehicle/moto title so sharing a title with a legal resident or a Spanish citizen seems to be out as well.

Also FYI Getting a Spanish driving permit is really difficult - especially if taking the exam in English from the official Spanish translation. (the translation could be better) The handling test seems to be designed to discourage new drivers too. You must cough up money to a driving school and use the motos provided by the school for all official testing. I don't get it - corrections welcome re the facts. Anyone who knows different please post as non EU licenses are only valid for tourists and for ? months after gaining residence status.

Rules seem to be heavily enforced here. I feel much like a Don Quiote - vibrating at a different - perhaps South American frequency - when compared to the Spanish system.... I also live in Buenos Aires.

I love Spain, once you get to know a Spaniard you have a friend for life, who really cares, this makes the rules much more bearable. Seems to be rules regarding friendships too...At least this has been my experience. But, all regulations are expected to be followed, even the King's son in law has been accused of corruption???

hope this helps ride hard ride free

[ClaudeNfat]

Hi exfiltrate, thanks for taking the time to call your dealer and answer.
The solution I found, until I get a NIE (if I ever get one), is to purchase the bike (a used one obviously) through a dealership who then gives me papers as if I am on a rental. At the end, ¡f I decide to sell the bike, they will sell it for me and give me the proceeds. I thinks it is fair. How long are you staying in Spain?
cheers
claude

[xfiltrate]

ClaudeNfat - your previous post is a very creative solution to the problem of a foreigner buying a bike in Spain. Out of the box thinking like yours magically provides creative solutions when shared with other over landers on Horizons Unlimited.

Thank you and perhaps we will meet in Spain. I just travel a lot, no plans at the moment.

xfiltrate ride hard ride free

[ClaudeNfat]

fill-up the EX-15 form stating that you request a NIE for the purchase of a vehicle, annex a copy of the invoice/contract/pro-forma invoice to the form and present it to an office of extranjeria or comisaria de policia.
Same day or a few days later you will receive your NIE.
Then go the Finance Ministry (Haciendo) to have this NIE activated (de alta)
Once you have purchased your bike, go the transito department with the vehicle papers, copy of the seller's DNI, a copy of your NIE, your passport and the forms that you paid the taxes (a gestor will do that more efficienly and for a mere 25€, I can recommend one in Granada). and in 20 minutes you have the papers in your name. Then you obviously have to purchase insurance. That's it, It took me 3 days.

[xfiltrate]

Claudenfat we are riding out of northern Galicia Wednesday. Today is Monday.

Will be riding part way along the Camino de Santiago headed for Valencia. Will

be on the beaches of Valencia by the weekend. Are you anywhere in route?

xfiltrate

[ClaudeNfat]

hi X
too bad I'm in Morocco at the moment !! coming back to Spain later this week... let's keep in touch

[estebangc]

Glad to hear it was easy enough to buy it and you are already travelling around.

Any foreigner, resident or not, needs a NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero; Foreigner Identity Nr.) to buy a vehicle (or any property or I'd say anything, as long as it has some fiscal implication) which is in the case intended to be identified by the Tax Authorities (Hacienda formerly, nowadays "Agencia Tributaria"). We Spaniards have a NIF (Fiscal ID Nr, which is already in our ID).

Since July 2012, application must be done in person, whether in Spain or submitting the documents via a Spanish Embassy/Consulate (why so it's a long story, but mainly due to frauds regarding the residence). You need to fill up form EX-15, as well as form 790 for the application payment, AND you don't have any more to justify with documents why you need the NIE, but just to explain it (buy a bike, house, be named member of the board of Spanish society, etc). Whoever asks you to justify with documents why is wrong since July 2012 under the new legislation. But it happens often since it has always been like that (for non-Europeans citizens).

I know for sure that residents can buy vehicles (obvious) and that non residents can buy them and import them out of Spain to their home countries. But I don't know if you can just buy it without import. Is that your case, ClaudeNfat? I'd like to confirm it.

Happy you made it easy enough, eventhough the bureaucratic procedures.
Enjoy your rides in the Iberian Peninsula and beyond (the Straits!)

Esteban

PS: I'll be around Avila & Segovia this weekend with a couple of friends on Vespas... Top speed 70 km/h!
PS2: Xfiltrate, loved reading how you enjoy Spain. Considering the current situation, it's good to know that some values still seem to remain.

[rcf650]

Originally Posted by xfiltrate

Claudenfat we are riding out of northern Galicia Wednesday. Today is Monday.

Will be riding part way along the Camino de Santiago headed for Valencia. Will

be on the beaches of Valencia by the weekend. Are you anywhere in route?

xfiltrate

Hi Xfiltrate,

I am in South Galicia, near Vigo, if you are doing the Portuguese route you will be passing by my place.

About beaches, weather wise you are now in the right part of the country.

RCF

[xfiltrate]

To: rcf650, estebangc and ClaudeNfat, seems like if a foreigner secures

NIE in person he/she can purchase a bike. I actually bought my bike while I

was still in Argentina - perhaps that is why BMW told me I had to have

residency in Spain to purchase a bike - because I was not physically here.



Leaving right now from near A Coruña (Mera) had wonderful experience

since May plus 3 month ride to Turkey and back.


Perhaps we will meet in Segovia or on the road this weekend? After to

Alicante to look

for long lost relatives - Spanish navy vets and pirates who sailed to Cuba

and worked the Caribbean merchant ships.

Will look for Vespas we are riding (2) G650-GS one red and one white.

Spain and her people are fantastic - Life is Good

xfiltrate

[bobbyrandall]

Hello to all of you, I am at home in a small village in Avila for the next few days....if you want you can all meet here, you can stay at my place too.....I am near ARENAS de SAN PEDRO, Avila..Sierra de Gredos...great biking country...

[estebangc]

Originally Posted by bobbyrandall

Hello to all of you, I am at home in a small village in Avila for the next few days....if you want you can all meet here, you can stay at my place too.....I am near ARENAS de SAN PEDRO, Avila..Sierra de Gredos...great biking country...

That's very very kind, Bobby, thanks a lot. But not possible, I think. My friends plan to sleep in Don Benito on Thursday, near Merida... if they don't break down before. Then I'm flying to Madrid that night if the damn strike allows me to. Start on Friday morning on a rented scooter with limited kms allowed, so I calculated the route to remain within the limits. BUT, if you feel like having a (0% alcohol!) in San Martin de ValdeIglesias, it's my planned route by mid-late morning on Friday. PM in case you feel like.

Xfiltrate, look for a 1 black and 1 white old vespas... and 1 Piaggio Liberty 125 (colour yet to be defined). I'll watch any BMs 650 passing us!

[estebangc]

Flying Circus update: instead of leaving, the white Vespa suffered today "open heart surgery" and it seems that 58.000kms (more than 80.000kms actually; the clock stopped years ago) are too many and the engine is about to explode.

With the delay, I may go south first to meet them and then head north, plans are way too open (unknown). Bobby, Arenas de San Pedro may even be on the way for a drink and some chat, God only knows!

So beware of the most stupid group on the road, we'd be happy to stop to say hello to anyone crossing the festival of the slow: black Vespa 200, Piaggio Liberty 125 and... yellow GS1200.