Wanted - Buying a Car in Mallorca

[Jay-PP]

Hello

I'm a little fed up with Car Hire companies, the wait to pick one up, the hard sell of insurance, the return and inspection.. Never had a major issue, but now its time to buy our own car.. Second hand, reasonable condition. I've been to a few dealerships in Inca and know that cars are more expensive than back in the Uk and that some but, not all Spanish treat parking a car with little respect for other cars around them.. What I could do help with is.

1. A decent dealership?
2. A decent insurance company? (using Mapfre for apartment)
3. Can I use my Uk Driving Licence, have Irish Passport and NIE, Last year was here for 145 Days (not consecutive)

Thanks in advance for any help

Jay

 

[mike_dublin]

@Jay-PP Welcome to the forum and best of luck with your car buying plans.

Here's a thread from a few years back about the same topic, where you might find some useful info -

R

Thread 'Buying a car in Mallorca'

Oct 19, 2019

Hi all
We've taken the plunge and bought an apartment in Pollenca at last. I want to buy a second hand car, and started looking but its all very different to UK. The sales staff, even at main dealers are so laid back its really odd, sort of "there is the car take it or leave it. I'm off back to my office!" They'd be sacked in 2 minutes in the UK but I'm not particularly criticising it, I think we have gone money mad at home and not in a good way at all. Each to their own....

Anyhow, the second hand cars are generally scruffy, dented not looked after and hugely expensive.EG we saw an 2014...

• ricky230
• Replies: 18
• Forum: Living & Working in the Pollensa Area

 

[Rockape]

I was chatting to a Guy on a plane who said he went to Barcelona to buy a car and brought it over on the ferry. Reckoned he'd saved thousands!

 

[Disorderly]

When I retired seven years ago we bought our apartment in PP and a car. We went to Skoda Inca and bought a Skoda Fabia Estate which was 18 months old. We still have it, and it has been fantastic. I take the car back to Skoda Inca for service every year and they also do the ITV (MOT). They are brilliant. I use Linear Directa (Direct Line) for insurance and am still paying the same annual premium as seven years ago. Your driving licence is fine. We have an annual parking contract at Palma Airport…..expensive but very convenient. Bear in mind the MOT requirements in Spain. New cars are exempt until 4 years old. Then need a test every other year until 10 years old, when it is then required annually.

Hope this helps.

 

[Gommar Goffer]

There are lots of car dealerships in Manacor

 

[bobley]

1. Dunno. I just looked on coches.net, ended up buying an ex hire car from Terrys.
2. Abbeygate. They're English but in Spain. They did use a spare NCB I had in the UK. Policy isn't cheap at €400 for a Seat Leon ST 1.6 (while I only pay £200 for a VW Golf GTD in the UK), but at least anyone aged 25-70 can drive it IF I give them an N332 form ( https://n332.es/permission-to-use-your-vehicle/#google_vignette )
3. I only showed my UK driving license to the insurance... I did need to provide my NIE and proof of address to the seller so his gestoria could sort all the paperwork which took about a month to sort.

I leave the car with Storage and Fly €1200/yr now for indoor storage ( I paid €950 last dec). They meet me at the front door of Arrivals when I drop off or collect the car. They'll do the ITV for me too (€150... hmm). The ITV costs about €40 and you're expected to sit in the car and go through the motions when instructed so if you dont speak fluent Spanish/Mallorquin then I wouldn't advise this. Road tax is added to to your council bill so expect the bill in December to go up a little.