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Buying Car for holiday home

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 11:29am
14 replies318 views7 members subscribed
Helen02

Posts: 21

1 helpful points

Location: Manilva

Joined: 19 Mar 2023

Hi, We're in the process of buying Apartment for holiday home in La Duquesa. We have underground parking and need a little run around car as will be staying upto 3 months at a time. Is it best to buy a second hand left hand drive car in Spain or UK? Or is it cheaper to rent? Any advice on this subject would be appreciated. Thanks Helen

Patrick8

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 11:40am

Posts: 52

12 helpful points

Location: Fuengirola

Joined: 15 Dec 2018

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 11:40am

With such a long stay why not travel over in your British car and drive it back?.... the journey can be pleasant and lots of different routes to take, you can insure the car for driving in Spain easily as well as keep your British insurance as well (I did that for over 10 years.

Helen02

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 12:02pm

Helen02

Original Poster

Posts: 21

1 helpful points

Location: Manilva

Joined: 19 Mar 2023

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 12:02pm

Patrick8 wrote on Thu Mar 23, 2023 11:40am:

With such a long stay why not travel over in your British car and drive it back?.... the journey can be pleasant and lots of different routes to take, you can insure the car for driving in Spain easily as well as keep your British insurance as well (I did that for over 10 years.

Thank you Patrick! Definitely worth considering. Wasn't sure you could do that. 

Patrick8

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:10pm

Posts: 52

12 helpful points

Location: Fuengirola

Joined: 15 Dec 2018

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:10pm

Yes it's easy, and you may well enjoy the journey.

I have done all France and Spain and just the ferry to Santander and dodged FranceI if you want any advice on times and routes, plus the cheapest or fastest routes, Or the most scenic, I will telI you, I have done them all and over 30 times.

Helen02

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:47pm

Helen02

Original Poster

Posts: 21

1 helpful points

Location: Manilva

Joined: 19 Mar 2023

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:47pm

Patrick8 wrote on Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:10pm:

Yes it's easy, and you may well enjoy the journey.

I have done all France and Spain and just the ferry to Santander and dodged FranceI if you want any advice on times and routes, plus the cheapest or fastest routes, Or the most scenic, I will telI you, I have done them all and over 30 times.

Hi Patrick, that would be fantastic thank you so much! We would be interested to know easiest drive and timescales please and avoiding tolls or mountains lol We're mid sixties so easy drive suits us. We would be going early May and returning early July. Any info on Spanish Insurance too would be great. Thanks Helen 

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Helen02

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:47pm

Helen02

Original Poster

Posts: 21

1 helpful points

Location: Manilva

Joined: 19 Mar 2023

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:47pm

Helen02 wrote on Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:47pm:

Hi Patrick, that would be fantastic thank you so much! We would be interested to know easiest drive and timescales please and avoiding tolls or mountains lol We're mid sixties so easy drive suits us. We would be going early May and returning early July. Any info on Spanish Insurance too would be ...

...great. Thanks Helen 

Sorry also avoiding France so Santander. 

Chris 06

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 4:28pm

Posts: 111

42 helpful points

Location: Marbella

Joined: 10 Feb 2023

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 4:28pm

Hi Helen,

I've driven down to Marbella many times from the west and east of Spain.

The country is truly amazing.

But to do it comfortably you have to take the ferry from the uk to Santander, then stop over 2 nights in hotels along the way.

This is added expense and the time eats into your 90 days if you want to spend as much time as possible in La Duquesa?

I would recommend flying, then hire a car.

Car rental companies offer longer rental terms.

If you're thinking of buying a car and leaving it here, if you can afford it, buy new.

Second hand cars are expensive and you don't know what your getting, its a gamble.

Regards,

Chris 

Helen02

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 4:40pm

Helen02

Original Poster

Posts: 21

1 helpful points

Location: Manilva

Joined: 19 Mar 2023

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 4:40pm

Chris 06 wrote on Thu Mar 23, 2023 4:28pm:

Hi Helen,

I've driven down to Marbella many times from the west and east of Spain.

The country is truly amazing.

But to do it comfortably you have to take the ferry from the uk to Santander, then stop over 2 nights in hotels along the way.

This is added expense and the time eats into your 90 days if you want to spend as much time as possible in La Duquesa?

I would recommend flying, then hire a car.

Car rental companies offer longer rental terms.

If you're thinking of buying a car and leaving it here, if you can afford it, buy new.

Second hand cars are expensive and you don't know what your getting, its a gamble.

Regards,

Chris 

Hi Chris, 

Thanks for this great info too. This site is so useful 😊 I'm discovering.

Regards Helen

Patrick8

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:01pm

Posts: 52

12 helpful points

Location: Fuengirola

Joined: 15 Dec 2018

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:01pm

Helen02 wrote on Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:47pm:

Hi Patrick, that would be fantastic thank you so much! We would be interested to know easiest drive and timescales please and avoiding tolls or mountains lol We're mid sixties so easy drive suits us. We would be going early May and returning early July. Any info on Spanish Insurance too would be ...

...great. Thanks Helen 

I too am mid 60's also, so really do know what is best for you.

I will reply reply in a lot more detail over the weekend as really busy now....pleased you like the site, it can be really helpful...

Helen02

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:19pm

Helen02

Original Poster

Posts: 21

1 helpful points

Location: Manilva

Joined: 19 Mar 2023

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:19pm

Patrick8 wrote on Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:01pm:

I too am mid 60's also, so really do know what is best for you.

I will reply reply in a lot more detail over the weekend as really busy now....pleased you like the site, it can be really helpful...

Much appreciated Patrick. Thank you 😊 

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