We have lived in Spain for over three years and have moved hassle-free to new locations on a modest budget four times. Recently, buying a used car added more joy to our experience. For us, Spain is a well-functioning society full of dedicated and service-minded individuals.
Reading different expat forums is very useful when you move to a new country, and I spend some time every day there to check out the latest advice and news. Spain is often criticized for its bureaucracy and the mañana mentality. In the beginning, the many stories about terrible landlords and neighbors, unfriendly and frustrating bureaucratic processes, and unreliable and cheating craftsmen made me worried. Would I be able to navigate safely here?
My husband arrived first, knowing only a few Spanish words, and fixed what was needed on his own: my NIE number, tax residency, social security, and Spanish driving license. The only problem he had was a kind but unfocused lawyer he hired to prepare the papers for my residency application. It was a nail-biting and challenging experience that had to be solved very fast, but we managed by making the right decisions, and I wrote a little about it here.
It was natural for me to take over the communication with Spanish authorities since I knew a little Spanish when I arrived, and my experience so far has been very good. The same goes for landlords, internet and telephone companies, and all other services. We use online banking since traditional Spanish banks are more expensive than we are used to, and we always do good research.
So far, we have lived in La Herradura (on the coast of Granada), in El Hierro (the smallest of the Canary Islands), in Icod de Los Vinos, and then in Buenavista del Norte (both in North Tenerife). The latter was the most expensive flat we have rented: a newly furnished three-bedroom and two-bathroom apartment with a private roof terrace and fast fiber internet for a price of 480 Euros, including water and community fees, close to grocery stores, restaurants, beaches, and public transport on a one-year renewable contract. All our landlords have been attentive and very helpful, and I guess the secret is to avoid the tourist ghettos and holiday urbanization. We also avoid real-estate agents who ask a month’s rent for their services. Responsible landlords and rental agencies follow the new rental law that protects the tenants, who are the kind of persons to deal with.
We have managed fine without a car. Spain has a modern public transport system that has served us well. But we have just found a great furnished flat in an area with unreliable public transport on Costa Blanca and our brave intent of not having a car has ended.
Used cars are relatively expensive in Spain. People normally keep their cars for a long time, and the second-hand market is a bit limited. The cheapest way is to buy directly from the owner, but of course, it is the riskiest. It also involves a lot of paperwork, so the safest is to find a good and professional dealer.
Car dealers in typical tourist zones tend to be a little expensive, so my husband started looking for dealers primarily serving Spanish customers. He was lucky to find one he liked in an industrial area in Alicante, only 45km from us, Carrera Sport Car, that advertised a 2007 Hyundai Accent that had gone 71,000 km with one owner and one year warranty. The sunny weather in southern Spain makes cars last long and this one will be able to serve our needs for many years. My husband was steadfast in not buying a new car. A little scratch and patina is only good, and if you get one more while parked on a narrow Spanish street, it’s nothing to worry about. 🙂
© Photos by Eldar Einarson
Here is a link to more info about buying a car in Spain.
