Spain Tightens Rules on Transit Vehicles, Impacting Moroccan Expats

"If you go to Spain with a vehicle registered with temporary plates (WW for France), you can circulate freely, as in the rest of the EU territory," it is written.

The French Consulate General issues a warning about transit through Spain to reach a third country. In this case, the Spanish customs considers that vehicles registered with temporary plates that leave the customs territory of the European Union lose their status as Community goods and are exported to a third country, the Consulate specifies.

Consequently, anyone wishing to return with their vehicle to the EU territory (via Spain) must present to the Spanish customs a vehicle import declaration (DAU-Single Administrative Document) and pay the corresponding customs duties and taxes. Failing this, the owner will be subject to a customs dispute for import without declaration, with a possible confiscation of the vehicle, details the same source.

The Consulate also advises to wait for the final registration of the vehicle before using it to go via Spain to a third country, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia... This would avoid the payment of import duties and taxes on return.

In 2017, French regulations did not pose any legal or facial obstacle to the foreign circulation of vehicles with a WW provisional registration, it is recalled.