Introduction and cars

Hi

If you haven't been before, then I suggest you visit.  Although English is the official language, llanito and Andalucian Spanish are widely spoken.  If you are London-based then Gib is very different, I'm just writing up some facts on my blog so if you check it out later, it may help.  It is a small place.

Anyway cars.  You need to be a Gib citizen to legally drive a Gib registered vehicle.  No road tax, and MOT every two years.  Fuel is cheaper in Gib, than it is in Spain, and much cheaper than the UK.

The border crossing is slow at peak work times, ie commuter times, particularly Friday as lots of people go to Spain for the weekend to visit family or for a weekend away.

I can't say that we have experienced any bias on a Gib plated vehicle anywhere in Spain.  Note that, your vehicle should be in good nick, you MUST have the correct papers on you - ID, driving licence, insurance, MOT if required etc etc. Or they can legally confiscate your vehicle.  That's goodbye to your £70K Range Rover

I would say buy what you want, I wouldn't particuarly hire a car in La Linea unless you were only going to visit Spain infrequently.  But I would also say you don't even need a vehicle in Gib.

roughseasinthemed wrote:

If you haven't been before, then I suggest you visit.  Although English is the official language, llanito and Andalucian Spanish are widely spoken.  If you are London-based then Gib is very different, I'm just writing up some facts on my blog so if you check it out later, it may help.  It is a small place.

Anyway cars.  You need to be a Gib citizen to legally drive a Gib registered vehicle.  No road tax, and MOT every two years.  Fuel is cheaper in Gib, than it is in Spain, and much cheaper than the UK.

Thanks for your response. I will go looking for your blog.

I am a British Citizen, full UK passport holder and full UK drivers licence holder, would that entitle me to drive a Gib registered vehicle in Gibraltar? It is my intention to buy property in Gibraltar under the HNW/Cat2 scheme.

OscarWilde wrote:

When one is fed up with London, one is fed up with life

I am looking for a quieter, warmer pace of life. I'm fed up with bars on the ground floor windows and CCTV cameras everywhere. I want somewhere with bars and good restaurants; I can travel to London, Paris, Madrid or Rome if I want a culture hit. I also like the idea of official documents printed in English and the availability of UK TV.

I was thinking to buy a car for the weekly shop to the big Morrisons and perhaps to the Carrefour either in La Linea or further afield. I won't however be making you an offer on your Range Rover, was more thinking Mini/Fiat 500. I was also thinking of a few days away in places like Seville or Malaga, would probably not choose to drive much further than that.

Thanks for your help,

Blu

blulagoon wrote:

Thanks for your response. I will go looking for your blog.

I am a British Citizen, full UK passport holder and full UK drivers licence holder, would that entitle me to drive a Gib registered vehicle in Gibraltar? It is my intention to buy property in Gibraltar under the HNW/Cat2 scheme.

If you haven't found it yet, here it is.  The link is for a Gib facts post, and I'm planning to do some more in a similar vein.

I did write about importing cars into Gib (on a separate blog) but if you are looking at buying then you don't need to know that.

I would have said - read the above - ie You need to be a Gib citizen to legally drive a Gib registered vehicle.  (That should have read resident by the way, sorry for any confusion)

But, and this is a big BUT, different rules apply for CAT2 status particularly as a lot of CAT2s are not here all the time.  However, I can't see that legally and technically if you are planning to retire here full time, you can buy and drive a Gib-plated vehicle in Gib and Spain if you don't have the residence status (which I can't imagine being a problem at all for Cat2s).

The theory/gossip is that if you go across the frontier and the Guardia Civil stop you and ask for ID, and you can't produce Gib ID card, then they can confiscate your vehicle. 

As getting an ID card is relatively simple if you are legit and solvent, then I recommend you do it.  If you have money to burn you can use a relocation specialist to do this for you. In fact I would do it for you for half the price they charge.  Otherwise I recommend you wander down to the Immigration Office and DIY.  On a good day there may be no queue.  Or you may have to wait 20 minutes or so, in which case take a book. (There is nowhere to park outside but it is central town). It is a dead straightforward process, simple form, two passport photos required, proof of ID, residence, some financial resources, and costs a fiver.

OscarWilde wrote:

When one is fed up with London, one is fed up with life

I am looking for a quieter, warmer pace of life. I'm fed up with bars on the ground floor windows and CCTV cameras everywhere. I want somewhere with bars and good restaurants; I can travel to London, Paris, Madrid or Rome if I want a culture hit. I also like the idea of official documents printed in English and the availability of UK TV.

Ah, yes. Tired of London, tired of life.  Thought it was Samuel Johnson myself but I may be wrong.

Well it is quieter and warmer.  Pretty damp in winter and can be humid in summer too.  There are bars on ground floors in our street - but we aren't CAT2 status. We've worked in CAT2 properties (decorating/gardening/property maintenance) and they didn't have bars.  Most modern blocks of flats don't have flats on the ground floor, they are usually commercial, following the Spanish fashion, or just a reception entrance area.

There are some CCTV cameras here though.  Not a lot.  In some areas, probably not enough.  There are plenty of bars and pubs all within walking distance, some of which are decent, and obviously some of which are not.  In our opinion there are probably half a dozen good restaurants - but it always depends what you want.  You won't find The Ivy here, but when we went it was awful.  I would not recommend pub food by and large as it is invariably crap, sometimes expensive crap, with the odd exception.  The last time we ate out was at the Maharajah which always has consistently good food in our experience.  There is - some - culture in Gib, given the size of the place.  There are different lecture programmes, plenty of history stuff, a bit short of decent art galleries, and quite a lot of active social groups.

Can't say about TV as we don't watch it.

I was thinking to buy a car for the weekly shop to the big Morrisons and perhaps to the Carrefour either in La Linea or further afield. I won't however be making you an offer on your Range Rover, was more thinking Mini/Fiat 500. I was also thinking of a few days away in places like Seville or Malaga, would probably not choose to drive much further than that.

Morrisons isn't that big!!  Even though it has expanded a few years ago.  And there are problems with shortage of stock once everything has been cleared off the shelves, usually at the weekend, so by the beginning of the week there is often little fresh produce available as the store waits for the next deliveries from the big trucks.  Never been to Carrefour as we tend to shop in Gib.  There is a reasonable local daily market, and plenty of small shops around the place. 

No Range Rover here, just a few old Land Rovers which are cherished and adored.  Seville, Malaga, and probably Cadiz are all pretty equidistant.  If you didn't choose to drive, then there are regular and good bus services.

Nearer the time, I'm happy to recommend (or caution against) firms, businesses, restaurants, etc etc.  Bray Properties at Ocean Village provides a CAT2 service, Diana Bray, her daughter Charmaine, and can't remember the son's name, are all very helpful.  I don't know enough about any of the others who deal with CAT2.

Thanks for your help,

Blu

You're welcome. Ask away if you have other questions.

roughseasinthemed wrote:

I would have said - read the above - ie You need to be a Gib citizen to legally drive a Gib registered vehicle.  (That should have read resident by the way, sorry for any confusion)

Ahh, thats what confused me. As I believe Gibraltar citizens are entitled to British citizenship, it would seem odd if they then couldn't drive a vehicle there. As soon as I commit to buying property I would become a resident of Gibraltar, get the ID card etc. One of the estate agents I'm looking at is Bray Properties, who say on their website they offer the cat2 resident services for free.

Its my idea that I'll spend between 6 and 9 months of the year in Gib, with a trip to the southern hemisphere for the worst of the winter.

roughseasinthemed wrote:

Morrisons isn't that big!!  Even though it has expanded a few years ago.  And there are problems with shortage of stock once everything has been cleared off the shelves, usually at the weekend, so by the beginning of the week there is often little fresh produce available as the store waits for the next deliveries from the big trucks.  Never been to Carrefour as we tend to shop in Gib.  There is a reasonable local daily market, and plenty of small shops around the place.

So I guess the best day for the weekly shop is the day after the big trucks arrive!! I was thinking maybe a lot of Spanish meats and cheeses might not be available, likewise wines, which could then be sourced in La Linea. 

roughseasinthemed wrote:

Nearer the time, I'm happy to recommend (or caution against) firms, businesses, restaurants, etc etc.  Bray Properties at Ocean Village provides a CAT2 service, Diana Bray, her daughter Charmaine, and can't remember the son's name, are all very helpful.  I don't know enough about any of the others who deal with CAT2.

As above, Bray Properties is on my radar. If I let you know once I have made travel plans, maybe you could arrange an introduction to Diana over a bottle or two of vino. I'd probably stay at O'Callahans Hotel as it seems pretty central to the area around Main St.

Thanks again for all your help.