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Daily Life
Practical guides to the everyday side of owning property in Spain — setting up electricity and water, healthcare access, driving licences, car insurance, and ITV inspections.
Buying a Used Car in Mallorca as a Non-Resident
Buying a used car locally in Mallorca is usually easier and cheaper than importing from home. Here's how the process works — ITV check, transfer tax (ITP), registration at Tráfico, and insurance.
Read guideCar Insurance in Spain for Non-Residents
Car insurance is mandatory in Spain for any vehicle you drive. Here's what the law requires, how fully comprehensive cover works, how to insure a Spanish-registered car with a foreign address, and what the green card means.
Read guideDriving Licences in Spain for Non-Residents
Which driving licences are valid in Spain, for how long, and what you need to do if you become a Spanish resident. Covers EU licences, UK post-Brexit licences, US and Canadian licences, and the exchange process.
Read guideElectricity Contracts for Your Spanish Second Home
Everything non-resident owners need to know about electricity contracts in Spain — how to set one up, the difference between regulated and free-market tariffs, standing charges, and what to do if the supply has been cut off.
Read guideHealthcare in Spain for Non-Residents
How healthcare works in Spain for non-resident property owners and visitors — from EHIC/GHIC cards and private health insurance to medical emergencies and what UK retirees need to know about the S1 form.
Read guideITV: Spain's Vehicle Roadworthiness Test
Spain's ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) is the equivalent of the UK MOT or German TÜV. Here's how often you need one, how to book in Mallorca, what it tests, what it costs, and what happens if you fail.
Read guideWater, Community Fees, and Other Utilities for Non-Resident Owners
How to set up water supply, understand community of owners fees, and manage other utilities as a non-resident property owner in Mallorca — including what happens if you miss payments.
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