Cars
Importing your car, buying a new car in Spain, regulations...

DRIVING IN SPAIN
When driving in Spain your vehicle must contain the following items:

Spare bulbs, tools necessary to change bulbs.
First aid kit.
2 red warning triangles.
Fire extinguisher.
Spare tyre and necessary tools to change tyre if necessary.
If you wear spectacles for driving you must carry a spare pair.
From May 2004 you will also be required to carry a reflective waistcoat.

Failure to carry these items may uncure an instant fine, €60+ per missing item. If you are on holiday and do not have the cash on you to pay the, your car can be impounded  instantly and you and your family forced to walk to a cash machine in order to pay the fine! Be warned. If you are a resident be sure to carry your documentation. [This actually occurred to friends of mine in a hire car]
If you are renting a car please note that it is not the liability of the rental company to provide these items ! Before accepting your car make sure it has the items, if it does not demand them. Good idea to check before you reserve your car !
You must also carry you ITV card, your Suma receipt, your insurance documents and if you paid installments by direct debit, a copy of the most recent receipt.

BRINGING MY CAR TO SPAIN
An EU national may bring their EU registered car into Spain without completing formal paperwork and keep it in their second/holiday home but neither they nor any other person may use it in Spain for more than six months in any year. Any person who spends more than a total of six months in any one year in Spain is considered resident and consequently subject to different rules.
Residents importing a vehicle must register it with the local authorities and obtain Spanish national plates. A British vehicle's Registration Document should be surrendered to the DVLA in the UK and a Certificate of Permanent Export [V756] obtained for presentation in Spain.  Download Form V756 here 
However if you are already in Spain check out the Downloads page for The Guide to changing your plates. which includes the forms with english translations and detailed process instructions, this file alone can save you hundreds of euros!

CAN I DRIVE WITH MY UK LICENSE?
An EU driver's license is valid in Spain, and vice-versa. Depending on the country, non-EU driver's licenses may be valid for the first year after arrival in Spain. After that, you are officially required to have a Spanish license. Beware, getting a Spanish driver's license can be expensive.

MOT or ITV?
Direccion General de Trafico [Spain's Traffic Agency] website includes sections on licenses, permits, vehicle registration, how to obtain documents, etc. at the moment only the Spanish area of the site is working.
Road worthiness certificates for right-hand drive cars are now generally available from ITV centres but headlights may need to be adjusted to comply with EU regulations. Download Costa Blanca Centres list
Although most people seem to ignore the legislation, non-residents can only buy vehicles in Spain on temporary tourist plates. These are valid for a six month period in one year and must be renewed annually. Non-residents who change to resident status must obtain full national plates and pay the appropriate Impuesto Especial [Special Tax] of 13%, calculated on the estimated value of the vehicle. 

BUYING A CAR IN SPAIN
When you buy a car in Spain, the documentation takes from thirty to sixty days. In order to make changes the dealer will need a copy of your passport, NIE number, property deeds or rental contract, if you are a resident a copy of your residencia. While waiting for your documents you will be given a Justificante Profesional which is a temporary document giving you permission to drive while waiting!

WHAT DOCUMENTS SHOULD I RECEIVE AFTER BUYING A CAR
You must obtain the registration document [permiso de circulación]; the ITV test certificate plus the technical sheet and a photocopy; the road tax receipt and a photocopy; and a receipt for the payment of transfer tax. You have 15 days to register the vehicle in your name. Be sure to obtain the `transfer of ownership' [transferencia] form from the seller. The form is also available from the provincial traffic department.

INSURING A CAR IS SPAIN
If you are planning to relocate to Spain ask your insurer for a letter confirming your ‘No Claims’ bonus [bonificacion/systema bonus-malus]. Large companies, such as Direct Line will accept your bonus from your home country. Basic mandatory third party insurance will cost approximately €200, which will cover injury claims of up €330,000. It is always advisable to take additional cover for legal costs [defensa penal], theft [robo] and Roadside assistance [asistencia en viajes].