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Bring my own car to Spain?

  • 02-01-2020 12:13am
    #1
    Titanucd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 132 ✭✭


    Howdy,

    Has anyone driven their own car or indeed any right hand drive car in Spain. I'm going on hols in September and am getting the ferry from Cork to Santander and either going to bring my own car or hire one in Santander.

    If I bring my own car I'll be driving a right hand drive obviously.

    Good idea? Bad idea? Would love to know what other peoples experience of driving their own right hand drive in Spain is.

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    CelticRambler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,965 ✭✭✭CelticRambler


    Do you have particular concerns about driving in Spain, or simply driving a RHD on the "wrong" side of the road anywhere in continental Europe? Before I moved permanently to the Continent, I drove my RHD around most of western Europe (not Spain, though!) Whether it's a good or bad idea for you depends on what your concerns are.


  • #3
    Agent_47
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 761 ✭✭✭Agent_47


    Done it, do it and have had a great time driving my own car. Use a garmin and it will get you out of Santander


  • #4
    Valhallapt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭Valhallapt


    Agent_47 wrote: »
    Done it, do it and have had a great time driving my own car. Use a garmin and it will get you out of Santander

    I’m think of driving my own car this summer too. How did you find the cork Santander ferry?


  • #5
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,719 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    Valhallapt wrote: »
    I’m think of driving my own car this summer too. How did you find the cork Santander ferry?

    Even during the summer that crossing of the Bay of Biscay can be dreadfully choppy. If you get a rough crossing it’s an awful long crossing.


  • #6
    Agent_47
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 761 ✭✭✭Agent_47


    Valhallapt wrote: »
    I’m think of driving my own car this summer too. How did you find the cork Santander ferry?

    Ferry has everything you need but don't expect Al carte dining. It's just a means of getting to Spain and I can't wait to do it again. enjoy


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  • #7
    Agent_47
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 761 ✭✭✭Agent_47


    _Brian wrote: »
    Even during the summer that crossing of the Bay of Biscay can be dreadfully choppy. If you get a rough crossing it’s an awful long crossing.

    Saves wear and tear, tolls and 15 hrs of driving through France though.


  • #8
    ted1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,901 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    Agent_47 wrote: »
    Saves wear and tear, tolls and 15 hrs of driving through France though.

    Flying saves you about 48 hours travelling.


  • #9
    Valhallapt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭Valhallapt


    Agent_47 wrote: »
    Ferry has everything you need but don't expect Al carte dining. It's just a means of getting to Spain and I can't wait to do it again. enjoy

    Did you get any sleep on the ferry? I’m a light sleeper at the best of times


  • #10
    Titanucd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 132 ✭✭Titanucd


    CelticRambler wrote: »
    Do you have particular concerns about driving in Spain, or simply driving a RHD on the "wrong" side of the road anywhere in continental Europe? Before I moved permanently to the Continent, I drove my RHD around most of western Europe (not Spain, though!) Whether it's a good or bad idea for you depends on what your concerns are.

    I’ve driven in Spain a few times in left hand drive so no issue there I find it grand.

    It’s just driving the RHD that has me thinking...


  • #11
    Marcusm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,632 ✭✭✭✭Marcusm


    Titanucd wrote: »
    I’ve driven in Spain a few times in left hand drive so no issue there I find it grand.

    It’s just driving the RHD that has me thinking...

    Will you have someone else with you to deal with tolls, car park barriers? If yes, I’d go with it. I’ve probably done 15-20,000 miles around Europe over the past 10 years. I actually prefer my own cars as I am used to driving them, don’t have to deal with gear stuck in wrong hands etc (hire cars, almost certainly manual). Also find it better to pack clothes in boxes and use only small cases for each stop.

    However, if you will have to manoeuvre alone, prepare to have hassle. Also, don’t be thoughtful like me and let the OH out of the car at the hotel and park the car yourself - did this a few times when I forgot about ticket barriers!


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  • #12
    Agent_47
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 761 ✭✭✭Agent_47


    ted1 wrote: »
    Flying saves you about 48 hours travelling.

    There's a flight thread somewhere else, it'll probably discuss security, bag sizes, flight delays etc. At the end of the flight you get a car hire, you pass your credit card over for a deposit, you diligently photograph every dent, scratch etc and worry what dents and scratches you'll pick up along the way. At the end of your trip, find a garage and fill back up, worry about the baggage allowance again....


  • #13
    Agent_47
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 761 ✭✭✭Agent_47


    Valhallapt wrote: »
    Did you get any sleep on the ferry? I’m a light sleeper at the best of times

    Slept well going out, coming back I should have taken sickness tablets as my last night on dry land I got little sleep.


  • #14
    ted1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,901 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    Agent_47 wrote: »
    There's a flight thread somewhere else, it'll probably discuss security, bag sizes, flight delays etc. At the end of the flight you get a car hire, you ...

    Zero excess car hire , 45 euro for the year removes any worry about hiring a car.
    Also ferries get cancelled a lot , look at last year when Irish ferries had to cancel a while summers worth of booking because 1 ship got delayed in construction

    So you’re only worry is security and bag sizes. You know your baggage allowance when booking so I never see an issue. As for security pay the 8 euro extra and get fast track. It’ll remove any worry. Saving 48 hours is worth it.


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