Are Second-Hand Left Hand Drive Cars Really That Expensive?

A look behind the price tags — and why the answer might surprise you.

Spend any time browsing the used car market in Spain or mainland Europe, and something becomes quickly apparent: Left Hand Drive (LHD) cars seem to command eye-watering prices compared to their Right Hand Drive (RHD) cousins in the UK. It’s not just a few grand here or there — we’re talking double the cost in some cases. A tidy little BMW convertible that fetches £7k in the UK? You’ll see it listed for €15k in Spain, and that’s before you’ve even started negotiating.

So, what gives? Is Spain’s second-hand market simply more expensive? Are LHD cars really worth that much more? Or is something else at play?

Let’s take a drive through the facts, figures, and a bit of automotive psychology to get to the heart of this pricing paradox.

The Big Picture: Market Dynamics at Work

At first glance, it seems like an unfair comparison. The UK has a rich second-hand market, loads of choice, and cheaper cars. Spain’s market feels tighter, slower, and — yes — more expensive. But it’s when you step back and look at Europe as a whole that things start to make sense.

The UK drives on the left and buys RHD cars. Almost every other country in Europe drives on the right and uses LHD. That means a used RHD car has a very limited resale market. Unless you’re selling to someone in Ireland, Malta or Japan, that car’s staying firmly in the UK. And the UK second-hand market is absolutely flooded with vehicles.

More cars, fewer places to sell them = lower prices.

Now flip that to LHD. A car in Spain can be sold to a buyer in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal — basically, the rest of Europe. LHD cars circulate more freely, cross borders easily, and as a result… they hold their value better.

This isn’t just theory. When you compare used prices across LHD countries, they’re surprisingly consistent. France, Germany, Spain — all in the same ballpark. The UK is the odd one out, with dramatically lower prices across almost every category. So it’s not that LHD prices are too high — it’s that the UK market is unusually cheap.

Let’s Talk Examples

To really make the point, let’s look at a few specific vehicles — favourites of ours and popular across the continent:

Range Rover Evoque (2013)

• UK (RHD): Around £7,000 for a clean 2013 model with reasonable miles.

• Spain (LHD): Expect to pay €14,000–15,000 for the same year, even with more kilometres.

That’s double the price — and yet, demand remains strong in Spain. Why? Because that Evoque could just as easily sell to someone in southern France or coastal Italy. The resale chain is far longer.

BMW Z4 Convertible (2009–2011)

• UK: You’ll find tidy examples for £6,500–£8,000.

• Spain: Listings hover around €13,000–€16,000.

Even with more sun on the bodywork and a few extra km on the clock, the Z4 in Spain fetches a serious premium. Buyers know that a good LHD soft-top will hold value year after year — and in places like Ibiza, demand for open-air driving never really cools off.

Classic Range Rover Vogue (2008)

• UK: We’ve seen them go for as little as £2,000–£3,500.

• Spain: The same car, LHD, might cost €9,000–€11,000.

Again, the pattern repeats: Spanish prices seem steep — until you realise they’re not “Spain prices,” they’re Europe-wide prices.

So Why Do UK Prices Skew Our Perception?

Let’s be honest: as UK-born and bred car lovers, we’re used to good deals. The UK is a high-turnover, fast-moving, RHD-only marketplace. Dealers need to shift stock fast. Private sellers are competing against thousands of similar listings. And exports? Virtually non-existent, unless you’re talking about rare classics.

As a result, UK used car prices are low. Very low. And when we compare them to prices in Spain, it feels like we’re being ripped off.

But it’s not Spain that’s overpriced — it’s the UK that’s undervalued.

We’re conditioned to think a 10-year-old BMW should be a £7,000 car. So when we see one for €14,000, we flinch. But across most of Europe, that is the going rate. The car just holds its value better because the market is so much larger and better connected.

Do Classic Cars Buck the Trend?

Interestingly, no — even classic cars follow the same pattern. Left Hand Drive classic vehicles in Spain (and Europe) often fetch more than their RHD equivalents in the UK.

That said, the classics market is more nuanced. A truly rare RHD version of a beloved classic can sometimes command a higher price due to its scarcity. But in general, a well-maintained LHD classic in Europe will hold its value longer than a RHD model in the UK — simply because more people can buy it.

Even the humble Suzuki Santana, a much-loved workhorse in Ibiza, holds value surprisingly well when sold locally. Try finding one in decent nick in the UK for under £3k — then look at listings in Spain where €6,000–€8,000 isn’t unusual for one in good shape.

Other Factors That Push Left Hand Drive Car Prices Up

Beyond the left/right divide, there are a few more reasons why LHD used cars cost more:

• Climate: Spanish cars often have less rust due to the dry conditions, which makes them more desirable over time.

• Lower mileage lifestyle: In Ibiza, for example, a car will do far fewer miles annually than in the UK — adding to longevity.

• Perception of value: Many buyers see European-sold cars as better maintained or higher-spec, especially German imports.

• EU-wide resale opportunity: A buyer in Spain knows they could sell the car in Austria, Portugal or even Poland. That makes every sale more valuable.

Is There Still Value in Buying UK RHD Cars?

Absolutely — but it depends on your plans.

If you’re an expat in Spain looking to bring your UK car over, you’ll get a bargain. You can pick up a tidy RHD model for far less than you’d pay locally. But… and it’s a big but… registering it in Spain, converting the headlights, handling the ITV, and dealing with bureaucracy can and will quickly eat up any savings you thought you'd made.

Likewise, if you plan to sell that RHD car in Spain down the line, don’t expect top dollar. Most locals won’t touch RHD cars with a barge pole, and even other expats know they’re harder to shift and will give them a wide berth.

So, What’s the Verdict?

LHD second-hand cars in Spain are more expensive — but not because the market is overpriced. They're more expensive because:

• They serve a much larger audience

• They retain value better

• They're more in demand

• And the UK market, by contrast, is so overstocked and insular that RHD cars just don’t command the same money

If you're buying in Spain, yes — you’ll pay more than you would back in Blighty. But you’re also buying into a market that’s more stable, more connected, and better suited for long-term ownership or resale. You’re not just buying a car — you’re buying into a network of demand that stretches across a continent.

And if you're in Ibiza? You're buying something else too — the freedom to explore a sun-drenched island in a car that fits the lifestyle. Whether it’s a Defender tackling dusty trails or a Z4 hugging the curves of Cala d’Hort, sometimes you get what you pay for — and a little more.