Expats Portugal Forum - How to import car into Portugal

How to import car into Portugal.

http://www.portugal-life.co.uk/index.html
Hello and good morning to all you expats living in Portugal.
I have created a site to offer help and advice for expats in Portugal and one of the most common questions we get asked to give information about is how to import a car or vehicle into Portugal. Because this is one of the most common items people are searching for we have added an article covering all the legal and technical things you need to know to get your car or vehicle imported and made legal for you to drive in Portugal. Full details are below and also on the site.


I have added a forum for you all to join and meet other like minded people. The forum is free and you can ask as many questions as you like. I have also allowed people to buy and sell good as many of the other forums don't seem to allow this, I don't know why. On the forum you can meet others just on line and create a good online community. You many want to find out about a particular event happening in your town or village or you can even advertise your event or business.

The site has not been running long so we need all the new members on the forum as we can get to make it a vibrant and good place to get help and advice from others who can share their knowledge.

The website has been made to offer help and free advice on matters that may concern you if you live in Portugal. There are articles on the health care system and what it means to you as an Expat.
We have articles on how to import a car into Portugal.
There are a couple of articles on how to buy property in Portugal with a helpful property buying guide.
We have articles on property tax in Portugal. Answers to what are the tax laws in Portugal.
We even have a section on how to learn Portuguese, all the lessons are free and online. later we will be putting all the lessons together and giving it away free as a PDF download so you can print it out or just use the free lessons on your computer.

If you have a question you need help with you can contact us and we will try to help.

Importing & Registering a Car in Portugal

How to register and import a car in Portugal from the UK or any EU country.

With so many British Expats now in Portugal it’s no wonder it is one of the top Expats destinations to import a UK car and as ever their are plenty of complications and rules to the import process.

Visiting Portugal with your Car

You do not have to register your car if you are only visiting Portugal. You can drive your car on a foreign registration plate for 　6 months of a year.

 

 

You do not need to register your car if you do not intend to move to Portugal full time and take up residency there full time.

The car can stay on foreign number plates if the car is driven onto Portugal by the registered keeper of the car and only driven by them when the car is in Portugal. They cannot be a registered Portuguese resident. The car can only be used for private use not business.

 

Registering a car in Portugal

To register a car you have to be a Portuguese resident so this means having a　Cartao de Residencia which is a residency card.

The car has to be road legal in Portugal. You can obtain more Information on this matter from the Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes Terrestres or IMTT. But basically most European cars with certificate of conformities will be road legal.

If you buy a tax free new left hand drive car you will need to pay VAT around 23% this is payable at the local customs office who will calculate this on your tax free invoice price. If you have paid tax in another EU country then the customs office will issue a Fiscal Certificate accordingly. No import duty is chargeable for an EU import.

 

Documentation you will need

When you want to register your car you will need the following documentation:

– The fiscal certificate or tax clearance form issued by customs.
– A Certificate of Compliance (Form Model 9) issued by the IMTT confirming that the vehicle is "Road Legal"

– Certificate of conformity, COC (Certificado de Conformidade CEE)
– A certificate of roadworthiness (IPO) The technical inspection (Inspeccao Periodica Obrigatoria, IPO) is made at an IMTT approved garage. It confirms vehicle identification, brakes, tyres, emissions, noise levels, lights, steering, windscreen and wipers, and chassis condition much like a UK MOT.

– Driver’s licence

– Proof of identity (passport, identity card (Bilhete de Identidade))
– Proof of residency (Cartao de Residencia)

Once all of these documents are in place and presented you should be in a position to receive PT plates! The costs vary from car to car.

 

 

Importing a car into Portugal: More info

 

If you plan on moving to Portugal and make it your permanent residence, you can import your vehicle. If you are 18 and have been owner of the car for over 12 months, you can apply for a tax exemption request at the Portuguese Customs Office within six months of the transfer of residence.

For those staying in Portugal on a temporary basis, there is a way to avoid paying the vehicle import tax for up to 90 days or for 183 each year if:

? The vehicle is registered in another EU member state.

? The registered owner is not resident or employed in Portugal.

? The owner is the one importing the car themselves.　

This is ideal for expats who only spend part of the year in Portugal and want to bring their car with them.

For more detailed information about importing your car into Portugal, please check with the Portuguese Embassy in your country.

http://www.portugal-life.co.uk/article-import-car-portugal.html