Importing a Vehicle to Portugal

When you are considering moving to Portugal you will, no doubt, want to know how difficult or easy it is to matriculate your existing car or vehicle onto Portuguese plates. One of the first things to consider though is the bureaucratic red tape you will have to endure should you wish to import your car to Portugal on a permanent basis.

Although you can legally keep your vehicle - which includes light goods vehicles, trailers, caravans, motor homes, cars and motor cycles - in Portugal for 183 days in any one calendar year you will have to think about permanent importation if you want to keep your existing car and not fall foul of the law.

If you have bought a property, are thinking of buying a property in Portugal or are thinking of renting a property in Portugal for an extended period of time, then you are probably wanting to bring your existing vehicle with you as you will no doubt be comfortable driving it, have a good service history on it and don't want to go to the added expense of purchasing another vehicle.

It is possible to matriculate your existing vehicle onto Portuguese license plates but there are certain criteria which must be followed:

   - the vehicle is for private use only

   - the registered owner of the vehicle is transferring his/her residence from another EU member

     state where he/she has been resident for at least 185 days

   - the vehicle was purchased fully tax-paid in it's registered owner's former country of residence

   - the vehicle has been used by it's registered owner in his former country of residence for at

     least one year.

Vehicle Matriculation Procedure in Portugal

In order to import a vehicle to Portugal, you need to submit an application within a maximum of 12 months of arrival, to the customs office with jurisdiction over your area of residence.

The application should be submitted, together with:

   - a certificate of cancellation of residence issued by the competent authority in your former

     country of residence. (if, as in the UK, there is no such authority, the Consulate will issue a

     certificate on production of your registration certificate or proof you have applied for one)

   - your passport

   - evidence you have lived, as a permanent resident, in your former country of residence for at

     least six months prior to arrival in Portugal (utility bills are accepted though bank statements

     are not).

   - the vehicle's logbook and instruction manual or catalogue.

   -a certificate of compliance or Form 1402 issued by the Direcção-Geral de Viação

     (Portuguese DVLA) confirming the vehicle has undergone an inspection.

   - your registration certificate or evidence you have applied for a registration certificate or a

    declaration from your local parish council (Junta da freguesia) confirming you are resident

     within that jurisdiction.

   - your fiscal card (cartão de contribuinte)

   - 3 years original tax returns or a declaration from the tax office in your area of residence

     attesting to the amount of income earned in Portugal over the past three years.

The customs authorities in Portugal may ask for further documentation, as necessary, so it is advisable to contact them in the first instance for an application form listing the supporting documents require and the fees applicable.

It is also worthy to note if you are making an application take at least two copies of your documentation in case they are mislaid, which is not unheard of.

Once your application has been formally submitted, the customs authorities may issue a limited-validity authorisation (guia de circulação) which will enable you to use your vehicle in Portugal while it is under consideration without any risk of a fine from the Alfendega (customs).

The process takes around one to two months, but don't be alarmed if it takes longer to gain receipt of your new Portuguese registration plates.

Matriculating a Vehicle to Portugal - Points to Remember

If you are matriculating a right hand drive vehicle into Portugal, don't forget you will need to purchase new head and fog lights or lenses to ensure your vehicle passes it's IPO (MOT) test.

Once you have matriculated your vehicle on to Portuguese registration plates it cannot be sold, loaned, pledged or hired out for a period of 12 months following the importation. In addition it may only be driven by it's registered owners or keeps and their immediate family. Only one vehicle may be imported, tax-free per person, once every five years.

The information given is correct to the best of our knowledge. gekkoportugal.com cannot be held responsible for any errors or for any changes to the details that are contained in it.