The easiest way of acquiring a vehicle with valid Portuguese registration documents is to

purchase a new vehicle from an authorised agent in Portugal who will register the vehicle for

you. This has the added advantage of having agents close by to provide service, guarantees,

and spare parts. However, importation is an option and there can be tax advantages for new

residents from within the EU who import a vehicle they have owned for more than 12

months.

You cannot have a foreign licenced vehicle in Portugal for over 6 months in a year, after that

time you need to legalize the vehicle by importing it.

In order to do the car Importation you should follow these steps: Firstly, to use the vehicle

legally whilst the importation process is underway, the owner should apply at the Customs

applicable, apply for exemption or determination of vehicle tax. The vehicle will then be

Individuals who are moving to Portugal and who have resided in another EU state, for at least

12 months prior to their arrival in Portugal, and who can provide proof of this (utility bills),

whether they are moving to Portugal or already living here.

For new residents in Portugal who come from an EU member state country, the vehicle must

have been bought in the country of their previous residence, not have been exempted from

any tax, and have been owned for at least 12 months before transfer of residence, when

transferring the residence, you must cancel the residence in your country of origin

immediately. Exemption must be requested within six months of transfer of residence,

providing that you did not have any income from in Portugal until then. This can be done at

one of seven Customs offices (Lisbon, Matosinhos, Aveiro, Setúbal, Faro, Funchal and Ponta

Delgada).

After presentation of the documentation to the Customs, they provide a receipt that permits

the vehicle to be driven in Portugal for the period indicated on the receipt. This period is

renewable until the importation process is complete, which can be up to one year.

Exemption from vehicle tax can only be claimed once in any ten years.

department responsible for registering vehicles and vehicle ownership and for issuing

registration numbers.

Portuguese number plates can only be issued for a vehicle previously registered in another

country when its technical specifications meet Portuguese and/or European Union standards.

If the model has not been approved for use in Portugal but the vehicle was registered in

another EU country, then the original or a notarised copy of the manufacturer's certificate

from that country is required. The vehicle will also need a technical inspection at a

registered test centre. For motorbikes this includes a noise level test. The approval of

models not previously registered in the EU is much more complicated.

After submitting the documentation an inspection to the vehicle needs to be done to confirm

the vehicle's chassis and motor numbers, the number of passengers, and that lights,

reflectors and safety equipment meet Portuguese standards, this inspection is done only in

Inspection Centres classed as “Centro de Inspecção Classe B) In the Algarve you can find one

A number of organisations will undertake the registration of vehicles; these include the

resident, the use of one of these agents may simplify the process. The Yellow Pages gives a

Vehicle tax is based on engine size and age of vehicle as well as the CO2 emission. For light

non-commercial and 4-wheel drive vehicles/ commercial vehicles the tax, can be calculated

from the following tables, multiplying the capacity (cc) by the appropriate tax rate, then

subtracting the deduction adding to than the result of multiplying the CO2 emission by the

relative tax then subtracting the deduction. For used vehicles there are reductions on the tax

related to CM3 when the vehicles are more than six months old and are imported from

another EU country where all relevant taxes have been paid.

As an example we used a 6 year old, petrol run car, 2.000cc engine capacity and a CO2

emission of 140:

CC: 2000 x 4.25 = 8500 – 4857.50 = 3642.5 – 52% = 1748.40

CO2: 140 x 31.50 = 4410 – 3549 = 861

1748.40 + 861 = 2609.40

The following tables apply to light non-commercial vehicles, light commercial vehicles

weight, and for 4-wheel drive vehicles lighter than 2500kg:

Engine capacity tax (Table A)

Engine Capacity

in Cubic Centimetres

Tax by CC

(in euros)

Tax band

adjustment

(in euros)

Up to 1250 0.90 670.00

Over 1250 4.25 4857.50

CO2 emission tax (Table B)

CO2 emission bracket

(in grams by kilometre)

Tax

(in euros)

Adjustment

band

(in euros)

Cars on Petrol

Up to 115g/km 3.50 329.00

116 to 145 31.50 3.549.00

146 to 175 38.00 4.491.50

176 to 205 90.00 13.591.50

More than 205 125.00 20.766.50

Cars on Diesel

Up to 95 10.00 730.00

96 to 120 48.00 4.340.00

121 to 140 98.00 10.340.00

141 to 170 119.00 13.280.00

More than 170 168.00 21.610.00

Reductions in the ISV tax for used vehicles imported from another EU country

Age of the Car % OF REDUCTION

From 1 to 2 years 20%

More than 2 years to 3

years

28%

More than 3 years to 4

years

35%

More than 4 years to 5

years

43%

More than 5 years 52%

tax.

For those applying for exemption of tax you will also need:

consulate)

form is used for severely disabled people or any other situation entitled to

exemption.

date)

during the last 3 years.

government

them.

Severely disabled people must also provide a document proving this disability.