Importing a car to Portugal: calculate first, register later
Registering a foreign vehicle in Portugal is possible. It is also one of the more demanding administrative routes for expats: ISV, DAV, technical inspection, IMT, the customs portal, deadlines and Portuguese registration all connect with one another.
That is why we do not start with forms. We start with an honest initial assessment: is importing the vehicle likely to make sense in your case?
Is importing a car to Portugal worth it?
For many people moving to Portugal, buying a vehicle locally makes more economic sense than importing their existing car. Portuguese ISV depends, among other things, on vehicle type, engine size, CO2 emissions, age and origin. In relocation cases, an exemption may be possible under strict conditions.
Importing may make sense if the vehicle is new, low-emission, valuable, rare or personally important – or if an exemption because of a change of residence can realistically be assessed.
What we do for you
- Initial check of the documents and economic plausibility
- Explanation of ISV, possible exemption and deadlines
- Coordination of the necessary steps around DAV, technical inspection and registration
- Interpreting and support with authorities and service providers
- Clear indication of cases where a specialised provider or legal adviser would be sensible
Import a car without starting the paperwork blindly
We also tell you when importing the car is unlikely to be worth it.