Registering a car in Portugal: 9 steps to follow
Many of you are planning to move to Portugal and would like to keep your car. If you keep your car in Portugal, you’ll need to register it there. You have 12 months from the date of your arrival to do so. The formalities are quite onerous, and the cost is high. The latter includes the cost of formalities and taxes: ISV(Imposto Sobre Veículos) and IUC(Imposto Único de Circulação).
Many articles have already been written on this subject, and although they are very comprehensive and interesting, they are often rather indigestible. In this article, I’ve tried to “simplify” these procedures as much as possible(which isn’t always easy when you’re talking about administrative procedures!).
So I’ve set out, in table form, the various steps involved in registering/legalizing(you’ll hear both terms) your car in Portugal.
Overview of the 9 steps to registering your car in Portugal
1. The detailed steps to register your car in Portugal: the table
Here is THE famous table with all the key steps for registering your car in Portugal: Which papers? Where? When? When? How much? You’ll find plenty of answers.
To read the table, all you have to do is click on it, and as if by magic, it will appear large on your screen. 🙂
Detailed table of steps to register your car in Portugal
Please note: since July 2017 for step 4, which concerns the DAV, you no longer need to go to the Alfandega, the procedures are done online via the “portal das finanças” website.
Useful links
- IMTT form model 9 here
- DRMT office addresses here
- Addresses of customs offices here
- Portal das financas” website here
2. ISV and IUC tax simulators
As you can see from the table, there are two taxes to pay:
- ISV(Imposto Sobre Veículos)
- IUC(Imposto Único de Circulação)
Different criteria are used to calculate these taxes: the vehicle’s country of origin, type of vehicle, year of1st registration, power in cm3, CO2 emissions, type of fuel.
To find out how much tax you’ll have to pay, click on the simulators below:
- SIV 2019 simulator: to be paid once when you legalize your vehicle,
- IUC 2019 simulator: to be paid annually.
3. ISV? exemption: conditions
Under certain conditions, an exemption from ISV(Imposto Sobre Veículos) is possible (on a single vehicle per person and only once every 10 years). Here are the conditions to be met:
- Have lived for at least 12 months in an EU country other than Portugal,
- Have established habitual residence in Portugal,
- The car must have been purchased in the owner’s country of origin,
- Not have benefited from a tax allowance on the vehicle in question,
- The vehicle must have been owned for at least 6 months prior to arrival in Portugal,
- Apply for exemption within a maximum of 12 months from the date of transfer of residence to Portugal,
- Not resell the vehicle within one year of registering it in Portugal.
If you meet all these conditions, you will need to gather the supporting documents and submit your application to your nearest customs office in order to obtain exemption from ISV.
In conclusion
As you’ve seen, the formalities are onerous and costly. You’ll need to be patient and organized to register your car in Portugal.
If you don’t want to bother with these formalities, there are a few solutions:
- go through a company that offers a vehicle legalization service(approx. €700 incl. VAT, excluding ISV and IUC taxes),
- sell your vehicle in France and buy one in Portugal. Vehicles in Portugal are more expensive, but you won’t have to bother with the legalization process if you choose this option,
- take the risk of not registering your vehicle, but be aware that if you’re stopped by the police, they’ll carry out checks and, in addition to having to pay all the legalization formalities and taxes, you’ll pay a hefty fine.
It’s up to you..
What have you decided? Are you moving with your car to Portugal or not?
If you liked this article, please click on the “Like” button below. And don’t forget to follow us on our social networks: our Facebook group “Amoureux du Portugal”, our Facebook page “Vivre au Portugal” and our Instagram “Vivre au Portugal”.
Receive our latest blog posts and our selection of properties for sale every month
* mandatory fieldFirst name * *Last name Telephone E-mail address * *Current city of residence Focus: *
- Buying a property in Portugal
- Renting a property in Portugal
- Nothing special in mind
Date of arrival in Portugal How can we help you? * * Please contact me:*
- Quickly please
- Later please
Region of interest *
- Almada
- Aroeira
- Seixal
- Setubal
- Other
You can view our Privacy Policy and Termsand Conditions here
Articles Populaires
dernières annonces
Single-storey house with swimming pool
Just a few meters from the magnificent bay of São Martinho do Porto, lies this…
Condominium apartments facing the sea
São Martinho do PortoBeautiful apartments in São Martinho do Porto “Janela da Baía”! Located in the heart of…
Villa already finished and ready to move in: 4-suite bungalow on 750m2 plot in a quiet area of Azeitão
Rua de ParisHouse already finished and ready to move into! Close to shops and services, quick access…
Magnificent house with basement, indoor and outdoor pool in Verdizela/Aroeira
Verdizela/AroeiraNew turnkey project: magnificent single-storey villa, 498m2 in surface area, high-end finishes on a 1875m2…
Goodwill 200m from the beach and 10km from Lisbon!
If you’re looking for a pastry shop / restaurant, fully equipped and close to the…
This T3 apartment in the private Jardim dos Navegantes condominium offers security and privacy.
parque lusoThe condominium offers a large swimming pool, a gym and a magnificent garden with pond…
Luxury apartment on the edge of a nature reserve
Your modern, spacious apartment between the beach and Lisbon’s capital. – Beach 5min – Golf…
If you’re looking for a fully equipped café/tea room close to the beach, you’ve come to the right place!
Business in full operation, includes the establishment’s customer portfolio and takeaway service, with a total…
House T3 1 10 min from Lisbon and 5 min from the beaches
PêraREADY TO MOVE IN! New T3 1 ready-to-live-in house in a quiet, rural neighborhood with…
Inscrivez-vous à notre newsletter
Recevez chaque mois les derniers articles de notre blog "la vie au Portugal" et notre sélection de biens immobiliers à vendre.