If you move to Portugal on a residence visa, you can usually bring one car per person free of vehicle tax, customs duty and VAT, provided you have owned it for at least six months and apply within twelve months of moving. Without that exemption, a non-EU car pays Portuguese vehicle tax (ISV), 10% customs duty and 23% VAT, which quickly makes the import uneconomical.
In more than 20 years in Portugal I’ve seen clients bring cars that were well worth it, and others who would have done better to sell at home. This guide explains when the import makes sense for Americans and Britons, how the exemption works with a D7 or other residence visa, what it costs without it and how the process runs step by step. Our ISV calculator lets you estimate the tax for your car.
For UK residents with a fairly recent European-built car, often yes, if you qualify for the exemption. For most Americans, usually not: US-spec cars lack European type approval, so they need individual homologation and often modifications to lights and indicators before they can be registered. Add shipping and the import rarely pays off unless the car is a classic or has strong personal value.
Used cars are expensive in Portugal because of ISV, so a car you bring in tax-free is often worth more here than at home. Without the exemption the maths changes completely.
When you transfer your normal residence to Portugal, you can import a car without ISV, customs duty or VAT if you meet these conditions:
As proof of your move you’ll need a transfer-of-residence certificate from the Portuguese consulate in your home country, or official evidence of when you took up and gave up your previous residence. In Portugal you need your residence permit or AIMA appointment confirmation, a Portuguese tax number (NIF), the car’s registration documents and proof of ownership. The official description of the procedure is on gov.pt, and the UK government’s guide for UK nationals is a useful summary.
Timing matters: if you buy a car shortly before your D7 move, you won’t meet the six-month rule. Our guide to the D7 visa helps you plan the sequence.
Without the exemption, a car from outside the EU pays three things: ISV, customs duty of usually 10% on the value including shipping, and 23% VAT. The ISV age reduction that EU cars enjoy generally does not apply to cars previously registered outside the EU.
ISV has an engine-size component and a CO₂ component, each calculated as value × rate − deduction, with separate tables for petrol and diesel and for the WLTP and NEDC test cycles. Diesels pay a further €500 unless the Certificate of Conformity shows particulate emissions below 0.001 g/km. Fully electric cars pay no ISV, and qualifying plug-in hybrids pay 25%. The 2026 tables are unchanged from 2024 and 2025.
Engine size | Rate per cm³ | Deduction |
|---|---|---|
up to 1,000 cm³ | €1.09 | €849.03 |
1,001 to 1,250 cm³ | €1.18 | €850.69 |
over 1,250 cm³ | €5.61 | €6,194.88 |
For a non-EU car, leave the first-registration field empty, since the age reduction normally doesn’t apply. Then add customs duty and VAT to the result. The binding figure comes from the customs ISV simulator.
Right-hand-drive cars can be registered and driven in Portugal, but headlights must be adjusted, overtaking on two-lane roads is harder, and resale value is noticeably lower. Since Brexit, UK cars are imported under non-EU rules. Our guide to moving to Portugal from the UK covers the wider move.
US-spec cars have no European Certificate of Conformity. They need individual approval from IMT, often with technical changes and test reports. Shipping by container to Lisbon or Leixões (Porto) adds several thousand dollars. Get a quote for homologation before you ship.
On top come the vehicle inspection, registration and plate fees and usually a customs agent (despachante). After registration you pay the annual circulation tax (IUC), and the periodic inspection (IPO) is due from year four, every two years until year eight, then annually. A Via Verde toll device, linked to a Portuguese bank account, saves you a lot of hassle on the motorways.
As a visitor, up to 185 days a year. Once you have moved your residence to Portugal, the car must be legalised here; start early, as police check foreign-plated cars regularly and fines or seizure are possible without an ongoing process.
Compare what your car is worth at home with the price of a similar car in Portugal, and add shipping, homologation and, without exemption, duty, VAT and ISV. For US cars the answer is usually to sell.
A car bought shortly before your D7 move loses the exemption because of the six-month rule.
Automatic cars are more expensive and less common in Portugal. If yours qualifies for the exemption, bringing it can be worthwhile.
The process is formal and in Portuguese. Through our vehicle import service we connect you with an experienced partner.
Our vehicle import service handles customs, exemption and registration through a specialised partner. With our relocation service we support the whole move, from your NIF and bank account to the visa paperwork. Planning your retirement here? Read our guide to retiring in Portugal.
Planning your move with your car? Book a free consultation.
Yes, if you transfer your residence to Portugal, have owned the car for at least six months, lived abroad for at least six months before and apply within twelve months of moving. You then pay no ISV, customs duty or VAT.
ISV based on engine size and CO₂, usually 10% customs duty and 23% VAT, plus shipping, homologation and registration. For most US cars that’s more than they’re worth in Portugal.
Yes, but the headlights must be adapted and resale value is lower.
No. Fully electric cars are exempt from ISV and from the annual circulation tax (IUC). Duty and VAT can still apply to non-EU cars without the exemption.
As a visitor, up to 185 days a year. Once you’re resident, you must legalise the car in Portugal.
Yes. The exemption applies per person, so each spouse can bring a car registered in their name for at least six months.
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62 Responses
Hi, how long can I drive my UK car on Portugal before I have to register with portugese motor authority? Regards Bert.
Hi Bert!
You can drive your UK car in Portugal for 6 months before having to legalize it.
Getting clarification: Shipping my car 8 month old car from US to Portugal. Will I still pay ISV? How long can I drive it before it must be registered in Portugal?
Hi Barbara! You’ll need to pay ISV when you get a Portuguese license plate. After your car gets to Portugal, you have 2 months to get it registered. Thank you!
Hi am planning to drive over from the Uk around
May is there people who can register the car and complete all the paperwork without getting
Overcharged regards
Hi!
In order to not overpay, the best thing you can do is get all the paperwork done yourself. It may seem like a lot, but you can get it all done at the same place (IMT).
You can submit a contact form to get further help from us. Good luck!
Hi there
I am thinking to take my Audi 3.2 convertible,07 plate.
What I have to pay if I decide to register the car in Portugal.
Thanks Rafael
Hi!
You will need to pay ISV when you get it registered, IUC annually and IVA if the car isn’t at least 6 months old or has less than 6000 kilometres. The website is in Portuguese but you can calculate the ISV here: https://impostosobreveiculos.info/isv/simulador-isv/. There is also the cost of registration, the insurance (we also have a article on that) and maintenance (car inspections). Good luck!
I have a Toyota Hilux invisible x 2019 2.4 how much would that cost in total to import to Portugal
Hi! You can calculate that here: https://impostosobreveiculos.info/isv/simulador-isv/
Hi, I am looking to purchase a second car in the next few days and drive to down to portugal. I am moving to portugal to live there permanently. What is the best way to do this to afford paying high taxes? Can I wait 6 months until I register in portugal so I dont have to pay VAT?
Hi,
Yes, you can drive your car freely for 6 months in Portugal if you’re driving it down to the country yourself. The total amount of the taxes you’ll have to pay depends a lot on the characteristics of your car, though. But you won’t need to pay VAT if, by the moment you legalize it, your car is older than 6 months and has more than 6.000km on it (which it most likely will) so that’s something! Good luck
Thanks for your reply! Would I still have to register the car with the Portuguese authorities when I enter Portugal? Thanks!
A foreign car can be on the road in Portugal for 6 months without any need to register it! You only need to get it registered right away if you’re officially shipping it or you need to get car insurance here, for example.
Hi,
I am wondering what is the time gap to import the car without a tax? I read it is 10 years since you are a resident. Is that so?
Thank you for your help
Hello!
Importing a car always has taxes associated, for everyone. You will need to pay ISV when you register it, IUC annually and IVA if the car isn’t at least 6 months old or has less than 6000 kilometres. Thank you!
Hello,
I would like to buy a used car from a dealer in the Netherlands to my own country Portugal. Do I have to pay VAT? Is the VAT rule different from individual use and business use? Can I resell it in Portugal in the future?
Hello,
Yes, you always need to pay VAT – individual or business use doesn’t make a difference.
As long as you get it registered properly, you can resell it in the future, yes.
Thank you!
Hi,
I’m planning to drive my car down with me from the UK to Portugal in May 2024 as part of my permanent relocation to Portugal. I bought the car in the UK in December 2023, but for tax reasons, I also became a tax resident in December 2023 (although I haven’t physically moved to Portugal yet).
Do I understand this correctly that as long as I don’t “legalize” the car in Portugal with tax authorities until July 2024, I don’t have to pay VAT (but still need to pay ISV)? I thought the guidance said you had to own the car outside of Portugal for more than 6 months?
The car is over 6 months old and has done more than 6,000km.
Thank you!!
Hi Mike,
Cars imported from outside the EU always need to pay VAT when being registered in Portugal.
Thank you!
Hi there,
Is it worth importing a Tesla from the US, or better buy one in Portugal? Are there special rules for electric cars? Does the age of the car has limits on the import, like certain countries do not allow importing cars older than five years?
Thanks!
It is definitely cheaper to buy a Tesla in Portugal or at least Europe, unless you’re looking at a specific model that’s not available here. There are no age limits on imports! Plus, electric cars pay less taxes – you’re exempt from IUC and ISV.
Thank you!
I am quite confused if I have to pay VAT if I buy a car in Germany and bring it to Portugal.
In Germany I can see few sellers offering to buy without VAT (showing price as Net), but when I bring it here do I need to pay VAT when I register the car? Confused because you mentioned if the car is older than 6 months and done more than 6000km then VAT doesn’t need to be paid.
Hi, Paul. if the car is older than 6 months or has more than 6000km on it, you don’t need to pay VAT in Portugal. In Germany, it may work differently. But, if the car is new and you paid its VAT in Germany, you won’t have to pay VAT in Portugal.
Thank you!
We plan to buy a 3 year old car from a dealership in Germany and have it transported to Portugal where we are residents.
There is VAT on the car added by the dealership. Do we need to pay VAT again when we register the car in Portugal?
There is VAT on the car added by the dealership. Do we need to pay VAT again when we register the car in Portugal?
Hey!
We are looking to buy a small van in the next few days for our move to Portugal (from the UK) in the next couple of days. Our visa approval and move date is predicted to be around October time.
This leaves us in the gap of not owning the vehicle for more than 6 months.
The taxes to import make it not worth so only looking to do this if we are exempt.
So my question is:
If we buy a vehicle in the UK now, drive to Portugal in October (4 months of van ownership), will we be ok to use in Portugal for 2 months (which takes us to the 6 month of ownership) and then register it?
Thank you!
Hi Daniel,
Yes, if you’re driving the van here, there shouldn’t be a problem.
I’m also confused regarding the conflicting statements about VAT. I plan to relocate to Portugal permanently in December. If I purchase a car in the U.S. now, do I need to wait 6 months from the date of purchase before “officially shipping” it in order to avoid paying VAT? Or will I be stuck paying VAT either way?
(I was also told by locals that, regardless of any lawful exemptions in place for expats, the fine for improper taxation is far less than the money received from over-taxing foreigners, so they just continue to do it…)
Hi,
In order to benefit from exemption from VAT and customs duties, as well as ISV, you must have owned the vehicle for more than 6 months.
This starts from the registration date on the registration certificate or, if you have signed a leasing contract, from the moment the contract is signed (upon presentation of valid documentation). In other words, from the date of cancellation of residence, the applicant must have owned the car for more than 6 months from that date.
Thank you for your very informative site.
I will be immigrating to Portugal within the next four to six months when my house sells and I am planning the process.
Are USA classic cars over 30 years old treated any differently than all other cars when it comes to importing them?
Hello Roy,
No, the same conditions apply to your car. Older cars actually have more restrictions in Portugal (there’s certain areas in the Lisbon city center where you can’t drive it) and pay more IUC.
Good luck on your journey!
If I buy a used car in the Netherlands (with 30,000 km) and drive in back to Portugal, where I live as a legal resident, do I have to pay VAT? Should I buy the car at the “net price” in the Netherlands? Thanks for you advice.
Hello Rory,
Yes, when you register the car in Portugal, you must pay VAT. If you already paid this tax in the Netherlands, then you can claim it later.
The clean car title on a vehicle is confusing. The company handling our move to Portugal informed us that the vehicle’s title has to indicate six months of ownership before arrival at the port to qualify for a Certificate of Baggage for an ISV fee waiver.
Can someone please clarify the 6-month clean title ownership rule?
Thanks,
Spencer
Hello Spencer,
Yes, the company is right.
Hi, I live in Turkey, I am a Turkish citizen and I have a Portuguese residence card. I want to go to Portugal with my own car. I will stay in Portugal for 6 months and return to Turkey with the same car. I bought my car in 2018 and the vehicle inspection was done in 2024. During my return to Turkey at the end of 6 months, I will pass through Spain, France, Italy and Greece. How can I use my car without any problems during my stay in Portugal and in the EU countries I will pass through on my return? Kind regards,
Dear Seref, you have to check the registration and insurance terms in Turkey if and how long you are are allowed to stay outside of the country
Am I able to dive a car from Denmark with the plates that are on the car just has long I place insurance on it.
Hi Joe,
Yes!
Hello, I want to buy a new motorhome in Spain and import to Portugal. The Spanish dealer has said they will sell to me free of all taxes and register the vehicle on a ‘Green’ plate which they will.enable me to drive to Portugal where I will then need to register the car and pay VAT and import taxes etc in Portugal. The ‘Your Europe’s website confirms this but I have also been told by a Portuguese business that I would need to be VAT registered to do this. I am confused, can you confirm which is correct? I am a UK national living and fully registered in Portugal since 2017.
Hi Clive, we will contact you with the provided email with more information. Best Frederik
Hello,
Thank you for this excellent and clear information. We have received from the Portuguese consulate our D7 visas (i.e. 4 month stay until the AIMA appointments in Portugal). I read to import my car from the UK and apply for tax exemption I will need to provide my residence certificate or visa. Can I provide the visa in our passports or do I need to wait until I have the (post AIMA appointment) residence card to import the car/apply for tax exemption/register the car in Portugal? If the latter, I’m not sure I would get my residence card until near the end of the 6 months period to register the car in Portugal. Any help here is very appreciated.
You can try with a statement from the parish council attesting to your residence in the rented premises
What happens if you go over the 6 months as I’d like to register but am afraid I’ll get a fine and may have to break the vehicle instead?
Hi Julia, they will not “break” the car but you have to pay a fine IF the find out
I want to move from the uk to Portugal however I have 2 cars. 1 of which runs out of UK MOT soon, can I import a UK car to Portugal if it has no UK MOT?
Yes, you can import it without UK MOT. You’ll just need to pass the Portuguese inspection (IPO) after arrival.
For more details, feel free to contact us directly.
Hallo zusammen
Ich möchte ein Auto in Italien kaufen und nach Portugal importieren.
Was ist zu tun?
Also einfach gesagt. Auto in Italien kaufen und anmelden für Überführung, nach Portugal fahren, in Portugal Auto anmelden und versteuern.
We plan to buy a 3 year old car from a dealership in Germany and have it transported to Portugal where we are residents.
There is VAT on the car added by the dealership. Do we need to pay VAT again when we register the car in Portugal?
The VAT that you pay in Germany does not have anything to do with the import taxes that you will pay in Portugal. You should maybe consider importing the car through a dealer that does not pay VAT
Hello. I imported my car into Portugal from Canada. It’s already fully registered and plated in Portugal. I was told I must owe the vehicle for 1 year before I can sell it or I pay a penalty. Is this true? And if I sell before the 1 year what is the penalty? Thank you.
When you import a car as a private person you have to wait certain periods before you resell the car otherwise the customs consider it import for comercial intentions (and you pay)
Hello ,
I want to thank you for your effort , really very structured and informative website.
Actually I`m planning to buy a car from Canada and ship all the way to Portugal , get legalized after a couple of months I`m planning to sell it.
How should I proceed , what document do you I need to get from Canada ?
Can I legalize the car to get Portuguese plate by my self ?
Thank you
If you come based on a visa you have great advantages importing a car from Canada. Just make sure the car is already listed concerning the model / type at Portuguese customs.
One clarification- I have a 2010 well
Maintained Mitsubishi Pajero SUV and wanted to know whether is age of the vehicle an issue while importing to Portugal or would there be additional emission checks done considering the new pollution rules.
We would need more info for an answer. We get in contact with you
Hello,
I am soon coming to Portugal from Morocco on a D3 visa and I plan on driving my RENAULT Clio 3 RS there. I will change my residency to Portugal so I understand that I am eligible to the ISV tax exemption. But the only thing bothering me now is, will I need a COC knowing that I live in a Non EU country and won’t be able to get a COC probably anyway. Is it really mandatory? Chances are The car is made in France and sent to Morocco as I’m pretty sure there are no Clio 3 RS that was made specifically for the Moroccan Market. Could you help me clarify the situation please?
Do you offer a service to help incoming US expats import a car? I am looking for someone to handle it all – shipping, taxes, retrofitting if needed, inspection, and delivery. Car is a 2024 Toyota Prius built to US specs.
Hi I am English and for the past 4 years have lived in Portugal with my Portuguese partner. I never imported my UK car but now am considering buying and importing a LH drive car from Germany into Portugal. As I worked and lived in Germany before Brexit and have a friend who is resident there I am somewhat familiar with the country and thought it would be a good place to import from. I have read a lot concerning importing a car but cant quiet make out what my tax and import costs will be could you inform me. I have all of my numbers here in Portugal but am not yet an official resident. I think.
Hello Garry,
Thank you for getting in touch and for explaining your situation.
We would be very happy to help you clarify the tax and import costs involved in bringing a vehicle from Germany to Portugal, as well as how your residency status may affect the process.
You are very welcome to contact our team directly at info@pearlsofportugal.com, where we can look at your case in more detail.
Alternatively, you may book a free 30-minute consultation using the following link, which allows us to discuss your situation and answer your questions in a more personalised way:
https://meet.brevo.com/pearlsofportugal/partnership-meeting-with-pearls-of-portugal
We look forward to speaking with you and assisting you further.