Car transfer to Portugal: 5 key mistakes
Importing a car to Portugal can be a complex and costly process if you don’t consider all the details. Mistakes in choosing a car, incorrect ISV calculations, or issues with documents can lead to additional expenses and delays. In this article, BitMotors will cover the 5 most common mistakes when importing cars to Portugal and explain how to avoid them, ensuring a smooth and cost-effective process.
Wrong choice of car
Choosing the right car for import is crucial. An unsuitable model can result in high taxes, registration issues, and expensive maintenance, making the import process not worth the trouble.
What to consider when choosing a car?
High ISV and IUC taxes — cars with large engine volumes and high CO₂ emissions are subject to high import taxes (ISV), which can reach tens of thousands of euros. The annual road tax (IUC) also depends on these parameters, making it essential to calculate these taxes before purchasing!
Inadequate vehicle inspection — a common myth is that “cars from Germany are in perfect condition.” In reality, mileage can be tampered with, and the car’s condition might not match the claims. It’s best to buy only from trusted dealers and thoroughly inspect the car beforehand. The BitMotors team always performs detailed checks before purchasing to ensure no further issues or costs.
Missing required documents — before buying a car, make sure the seller has all necessary documents. Missing paperwork can cause problems during legalization in Portugal.
Low liquidity — some brands and models don’t have good resale value in the Portuguese market, making it hard to sell them later.
How to avoid mistakes?
✔️ Check out our article on calculating ISV and IUC.
✔️ Use the official ISV calculator on the tax authority’s website.
✔️ Learn about possible tax exemptions for cars.
✔️ Use only official documents for calculations.
Accurate ISV calculation can be challenging, often leading to unexpected costs during car registration in Portugal. To avoid unnecessary expenses and unpleasant surprises, we recommend using BitMotors services.
Issues with documents
Incorrectly filled documents can lead to extra costs or even refusal of car legalization. Let’s look at what to watch out for to avoid such problems.
What could go wrong?
Missing CoC (Certificate of Conformity) — this document confirms that the car meets European standards. Without it, legalization becomes significantly more complicated and costly.
Errors in contracts and payment documents — even a simple typo in your name can cause registration refusals.
How to avoid mistakes?
✔️ Ensure the car has a CoC by requesting it from the seller.
✔️ Check all details in contracts and payment documents to make sure they match.
The BitMotors team carefully checks the availability and authenticity of all the necessary documents to ensure that our clients do not face any issues during the car legalization process.
Missing legalization deadlines
In Portugal, there are limitations on using cars with foreign plates. Missing the registration deadlines can lead to fines and additional problems.
What could go wrong?
Expired transit plates — if you import a car on German transit plates, it’s essential to get Portuguese plates before they expire. Expired German plates make driving in Portugal illegal.
Late submission penalties — if you miss the deadline for submitting documents at various legalization stages, you’ll face additional fines. For example, you only have 20 business days from the car’s entry into Portugal to submit the DAV declaration, or you’ll be fined for each day of delay.
How to avoid mistakes?
✔️ Plan all procedures for car legalization as soon as possible after import.
✔️ Meet all deadlines for submitting registration documents.
✔️ Stay informed about the latest requirements for car legalization in Portugal.
BitMotors cooperates exclusively with trusted transport companies, which helps minimize the risks of damage and delivery delays.
Mistakes when choosing a transport company
If you’re not driving the car yourself but using a transport company, it’s essential to choose a reliable carrier. Mistakes at this stage can lead to delays, car damage, and additional expenses.
What could go wrong?
Choosing an unreliable carrier — poor transportation, improper loading on the car carrier, or even mistakes in the paperwork can lead to car damage or delivery delays.
Lack of insurance — without insurance, you risk significant financial losses if the car gets damaged during transportation.
Errors in shipping documents — incorrectly filled documents can complicate logistics and delay car delivery.
How to avoid mistakes?
✔️ Choose reputable transport companies with good reviews.
✔️ Get full insurance coverage during transportation.
✔️ Carefully check shipping documents before sending the car.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the 5 most common and serious mistakes that can lead to unexpected costs, delays, and legalization problems when importing cars. We hope the process is now clearer, and you can avoid these mistakes.
To ensure your car purchase and registration go smoothly, without any problems or additional costs, contact BitMotors. Our team will handle every step, delivering your car to your home with Portuguese plates in the shortest time possible!