Car registration in Portugal: complete support (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to register a car in Portugal? ›

Vehicle registration fee, normally around 45 euro.

There are 2 ways to get the Certificate of Registration and to know who owns a car in Portugal. Indeed it is possible to obtain it directly by visiting the IRN (Instituto do Registo dos Notarios), a Loja do Cidadão or an office of Automovel na Hora. It is also possible to apply simply online.

It can register cars in Lisbon but also anywhere else in Portugal. It takes about 2 months for the whole procedure, from its beginning to the reception of your car registration document (documento único). It is strongly advised to meet the requirements for exemption from ISV (Vehicle Tax).

To legalize a vehicle purchased abroad in Portugal, you must request a registration. Registrations may be assigned to new, used vehicles or those acquired at public auction. The vehicles include cars, mopeds and motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles, trucks, trailers, agricultural tractors, and industrial machinery.

Before you can register a vehicle in Portugal, you must apply for a Residency Card (Cartão de Residência). In case you want to import a car, it must conform to the Portuguese road standards before you can register it.

Vehicle import taxes are very high. So much so that, although the price of cars in Portugal is on average much higher than in other European countries, taxes make importing even more expensive. To start with, cars with less than 6 months of registration or less than 6,000 km are considered new.

Go to your nearest registering authority and bring along your identity document and complete the DRC (Application for Duplicate Registration/Deregistration Certificate in respect of Motor Vehicle) and form DCT (Declaration in respect of Lost Documents). Bear in mind that only a title holder can request a duplicate.

Vehicle import tax (ISV) – usually a maximum of 10%.

Registering a foreign vehicle

If you move to Portugal, you can use your vehicle while it is still registered in another country. However, you have up to 60 days to register your vehicle after a registration number has been allocated.

What is the procedure to change ownership of vehicle? ›

Bringing a vehicle to Portugal

As a tourist, you can bring your own vehicle to Portugal for a maximum of 183 days in any 12-month period. You must not use your vehicle for any other purpose than tourism or loan it to anyone else during that time.

As a foreigner, you can buy a car in Portugal, but you must have : A proof of Portuguese domicile (a rental agreement, proof of purchase of real estate or a resident's card) ; A tax number (NIF) ; An identity document (CNI, passport, driving license ...).

To get the ownership changed you'll need to take a registration form, filled in and signed by both buyer and seller, and the current registration (DUA), as well as copies of both IDs. But one of the first things you need to do is get car insurance. You cannot drive an uninsured car in Portugal.

It can vary from country to country, but the minimum you will have to do is to fill at least one customs form of exportation. Then, in Portugal, you will have to fill an online form of importation – Documento Administrativo Único – using the “STADA Importação” platform of the Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira.

"You must not use your vehicle for any other purpose than tourism or loan it to anyone else during that time. If you intend to stay longer, you must apply to the Portuguese Customs authority to have the car legally imported. You will be fined if you leave the country without your car.”

The most common way to get a NIF is simply to visit a Finanças office (or alternatively a Loja do Cidadão office). Use Google Maps to find the one nearest to you.

Every person who owns a vehicle registered in Portugal is subject to payment of road tax, known as the Imposto Único de Circulação (IUC). This tax applies to the ownership of the vehicle and not as a requirement for the vehicle to be able to travel on public roads.

Why is fuel in Portugal so expensive? ›

Portugal is also part of the group of 12 European countries that dominate the ranking of the most expensive petrol in the world. This is because European taxes are largely reflected in the final price of gasoline.

You must go to a traffic department and request the information from them. You will need and ID or driving licence to identify yourself before they will provide you with information. You must also fill in a form with the new owner's details. It is your responsibility as well to take the vehicle off your name.

Vehicle registration checking number is 8785, enter vehicle registration number and send it to 8785. After sending the SMS you will receive information about the vehicle in which chassis number, engine number, make, registration date, token paid and owner name will mention.

Car Registration Check Via SMS | Lahore | Faisalabad | All-Punjab. First, go to the 'new SMS' option in your phone and Type complete vehicle number, including Alphabets and Numeric values with Year e.g. LEV 09 2678. Now send this SMS to 9966. Within few minutes you'll have a complete record of your vehicle.

Pay the necessary fee for the application and the registering authority will issue a duplicate certificate. Contact your local registering authority directly to find out the exact fee. The duplicate certificate can take up to seven working days to process.

Your car's title is the proof that you are the rightful owner. State governments issue car titles, typically through their department of motor vehicles or a similar agency. If you need a replacement car title, you can get one online, in person, or by mail, depending on the state.

Doing it online is a bit easier and quicker. You'll still need your V5C logbook as you need the 11 digit reference number and the new keeper slip. All you need to do is go to the gov.uk website and fill out the form to transfer ownership, and a new logbook will be sent out to the new keeper.

In Portugal, there are no taxes when you buy an used car - you'll only pay the registration fee (about 55€/65€, online/offline). There are no regional taxes too.

A study by Carspring reveals the sharp difference in the value of used automobiles around the world.

Portugal is the only country in Europe where tuning is illegal, despite there being more than 10,000 drivers who modify their cars across the country.

How do I change my car registration address in Portugal? ›

The change off adress is made in a Conservatória do Registo Automóvel, it can also be done online by a lawyer, solicitador or some documentation agencies. To my knowlegde it is not mandatory to have this change made, any tax or ticket is send to the fiscal adress of the owner not to the adress in the registry office.

The certificate must be provided free of charge to the buyer of a new vehicle when the vehicle is delivered. There is a legal requirement for the supplying dealer to do this. The document contains information about the vehicle and certifies that it has been manufactured in conformity with type approval standards.

It is legal to run an insured, EU-registered vehicle in Portugal for up to six months. But this does not apply if you're taking residency in Portugal. The laws and procedures are clearly laid out here, on the Gov.UK website. You are supposed to inform Portuguese customs within 20 days of arrival.

To renew it, you need to visit a local traffic department office to continue with the process. In Gauteng, the total annual licence fee is 432 rand, approximately. Finally, the change of ownership will cost around 150 rand.

To transfer ownership of a vehicle, you must fill out a yellow Notification of Change of Ownership (NCO) form. This can be downloaded from the internet here, or you can acquire one of these forms from your local Traffic Department.

In Gauteng, the total annual license fee for a car of 1 000 kilograms, but not exceeding 1 250 kilograms is R432. 00. In the Western Cape it will cost you R420. 00, and in KZN the aforementioned car will cost you R534 to license, per year.

Vehicles over 30 years old are classified as having cultural and historic interest to Portuguese State Heritage and do not need to undergo any kind of hom*ologation adaptations.

U.S. Citizens are entitled to drive in Portugal with their U.S. issued driver's license for a period no to exceed 185 days, provided they are not legal residents.

Portuguese traffic lights follow the conventions of the Vienna agreement and so should be familiar to most drivers. You cannot turn right on a red light unless indicated and you should also be aware that many local drivers run red lights.

Vehicle import tax (ISV) – usually a maximum of 10%.

How long can you keep a foreign car in Portugal? ›

Registering a foreign vehicle

If you move to Portugal, you can use your vehicle while it is still registered in another country. However, you have up to 60 days to register your vehicle after a registration number has been allocated.

This tax must be paid by the car owner or lessee, directly at the Inland Revenue Portal, at your bank branch, or via home banking, at ATM, the Portuguese Post Office (CTT) or at any Inland Revenue Service.

As a foreigner, you can buy a car in Portugal, but you must have : A proof of Portuguese domicile (a rental agreement, proof of purchase of real estate or a resident's card) ; A tax number (NIF) ; An identity document (CNI, passport, driving license ...).

In Portugal, there are no taxes when you buy an used car - you'll only pay the registration fee (about 55€/65€, online/offline). There are no regional taxes too.

The 'you will be fined' aspect may need some further explanation, so here it is: If a Briton (or other nationality) brings in a car and uses it in Portugal for more than 183 days (6 months) then they should legally register the vehicle with the Portuguese authorities.

As a visitor, you can drive your own vehicle to Portugal for up to 183 days in any 12-month period, and can only use your vehicle for tourism; you are not allowed to loan it to anyone else. If you want to stay longer, you have to apply to the Portuguese Customs authority to have the car legally imported.

You must have a copy of your driver's license, your IDP if it applies to you, proof that you own the vehicle (such as the registration certificate), and proof of insurance. If you're driving someone else's car, you should have written confirmation from the owner that you're allowed to drive the vehicle.

Road tax can be paid at the local Finanças office or via the Internet at the finance portal. If not yet registered, the user will be prompted to enter their authentication data. A password will be issued to log in along with the taxpayer's number.

Do you have to pay road tax in Portugal? ›

Every person who owns a vehicle registered in Portugal is subject to payment of road tax, known as the Imposto Único de Circulação (IUC). This tax applies to the ownership of the vehicle and not as a requirement for the vehicle to be able to travel on public roads.

So yes you would need a NIF and be a resident. You cannot do it as a foreigner. On top of that you would need a Portuguese bank account. From some of my research you can find a cheaper deal going to a used car lot and getting a car minus the vat on a leaseplan type deal.

The change off adress is made in a Conservatória do Registo Automóvel, it can also be done online by a lawyer, solicitador or some documentation agencies. To my knowlegde it is not mandatory to have this change made, any tax or ticket is send to the fiscal adress of the owner not to the adress in the registry office.