Importing a car into Portugal: Part 4

Hello again.

Okay, let’s continue. You have the required paperwork for the car; just a few things you need to be aware of upfront.

Road Tax or Imposto Único de Circulação) is paid annually, during the month in which the vehicle was registered, on-line at your local tax office – the Loja do Cidadão. This tax is payable in respect of all vehicles, regardless of whether or not they are in use. Proof of payment is made by showing the receipt issued by the relevant authority.

The amount of tax paid is different for vehicles registered before and after July 2007. Owners of cars registered before July 2007 pay an amount of tax directly related to the age of the vehicle and its cubic capacity. The tax on vehicles registered after July 2007 will also take into account the vehicle's CO2 emissions and the power of the engine.

Insurance. All vehicles must have at least third party insurance cover. The insurance company will provide an insurance stamp for display in the lower right-hand corner of the vehicle’s windscreen, at the time the policy is issued.

These documents, as well as the driver’s ID and licence, should be carried at all times and shown to the authorities on request.

MOT Testing and Certificates
MOT testing is compulsory in Portugal for all vehicles over four years old. Cars aged between 4-7 years must be tested every two years and thereafter every year. The test (Insepecção Periódica Obrigatória – IPO) must be carried out at an approved garage. The garage is required to request the vehicle’s ownership documents (Titulo de Registo de Propriedade and Livrete or the more recent Certificado de Matrícula) and the owner’s taxpayer’s identification card (cartão de contribuinte) before carrying out the test.

A stamp confirming that the vehicle has passed the test should be displayed below the insurance stamp, in the lower right-hand corner of the vehicle’s windscreen.

Registration is recorded at both the local customs office and the IMTT. The Portuguese authorities may ask for documents other than those listed below. It's advisable to first check on forms and documents required. The application should be made to your nearest Customs office. This application should be submitted with:

• A fiscal certificate or tax clearance form issued by customs. In some instances, there are customs and tax charges payable – this will depend on the model, power, age and mileage of the vehicle
• Original receipt of purchase showing taxes paid
• A Certificate of Compliance (Form Model 9) issued by the IMTT confirming that the vehicle has undergone an inspection
• A certificate of Homologacão from the vehicle manufacturer or certified representative in Portugal to identify that the vehicle is of a recognised type in Portugal or the EU
• A Copy of the foreign vehicle registration certificate
• A Certificate of conformity, called a COC (Certificado de Conformidade)
• A certificate of roadworthiness
  

The technical inspection or Inspecção Periódica Obrigatória should be made at an IMTT approved garage. This checks vehicle identification, brakes, tyres, emissions, noise levels, lights, steering, windscreen and wipers, and chassis (inside and out) condition.

Believe it or not, there’s more. I’ll complete the document list next week…that way it doesn’t look so totally overwhelming! Bye until next time, all best wishes – and keep warm!

Carol.
http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/

Importing a car into Portugal: Part 3

So…all ready to continue with taking that car with you to Portugal? As I write this I am wondering what the percentage of guys to gals would be that love their car so much that it just HAS to come too…

Please don’t think this is a patronising statement – I love far stranger things – like my African masks for just one example! Okay, on with the more serious business of getting your car permanently registered in Portugal.

Before you can do this you need to apply for a Residency Card (Cartão de Residência) from the Portuguese immigration authorities, SEF or Serviços de Estrangeiros e Fronteira.

As promised, here is a list of the documentation you will need to register your car. All vehicles in Portugal are required to have:

A Registration Certificate – the Certificado de Matrícula. This is issued by the Instituto de Mobilidade e dos Transportes Terrestres. The Certificado de Matrícula came into effect on 31 October 2005. For the time being, it is not compulsory to exchange existing vehicle documentation (Livrete and Título de Registo de Propriedade) as this remains valid.

OR (for vehicles registered before 31 October 2005)

An Ownership Registration Document – the Titulo de Registo de Propriedade. This is issued by the Conservatória do Registo Automóvel – the Vehicle Registration Office

AND

A Vehicle Registration Document – the Livrete. This is issued by the Instituto de Mobilidade e dos Transportes Terrestres.

To clarify, if your car was registered before 2005 you need an Ownership Registration Document (Titulo de Registo de Propriedad) plus a Vehicle Registration Document (Livrete) If registered after that date then you just need the Registration Certificate.

An imported car or bike must conform to the Portuguese road standards under what is termed "homologation" (Homologacão) before it can be registered. The complexity of the process can vary according to age, make and origin of the vehicle.

The process is different for classic and collectable vehicles. It is also different and more complicated for modified vehicles which must be examined at an authorised inspection centre to ensure the work was carried out correctly and adheres to EU safety standards.

Information is available from the directorate general for traffic, the IMTT or Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes Terrestres I.P.

All clear? Whew…

More next time. I am breaking all this into bite-sized chunks so as not to completely blow your mind!

Next week then…have lots of fun and keep planning!

Carol
http://www.PortugalBuyingGuide.com

Importing a car into Portugal: Part 2

Hi there – all well with you?

Last week I discussed the temporary admission of motor vehicles into Portugal – I will now move on to the process of bringing your car into Portugal on a permanent basis.

Permanent Importation of Motor Vehicles
You may be able to import your motor vehicle tax-free if you are transferring your residence to Portugal from another EU member state or from a third country, provided that:

• You are over 18
• You have been resident in the country from where you are transferring for a minimum period of 12 months, consecutive or otherwise
• You have held a valid driver’s licence in that country for a minimum of 12 months
• You are transferring your normal place of residence to Portugal
• Your vehicle was purchased fully-tax paid in the country of your former residence and you can prove this
• You owned the vehicle in the country of your former residence for at least 12 months prior to transferring your residence to Portugal, from the date of issue of the vehicle registration document, or from the date on which the leasing contract was signed, as appropriate
  

If the above do not apply to you then you may well need to pay tax. This can be a very expensive business – be warned. The tax has gone up substantially in the past few years. There is a lot of pressure being applied to the Portuguese Government, including The EU itself, to stop the ISV tax but it seems that they are still charging it.

Having said that, remember that the regulations change all the time so you should always check with your local Portuguese Customs Office once the time draws near.

In order to import a vehicle and to register it in Portugal, you should submit an application within six months of the date on which you transfer your residence to Portugal.

Next time I am going to discuss where you go to register your car and what documents you will need – and there are plenty! There always are, aren’t there?

I have a busy little time ahead: that’s the sheer beauty of London! I am off to hear a talk with my son by the rather contentious author James Ellroy and I’m taking in The Apprentice at the Riverside Studios near my home – this with Sirallun…Sir Alan Sugar to those uninitiated! What makes you think I find difficult men interesting…at a distance I hasten to add?

We’ll talk next week – have loads of fun until then.

All the best,

Carol
http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/

Importing a car into Portugal

A question I am often asked is about the permanent registration of cars in Portugal. As you may know, new cars are very expensive there – ridiculously so many people think - so the idea of taking yours with you may be tempting if you are moving there permanently. What you do need to bear in mind is that there is a fair amount of hassle and paperwork to get through - I thought I would let you have some of the details about this over the next few weeks. Let’s start at the very beginning…

Temporary Admission of Motor Vehicles

An EU-registered motor vehicle (including light goods vehicles, trailers, caravans, motorised homes and motorcycles) may be kept in Portugal for 183 days, consecutive or otherwise, in any one period of 12 months, provided all of the following conditions are met:

• The vehicle has been registered in another EU member country
• The vehicle is registered in the name of a person who is not resident, employed or carrying out any type of paid activity in Portugal
• The vehicle is brought into Portugal by its registered owner

If you travel in and out then it is advisable to get proof of each entry/exit. If you have a holiday home in Portugal and only use your car for 2 weeks of the year but keep it in Portugal, then the car is classed as being used here and the rules apply. The 183 days do not need to be consecutive, if the authorities can show that you have had the car inside Portugal for this time then they will apply the law.

Vehicles brought into Portugal temporarily may only be driven by their owners, their owner’s spouse or common-law spouse, their owner’s parents or children or their registered keeper provided none of these individuals are resident, employed or carrying out paid activity in Portugal.

Under the temporary admission regime, foreign residents in Portugal may only use a foreign-registered vehicle if so authorised by the Customs authority. For the purpose of the legislation on the temporary admission of motor vehicles into Portugal, a resident is defined as spending a period of at least 183 days or more, consecutively or otherwise, in any one calendar year, in Portugal, or whose source of income from paid employment is inPortugal, or whose headquarters or established business activity is in Portugal.

If you are here on a specific term, temporary work contract or as a student or any other reason and you plan to take it back to your home country (even if longer than 183 days) you can avoid importing it. In this case you need to contact your local customs office as soon as you arrive in Portugal to register this intent.

If you fail to comply with the Portuguese law on foreign car use regulations and you are caught, then the Portuguese Customs Office has the power to impound your car. If this happens you will be directed not to use your car other than when you present yourself at your nearest customs office. You may be fined up to €15,000.00 and they will give you the following three options;

• You can start the registration process by paying the ISV
• You agree to a date when you will drive the car out of Portugal, they will give you written permission to drive it on that date only
• You give them the keys and they keep the car and destroy it – horrors!

Right, next week I am going to go ahead and describe the whys and wherefores of the permanent export procedures in more detail. In the meanwhile, have fun! Weather permitting I am off on an Art Deco walk tomorrow. The last walk – to the iconic Hammersmith Bridge – was cancelled due to rain so I hope the same thing doesn’t happen – cross fingers for me!

Smiles and waves,

Carol.
http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/