Importing a car into Portugal Part 5

The following owner's documents are usually also required to import a car to Portugal:

• Driver's licence (Cartão de Condução)
• Proof of identity. This can be a passport or identity card (Bilhete de Identidade))
• Proof of residency (Cartão de Residência), evidence of application for residency, or proof of residence. This could include property title deeds, rental contract, utility bills or an insurance certificate
• Taxpayer's identification card (Cartão Fiscal de Impostos or Cartão de Contribuinte) and number plus three year's tax returns or a declaration from the tax office stating income earned (in Portugal or elsewhere) over the previous three years
• A certificate of cancellation of residence issued by the former country of residence or their Consulate in Portugal

Original documents and 1 copy of all must be supplied and the Customs authority may ask that you obtain official translations of all these documents.

Only one vehicle may be imported tax-free per person once every ten years.

Once the application has been submitted, customs may issue a limited-validity authorisation (Guia de Circulação) which means the vehicle may be used while the application is in process.

It is important to remember that a vehicle that has been imported in this way may not be sold, loaned, pledged or hired for a period of 12 months following the date on which the Portuguese registration number given to you. In addition, in order to maintain eligibility for tax-free importation, you have to reside in Portugal for a minimum period of 12 months.

If your application for tax-free importation is turned down, you will be notified by the Customs authority and have to declare to tell them within 30 days what you intend to do with the vehicle. If you fail to do this, they will consider that the vehicle has been brought into Portugal illegally.

I would so love to hear from you if you have done all this. Tales abound, with each person having a different story to tell. Some say it’s unbelievably easy to sort all this out - others have real horror stories…

Next time I will round up by talking about your new licence plates and give you a bit of info about importing motorbikes and scooters for those bikers amongst us! Take care until and…keep revving!

Carol
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit my main website at: http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/