Moving to Lagos from the UK in September 05, and I wish to bring a new left hand drive Vauxhallpurchased from UK main dealer, (Euro spec) with me . What are the the pitfalls if any? Cheers, Johnny Boy.

If you are doing the paperwork for permanent resident one free import is allowed. If not you can pay the Portuguese car tax and get it put on Portuguese plates. Or you can argue that it is legal in the UK ie taxed and insured and therefore legal anywhere in Europe at least till the MOT is due. This last approach is a bit of a grey area and you will receive as many interpretations as there are expat car owners in the Algarve

Its simple.....If you have it here for over 6 Months...you legally must matriculate it and pay many thousands of pounds Tax..........OR if you own it in UK for over 6 months and bring it in as your possesion.then it is Tax free........Your choice...............Or you do what most do and bring it here for a couple or more years and do nothing.....until the MOT is needed cos you cant keep it UK legal with no MOT...so you drive it back to UK to get one or buy one down the pub and keep going......all because of a government so blinkered as to realise just how much money they can make over and above all this BS........if they would only come into the real world.........but it wont and the corruption will continue and the Camara will continue and the country slowly sinks into ...poverty ....the annual wage is 7grand a year and going down....Its a great place to live cheap and lovely weather...take advantage.............maybe one day the Portuguese will wake up and push out the Red tape and the country will take off............but not in my life time..AAhh .......I'm off in my illegal car ....to the Beach.....

´Grumpy ????

If you bring over a car that you have just bought, keep it in Portugal for 6 months, whilst you apply for your residencia etc. then can you import it legally without having to pay the ridiculous taxes?

And does that make any sense?

J

Just be careful, they ask for proof that you have been in the UK for the previous six months eg utility bills in your name - a bank account isn't enough - and if they do not believe you they will just reject your application to matriculate the car tax free.

Thanks everyone for your advice on this subject, this was very helpfull.
Best Regards. Johnny Boy. UK soon to be Lagos.