A Day in Faro
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 9:00 pm
Hello forum chums. Just thought you may like to hear about my exciting day in Faro helping my friends and for those of you still muting the idea of matriculating a UK or other foreign registered car here, it might just be the deciding factor. Remember even if you pay someone else to do the paperwork for you, you still have to go with them for most of the stages to sign all the papers.
We left Silves at 9am to complete Phase 5, or is that 6 or 7 of the car matriculation process? We arrived at the Alfândega (customs) around 10am after parking the car and walking back there. There was a queue of people but eventually got seen well within the hour (thought we must be on a good day). We were given the new car registration (matricula) on a printed form known as a DAV, which my friends signed for and we were told to go next to the DGV office up the road in Faro to simply give them a copy of this document to request a new vehicle registration document (livrete) and to go to a shop almost opposite to have the plates made for the car.
After a quick coffee to refresh us, we walked the 10 minute walk to the DGV. We queried which was the appropriate ticket (as there was a choice of 4) to take in order to wait our turn. We were told "veiculos" and so we took one and sat down to wait for our turn. We had number 537 and they were on 513. Hmmm...probably a long wait I thought. So my friend's husband went to get the plates made up across the road. This was quick and easy and he was back within about 10 minutes. Success!!
3 hours later...YES 3 HOURS later, our turn arrived to be seen and guess what? The Alfândega hadn't given us all the right papers and we were told to walk back to get them, plus to get photocopies of my friend's passport and fiscal card. I was at this stage given a piece of paper with all the things on we had to produce. Aaaaaarrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhh!
Why couldn't anyone have given us this at the reception, when we got our ticket, rather than let us wait 3 hours to discover this fact or better still give it to us at the Alfândega? Several deep intakes of breath. 
10 minute walk back to the Alfândega and after another wait I butted in across a person already being dealt with (not something I ever like to do but I was desperate by this stage and I thought my friend's husband might spontaneously combust). The woman went to get me the missing paper obviously blaming us for not pointing out to them that we didn't have it. I should have known of course.
10 minute walk back to the DGV and we went straight back to the same woman. She was by this time obviously with someone else, so we stood immediately behind to squeeze in again..no way were we going to sit there for another 3 hours.
The information entered on computer, 30 Euros paid and an SAE completed, so they could send the new livrete to my friends and we were finished. Yipeee.
Finally, we collapsed in a heap outside a bar and consumed one or two beers before driving back to Silves. Got back at 6pm. Great day out. Can't wait to do it again...NOT. All part of life's great tapestry and another learning experience I suppose.
We left Silves at 9am to complete Phase 5, or is that 6 or 7 of the car matriculation process? We arrived at the Alfândega (customs) around 10am after parking the car and walking back there. There was a queue of people but eventually got seen well within the hour (thought we must be on a good day). We were given the new car registration (matricula) on a printed form known as a DAV, which my friends signed for and we were told to go next to the DGV office up the road in Faro to simply give them a copy of this document to request a new vehicle registration document (livrete) and to go to a shop almost opposite to have the plates made for the car.
After a quick coffee to refresh us, we walked the 10 minute walk to the DGV. We queried which was the appropriate ticket (as there was a choice of 4) to take in order to wait our turn. We were told "veiculos" and so we took one and sat down to wait for our turn. We had number 537 and they were on 513. Hmmm...probably a long wait I thought. So my friend's husband went to get the plates made up across the road. This was quick and easy and he was back within about 10 minutes. Success!!
3 hours later...YES 3 HOURS later, our turn arrived to be seen and guess what? The Alfândega hadn't given us all the right papers and we were told to walk back to get them, plus to get photocopies of my friend's passport and fiscal card. I was at this stage given a piece of paper with all the things on we had to produce. Aaaaaarrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhh!
Why couldn't anyone have given us this at the reception, when we got our ticket, rather than let us wait 3 hours to discover this fact or better still give it to us at the Alfândega? Several deep intakes of breath. 10 minute walk back to the Alfândega and after another wait I butted in across a person already being dealt with (not something I ever like to do but I was desperate by this stage and I thought my friend's husband might spontaneously combust). The woman went to get me the missing paper obviously blaming us for not pointing out to them that we didn't have it. I should have known of course.
10 minute walk back to the DGV and we went straight back to the same woman. She was by this time obviously with someone else, so we stood immediately behind to squeeze in again..no way were we going to sit there for another 3 hours.
The information entered on computer, 30 Euros paid and an SAE completed, so they could send the new livrete to my friends and we were finished. Yipeee. Finally, we collapsed in a heap outside a bar and consumed one or two beers before driving back to Silves. Got back at 6pm. Great day out. Can't wait to do it again...NOT. All part of life's great tapestry and another learning experience I suppose.
