Car importing to Portugal

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:52 pm

I imported my car last year on a change of residence ie free of duty and taxes. It is perfectly feasible to do so but you have to be prepared to see the process as a worthy challenge. There is a lot of paperwork to assemble involving visits to Customs, the Financas, Social Security, the Conservatario, Junta de Freguesia, the British Consulate, the IPO (testing station) and the DGV in Faro. The goalposts were moved while I was in the process and I had to get one certificate that was not required when I started.

If you have an EU conformity certificate for your vehicle you save the cost and time involved in getting the homologamisation number from ACAP in Lisbon (by post - no visit necessary).

The Customs in Portimao act as an agent for the Customs in Faro and will deal with the paperwork and forward it to them.

Not all the clerks that I encountered in the various offices could (or in some cases could but were not prepared to) speak English and if you cannot speak any Portuguese you might want to leave it to an agent and pay the fee that they ask.

From memory the various charges amonted to about €250 or so.

Like so many things here it was a good process to look back on but during it I questioned why I had moved here! Finally reckon on several months to complete the job.

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 8:16 pm

Quick question,would it be the same hassle from ireland,you know another e.u country?
gerry

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:51 pm

From another EU country....Nothing changes....even from Spain you have to go through the same (Illegal) nonsense...I came here 3 years ago and after living all over the world feel Portugal is just too hard work with the beauracratic problems ..incredible corruption....long faced miserable Portuguese...(Come on be frank ..walk through Carvoeiro most mornings..how many happy happy greetings do you get..........Great weather.....sorry I'm off....but I salute all you that will stick it out...good luck .... I tried to Invest to open a small factory/Employ people / build a nice house on land overgrown and choking with weeds and junk....put (A lot..I mean more than the odd million )money into the economy....well it don't work...and nobody cares.......thats the problem, nobody cares. So as said I'll take my cars and my investments elsewhere where the people will just work alongside me in a legal intelligent manner for us all to benefit.....I don't want to take...just want to share ,and enjoy the nice climate, pity I personally could not do it here.

Farewell...my friends...Whoops...Do I now have any ????

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:57 pm

Yeah you got one here ,could i sell you on Ireland by any chance,

At least your are being frank and i don,t think anyone will knock you on that.stay in touch o.k
gerry

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 10:14 pm

Well..it was strangely enough Ireland (S) or here..that was my choice three years ago..Algarve won out because of the weather and the Language......yes my wife (Who is not English ) found it easier to follow Portuguese speaking English rather than the Irish.speaking Irish......and she dont drink....It was a complete waste....such a beautiful country on such a wife...so the big decision ..change wife or country.??? ..she won due to ..Off shore investments and non residency regs...are you following....???...I doubt it other than to say she had the bloody purse strings and I came HERE of all places.....and now I'm leaving....the wife ANd the country.......and I'm broke...but it don't matter my Irish friend...I'm free.....Free at last of these restraints. have you recently thought how nice it is to be broke and completely free...at 60 years old...It's wonderful.....Ciao....

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 10:28 pm

Oh Guest--I felt so sad reading your story---it sounds as though you have tried so hard to make a go of it in Algarve.
We too --fell down on our luck --after working very hard there--but most of it was due to recession of the 90s--and though ending up almost broke -we made many great friends --some of which we still have.
But--though your story is sad--you dont seem so--and actually say how free you feel--and it seems to me you're ready to start a new life -but in totally different way--yes?
You can start again--and though moneys very handy--sometimes 'not having the readies!"--can give you the incentive --the push -to have a go at something new.
We had to live in a caravan for a year -to save enough to start again--good experience and made even more friends!
My sis has started new life in 60s--and having a ball!
I do wish you luck and happiness in your new start--wherever it may be

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 12:31 pm

Dear Elle.....That was nice....thank you for that.....No I'm not really sad..keep on smiling as we all should....and yes an exciting new life beckons.... Ciao ciao and adeous

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 12:50 pm

Dear Guest,
Forgot to add---keep in touch with CVO.COM forum if you can--let us know how you get on and what new road you venture along!

Boa sorte---Ciao--Ellie

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 2:39 pm

yes very sad to hear your story..but you are not alone...I have heard and known many over the years who have had succesfull businesses in other countries and tried to make it happen here and could have created wealth and jobs and exports...but it seems the result is more often than not Portugal 1 Foreigner 0.

Portugal has had too much money coming in from the E:U...too much in fact and no real attitude changes have been required.

biffa · Post by **biffa** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:04 pm

I have imported 3 or 4 and I think it is best to employ a specialist firm like Almancil Servicos to do the whole thing. They charge their whack but have such good relationships with the authorities it is a doddle.

Alternatively you can join the ACP (Portuguese Auto Club) and they have a section that deals with it.

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:41 pm

"Freedom,s just another word for nuthin, left to lose,
nuthin, ain,t worth nuthin, but its free"
slainte,
gerry.

biffa · Post by **biffa** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:49 pm

Are the pubs open there Gerry?

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:35 pm

Wise words Gerry

So you dont think I ought to just strap on my haversack and go on freedoms road then?

Biffa--if they are open--bet you wish you were there

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:50 pm

This is ireland ,guys ,theres always a pup open somewhere,why do you ask?

Car importing to Portugal

Car importing into Portugal

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