As an EU national taking up residence in Portugal for tax purposes, you must register your car in Portugal as long as you are the holder of the registration certificate, the owner of the vehicle or the user of a vehicle you do not own (e.g. a family member). You have 20 working days to register your car in Portugal.
Register Your Car in Portugal and Pay the ISV
You have 12 months from the date of change of residence in Portugal to apply for an exemption from the vehicle tax (ISV). For information on the steps to follow to register a vehicle previously registered in another EU country, visit Finance Portal – Customs Services.
Temporary license plates
Once you have filed the DAV declaration, Customs will issue you a Guia (temporary vehicle registration) Allowing you to drive your vehicle for 90 days, provided that it is not The vehicle may only be driven by you, the owner.
Retirees who own a second home in Portugal
As EU citizens with a second home in Portugal, you must register your vehicles with customs if the vehicle remains under temporary importation for a period—whether continuous or not—of more than six months out of any 12-month period.
Vehicles owned by an individual who has moved his or her residence to Portugal may be exempt from the vehicle tax (ISV) if they meet the following criteria:
- Individuals over the age of 18 who have resided in the country from which they are relocating for a minimum period of 6 months, whether consecutive or not
- People who paid vehicle tax in the country where they previously resided and did not receive any type of refund when they left
- You have owned your vehicle for more than 6 months prior to the transfer to Portugal.
Taxes
As an EU citizen, if you wish to register your car in Portugal, you must pay:
- Registration fees: Vehicle Tax (ISV)
- vehicle tax: Single Vehicle Tax (IUC)
The following categories of vehicles are exempt from the vehicle tax (ISV) but must be registered in Portugal:
- vehicles whose owners have moved their residence from another EU country or a third country to Portugal
- Vehicles brought back by diplomats returning to Portugal
- Vehicles owned by EU employees and officials
- Vehicles purchased by the city government to transport schoolchildren
- Vehicles purchased by people with disabilities.
