Land Rovers

[Gwyneth]

I am thinking of buying a Land Rover from the UK, where the prices for these off road vehicles are at bargain basement rates. I plan to bring it to Portugal for my personal use. I heard from friends about the process of car matriculation.

Can anyone out there provide me advice on how to go about it? Does it cost a lot? It may become a deterrent for me if the cost would roughly be the same if I had bought the car here in Portugal.

[Marco]

Car Matriculation is an issue here in Portugal. Since it has become rather borderless, Europe has instituted a system governing ownership of vehicles that cross countries.

In Portugal, car matriculation is a serious offense as the Impostos or Portuguese Tax Patrol. Stiff fines are to be imposed and the process of importation would be set in motion immediately after the car crosses the Portuguese border.

Better check with local authorities before you have issues that will definitely bother you.

[The Answer Man]

The Answer Man says:

Car matriculation is defined as “the importation of the car at the same period as one tales up residency within another European Union country”. The European Union allows citizens of member states to transfer “goods and chattels” across country borders. There are specific rules as to the car matriculation when one takes up residency in another country. Here are some of the rules as learned by others.

· One needs proof of residency. Aside from the passport, one of the best proofs of residence is having utility bills to demonstrate that fact.
· Always be aware of the time of your residency and the goods that you bring in. The basic rules would be having goods that you bring in duly registered with the new country at least a week after your entry.

Another set of rules governs the insurance coverage of a car in Portugal. Here are some of the basic guidelines that have been set forth regarding foreigners and their cars on Portuguese roadways.
· A foreigner who has applied for Portuguese residency must drive a locally registered vehicle in Portugal.
· European Union guidelines stipulate that a car cannot be insured in any other country except the one where it is registered in.
· The maximum time a foreign registered car can be legally driven in Portugal is six months and must have complete papers, such as insurance and other tax papers for the full six months in the foreign country.
· Only the registered owners may drive the car on Portuguese roadways.
· If one is importing a car one has owned in another European Union country for a minimum of twelve months prior to entering Portugal, then importation is tax-free. The necessary paperwork though needs to be filed within 180 days of residency in Portugal.
· The imported motor vehicle cannot be sold, loaned, pledged or hired for a period of one year after registration.
· One vehicle per five years is the limit of importation of cars free of tax.

This is where car matriculation is very crucial. By matriculating a car, you are in essence also giving it residency in the country of choice. In Portugal, car matriculation is a serious offense as the Impostos or Portuguese Tax Patrol. Stiff fines are to be imposed and the process of importation would be set in motion immediately after the car crosses the Portuguese border.

Okay?

[Kevin Hill]

Importing a car is very expensive, sometimes much more expensive than the actual book value of the vehicle. If you don’t have it matriculated, then you run the risk of your car being impounded and be subject to large fines.

The tip here is just getting a car locally and use public transportation. Depending on where you are going to live, the public transportation system is acceptable.