How Much Does It Cost to Import a Car into Portugal in 2026
Importing a car into Portugal in 2025 consists of several independent cost components. First of all, there is the customs duty, which is applied when importing a car from outside the EU. There is also the vehicle tax ISV (Imposto Sobre Veículos). VAT (IVA) must also be considered, which is set at 23% — the standard rate in Portugal. Additional costs are related to registration and technical procedures, including inspections, license plates, and fees through the Finanças/IMT portals. The basic principles and calculation methods remain the same, but the final amount depends heavily on the car’s origin and age. Engine size and CO2 emissions also have a significant impact.
Customs Duty
For imports from another EU country, standard customs duty does not apply, but domestic Portuguese taxes remain. For vehicles from outside the EU, a unified EU rate applies. It is approximately 10% of the customs (CIF) value. This is the standard rate for passenger cars and serves as a base for calculating total taxation.
ISV — Key National Tax
The ISV is calculated based on two main components:
Engine size component
Environmental component linked to CO2 emissions
The total ISV amount combines these two parts, sometimes with surcharges — for example, for older diesel engines. Discounts may also apply depending on the vehicle’s age.
In 2025, reduced coefficients apply to imported used cars, depending on their age. This can reduce ISV from 10% up to 80%, according to the age discount tables published on the Administrative Services Portal — Finanças. The official ISV simulator also provides exact rates.
IVA (VAT) — “Tax on Tax”
Portugal applies a standard IVA rate of 23%. VAT is calculated on the base, which includes the CIF value (cost + insurance + freight), customs duty, and the paid ISV. In other words, part of the taxation is capitalized into the VAT base, producing a significant effect. VAT is charged on the sum that already includes ISV and customs duty.
Registration, Technical Inspection, and Operating Costs
After customs clearance, documents must be submitted to Finanças. A technical inspection is also required, if necessary. Next, the Certificado de Conformidade (COC) must be obtained. The vehicle may need to undergo the national homologation procedure and registration at IMT. The standard registration period for imported cars is up to 60 days from the import date. Typical administrative fees include registration, license plates, and inspection. Registration fees amount to several dozen euros. Broker or agent services typically cost between €100–€300, sometimes more, depending on the scope of work.
What Determines the Final Cost?
For cars from the EU, there is no customs duty, so the main costs are ISV + IVA (if applicable) + registration. For cars from outside the EU, the calculation includes CIF + customs duty (~10%) + ISV + IVA + registration. ISV for modern small cars and electric vehicles may be low — sometimes even 0%, for example under special exemptions for EVs or government incentives. In such cases, IVA becomes the main cost component. For powerful gasoline or diesel cars with high CO2 emissions, ISV often represents a significant portion of the cost, sometimes €1,000–€5,000 or more. The official ISV simulator (Portal Aduaneiro / Finanças) can provide an accurate calculation based on engine size, CO2, age, and country of origin. BitMotors can quickly prepare a detailed calculation for a specific car. We only need the VIN/COC, price, and country of dispatch. We will provide the calculation according to the official 2026 tables.