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Owning a car as a student

Owning a car as a student

Old Aug 14th 2017, 12:32 am
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Question Owning a car as a student

Hello - First of all - I know there are a lot of posts about owning a car in Portugal from different perspectives but I am wondering about how it looks from a students perspective.

As far as I know I can have my own car in PT for 180 days but does that change if I am on Erasmus programme for around 10 months?

My concern is also - if I leave PT and go to Spain (lets say for a week trip) does that reset the clock?

Maybe it would be better to register the car in PT? Wouldn't the road tax kill me? (2006 ford transit 2.4 Diesel 500k kilometers driven) What do you think?

To be clear about the situation - I want to purchase a van and drive it to PT and leave after my Erasmus programme is over. I am looking for the best solution to be able to bring my stuff from my country and be able to travel often. That's why my own van would be perfect - low costs because I would sleep inside while travelling.

Thank you in advance!
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 5:55 am
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

As far as I know there are NO exceptions to the 6 month rule & no, removing it to Spain doesn't reset the clock. The rules are 6 months maximum before you begin the matriculation process or remove it back to the country of registration for a further 6 months.

The vehicle must also be taxed, tested & insured in the country of registration all the time it's here & not only do you have to worry about the road tax, you also have to worry about the matriculation tax if you don't fit the criteria for tax free import & you probably wouldn't fit that criteria if you didn't have your residencia.
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 6:19 am
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

How about this?

Car registration and taxes in the EU - Your Europe

In the 'students' tab it says that if I am an student of that particular country and am not working - I do not have to register my car.
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 6:22 am
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

There is a special exemption for students from other EU countries, which relieves you of the need to register the car as a Portuguese vehicle but you'll still have to formally request permission from the customs authorities within 30 days of the vehicle entering Portugal. They'll supply a document for you to carry in the vehicle for the duration of your studies.

Article 34 of the Código do Imposto Sobre Veículos is the relevant legislation.
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 7:22 am
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

Eric

When I google that, I get this: https://info.portaldasfinancas.gov.p...s/iuc/iuc5.htm but can't find anything in it that refers to the O/Ps situation or am I missing something?
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 7:50 am
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

Item 9 on that link refers to the OP's situation and to the legislation.

A version of the legislation itself can be found here https://www.pwc.pt/pt/pwcinforfisco/...007.html#ISV34
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 8:19 am
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

Do you mean?: "Vehicles which, although they remain in national territory for a period exceeding 183 days, are exempt from registration in a normal series of another Member State and meet the requirements to qualify for the temporary admission regime provided for in article 34 of the Code of Conduct. Vehicle Tax for missions, internships, studies and cross-border work."
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 8:29 am
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

Originally Posted by mfesharne
Do you mean?: "Vehicles which, although they remain in national territory for a period exceeding 183 days, are exempt from registration in a normal series of another Member State and meet the requirements to qualify for the temporary admission regime provided for in article 34 of the Code of Conduct. Vehicle Tax for missions, internships, studies and cross-border work."
Not exactly

However, rather than give a more precise rendition, suffice to say that that link is regarding exemption from IUC, rather than exemption from the normal requirement to register the vehicle. It just makes reference to the latter as one of the conditions for IUC exemption - and yes, that applies to the OP's situation.
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 11:57 am
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

Originally Posted by Red Eric
Not exactly

However, rather than give a more precise rendition, suffice to say that that link is regarding exemption from IUC, rather than exemption from the normal requirement to register the vehicle. It just makes reference to the latter as one of the conditions for IUC exemption - and yes, that applies to the OP's situation.
Reminds me of the line from the old TV show 'Soap'......... "Confused? - You will be"
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 12:10 pm
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

Originally Posted by mfesharne
Reminds me of the line from the old TV show 'Soap'......... "Confused? - You will be"
The only confusing thing I can see is the link to a source regarding a separate matter altogether (ie exemptions from the annual circulation tax).

Otherwise it's pretty straightforward, as you'd imagine with regard to a matter regulated by the EU :
If you are staying in another country and your only reason for staying there is to study, you can drive your car without having to register it or pay taxes there - as long as you are enrolled in an educational establishment in that country. But if as a student you start working during your residence there, you must register your car in this country.

Before leaving your home country you should check the applicable rules in the country where you intend to study if you need to fulfil any administrative formalities (e.g. in some countries you must get a certificate of enrolment from university/school etc. which you need to have with you when you drive) or meet special conditions in order to avoid problems during police checks.
Car registration and taxes in the EU - Your Europe

I've outlined Portuguese legislation above and quoted the source as it says specifically what the requirements are for Portugal. There are slightly different requirements amongst the various member states, as one would expect, but the principles remain the same
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 12:18 pm
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

Ah....... Gotcha.

I wasn't aware of that but it's good to know that students at least get a break from the ridiculous car import/registration requirements.

Although presumably the requirements for tax, test & insurance would be the same?

It also begs the question of in that circumstance, can the foreign registered car be IPO tested here instead of being returned to the UK? - Which would make a lot of sense.
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 1:19 pm
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

Good questions, to which I don't have the answers

I imagine the customs here would be able to advise on the matter of the annual tax, if nothing else. My assumption would be that as it appears from one of the above links to be waived here under these circumstances, it ought to be paid in the country of origin.

Perhaps the institution the OP will be studying at can advise - they must get quite a few foreign car-driving students. I know that normally, a foreign vehicle circulating on Portuguese roads would need to have all the necessary stuff up to date as though being driven in its home state but it also seems to be a problem to insure a car for lengthy periods outside that state. And as you say, the IPO would be a lot easier if allowed to do it here should it become due during the student's stay.
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 7:41 pm
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

Without a valid safety inspection, the insurance will be invalid.
And most insurance policies will only cover a short period of use outside the country of registration.
If a UK car, thee are some specialist insurance agents. They would not cover my Dutch vehicles.
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 8:45 pm
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

Originally Posted by liveaboard
Without a valid safety inspection, the insurance will be invalid.
And most insurance policies will only cover a short period of use outside the country of registration.
If a UK car, thee are some specialist insurance agents. They would not cover my Dutch vehicles.
Which takes us back to the question of would an IPO inspection be valid on a UK registered vehicle (under these particular circumstances)?

And I guess would UK insurance be valid for more than 6 months?
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Old Aug 14th 2017, 9:10 pm
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Default Re: Owning a car as a student

Re : insurance. There's nothing in principle preventing insurers in EU member states from offering a policy to cover a non-resident.

You must register your car in the country where you normally live. You don't need to register your car in your host country if you can prove that you are staying there only temporarily e.g. as a student.

When you register, you will have to present proof that you have insurance cover.

The car registration authorities should accept insurance cover from any insurance company:
◾based in that country or with an office there
◾without an office in that country but authorised to provide services there.


If you are moving to another EU country and need to re-register your car, you will have to check with your insurer whether your current contract will be valid in the country you are moving to.

In principle, you can also insure your car in a EU country different from your country of residence. But remember to check if the insurance company offers international services.
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens...y/index_en.htm
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