Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
Jun 29th 2020, 12:01 pm
#1
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Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
Me again! I am in the process of researching this and awaiting an email from somebody in Portugal. We have an older, modified vehicle and it seems like it's a minefield. Has anyone done or attempted to do this? If so how was the process?
Many thanks in advance.
Many thanks in advance.
Jun 29th 2020, 2:52 pm
#2
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Re: Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
What's the modification?
Jun 29th 2020, 3:20 pm
#4
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Re: Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
How old is old ? Vintage pre 1970 get some concessions but otherwise the process is the same. You do not say if you are a new resident or not as on arrival you have a period during which you can bring with you one car free of duties provided you comply with the extensive requirements . If you search on this site several people have listed the detailed requirements . One of them will be the original certificate of Conformity , normal acquired from the dealer who first sold the car or the manufacturer. If the car has been modified this may prove to be a difficult task.
Jun 29th 2020, 3:22 pm
#5
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Re: Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
It's doable, has the v5 been changed to show the new engine number and all numbers match now. That's where you may fail initially.
The coc should be for the car as it was built, this is where you may have an issue too, some test centres are more easy going than others, it could be a nightmare or you could get lucky.
Hard to call tbh.
But everyone told us we'd have lots of issues matriculating ours and I actually found it fairly easy but with a lot of paper chasing to be done.
Good luck if you decide to go ahead with it
The coc should be for the car as it was built, this is where you may have an issue too, some test centres are more easy going than others, it could be a nightmare or you could get lucky.
Hard to call tbh.
But everyone told us we'd have lots of issues matriculating ours and I actually found it fairly easy but with a lot of paper chasing to be done.
Good luck if you decide to go ahead with it
Jun 29th 2020, 4:02 pm
#6
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Re: Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
It's doable, has the v5 been changed to show the new engine number and all numbers match now. That's where you may fail initially.
The coc should be for the car as it was built, this is where you may have an issue too, some test centres are more easy going than others, it could be a nightmare or you could get lucky.
Hard to call tbh.
But everyone told us we'd have lots of issues matriculating ours and I actually found it fairly easy but with a lot of paper chasing to be done.
Good luck if you decide to go ahead with it
The coc should be for the car as it was built, this is where you may have an issue too, some test centres are more easy going than others, it could be a nightmare or you could get lucky.
Hard to call tbh.
But everyone told us we'd have lots of issues matriculating ours and I actually found it fairly easy but with a lot of paper chasing to be done.
Good luck if you decide to go ahead with it
Jun 29th 2020, 5:56 pm
#9
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Re: Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
What year is yours? Ours is an '87 Land Rover.
Jun 29th 2020, 6:47 pm
#10
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Re: Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
2007
You most likely will need to change headlights to lhd if they don't have the levers to flatten the beam
You most likely will need to change headlights to lhd if they don't have the levers to flatten the beam
Jun 30th 2020, 9:49 am
#11
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Re: Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
Portugal is very difficult about modified road vehicles.
But give it a try, what have you got to lose?
Have a new MOT before leaving UK, so it will still be valid if you need to take it back.
Driving a RHD vehicle on the right isn't so nice though.
Sending it on a transporter might be cheaper than driving it.
But give it a try, what have you got to lose?
Have a new MOT before leaving UK, so it will still be valid if you need to take it back.
Driving a RHD vehicle on the right isn't so nice though.
Sending it on a transporter might be cheaper than driving it.
Jul 1st 2020, 9:09 am
#12
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Re: Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
And old Land Rovers are very popular here in PT and worth more than you would think! Check out prices in second-hand car websites in Portugal
Jul 1st 2020, 9:11 am
#13
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Re: Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
Portugal is very difficult about modified road vehicles.
But give it a try, what have you got to lose?
Have a new MOT before leaving UK, so it will still be valid if you need to take it back.
Driving a RHD vehicle on the right isn't so nice though.
Sending it on a transporter might be cheaper than driving it.
But give it a try, what have you got to lose?
Have a new MOT before leaving UK, so it will still be valid if you need to take it back.
Driving a RHD vehicle on the right isn't so nice though.
Sending it on a transporter might be cheaper than driving it.
Jul 1st 2020, 9:11 am
#14
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Re: Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
Jul 1st 2020, 11:37 am
#15
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Re: Importing an old car to Portugal from the UK
Always worth a try as some have said.
I too have a land rover with an engine change.
It was an absolute no chance in my case after speaking to every club, department, etc.
The big issue was the CoC.
It's a defender that was originally a V8 petrol and that's what the CoC will say no matter how many discussions I've had with land rover etc.
A batch of them were purchased by a regional electric company in uk for carrying workers/tools/poles up hills but were found to be underpowered, a specialist company was employed to install perkin diesel engines to offer more torque.
Lots of evidence etc but as the CoC says petrol every Portuguese department says no.
What may be of benefit to you was a chat I had with a very helpful inspector who informed me that they dont check the engine type/size/number so if not declared as an engine change it would most likely pass..... this of course only works if the engine you have now uses the same fuel as the engine first installed on the CoC.
It's the damned emissions test that's the issue, the inspector has to enter the fuel type on CoC and therefore a different fuel gives completely illegal readings.
Hope that helps a little
I too have a land rover with an engine change.
It was an absolute no chance in my case after speaking to every club, department, etc.
The big issue was the CoC.
It's a defender that was originally a V8 petrol and that's what the CoC will say no matter how many discussions I've had with land rover etc.
A batch of them were purchased by a regional electric company in uk for carrying workers/tools/poles up hills but were found to be underpowered, a specialist company was employed to install perkin diesel engines to offer more torque.
Lots of evidence etc but as the CoC says petrol every Portuguese department says no.
What may be of benefit to you was a chat I had with a very helpful inspector who informed me that they dont check the engine type/size/number so if not declared as an engine change it would most likely pass..... this of course only works if the engine you have now uses the same fuel as the engine first installed on the CoC.
It's the damned emissions test that's the issue, the inspector has to enter the fuel type on CoC and therefore a different fuel gives completely illegal readings.
Hope that helps a little