Importing a car from Portugal: registration, COC and paperwork

The documents to gather

From the seller, you should leave with the Documento Único Automóvel (DUA), which since 2010 has merged the former title document and vehicle log book, together with a sales contract or invoice quoting the chassis number.

For the registration file itself, three items come up every time: the registration document of the country of origin, the certificate of conformity and the tax clearance. A roadworthiness test is added depending on the age of the vehicle and the rules of your country of registration.

The exact list depends on the authority that will process your file.

The certificate of conformity: why it is often missing

The name of the Portuguese document is itself a source of misunderstanding. Since 2010 the Documento Único Automóvel has merged into one piece what used to be split between a title document and a log book. Its “single” character suggests there is nothing else to gather; that is only true while the vehicle stays in Portugal.

A second, less familiar characteristic: Portugal is traditionally an importing country rather than an exporting one. Taxation long pushed buyers to bring vehicles in from Germany or Belgium rather than sell abroad. What that means for you: a notable share of the vehicles offered in Portugal have already changed country once, and the certificate of conformity was lost on that occasion — sometimes even after being obtained by the previous importer.

Third point: the Portuguese distribution network is compact, and many vehicles are sold privately or through small traders who keep no manufacturer file. The certificate is not being withheld — it was simply never filed on the seller’s side.

Step by step

1. 1

   The purchase

   Collect the complete Portuguese documents and note the chassis number, 17 characters.

2. 2

   The certificate of conformity

   Start the request at signing: it is the longest step, because it depends on the manufacturer.

3. 3

   Tax clearance

   Handled in parallel with the tax authority of your country of registration.

4. 4

   Roadworthiness test

   Required depending on the age of the vehicle and the rules that apply where you register it.

5. 5

   The registration application

   It brings all the documents together. A single missing item blocks the file.

The only turnaround we state is the manufacturer’s, brand by brand: the administrative steps depend on the authority concerned.

The cost of the COC by brand

The brands most represented among imports from Portugal:

Indicative prices including VAT, confirmed once the chassis number has been checked. Full list: price by brand. Turnarounds: turnaround guide. What the eCOC changes in 2026: our eCOC guide.