Importing a car from Germany to Portugal in 2026 comes down to three steps: buy, transport by truck (€500–1,200) and legalize — DAV, the car import tax (ISV), technical inspection and Portuguese plates. Fixed costs excluding ISV run about €1,500–2,500 and the whole process takes 3–6 weeks. A car that costs €30,000 at a Portuguese dealer often sells for €20,000 in Germany, so on premium BMW, Audi and Mercedes models the price gap usually covers every cost with more than €5,000 to spare. Below: each step and how to calculate the tax before you buy.
The price gap: €30,000 in Portugal, €20,000 in Germany
The German market is Europe's largest: a huge supply of well-kept used cars with documented history and genuine mileage. The same model that costs €30,000 at a Portuguese dealer is often listed at €20,000 in Germany. On mid-to-high-end and premium cars, that gap usually outweighs the import costs. When it works and when it does not — see whether it is worth importing a car in 2026.
Three steps: buy, transport, legalize
1. Find and inspect the car
You pick the vehicle at German auctions or dealers. This is where most mistakes happen: misleading listings, tampered mileage, hidden accident damage. An on-site inspection — yourself or through someone who does it for you — is essential.
2. Transport to Portugal
Open transport costs around €500–800, enclosed €800–1,200, depending on distance and the protection you want.
3. Legalize
Within the legal deadline after the car enters the country, you file the DAV (vehicle customs declaration) with the Tax Authority, pay the ISV, pass the technical inspection — and the car receives Portuguese plates (matrícula). Every document and deadline is in our guide on how to legalize an imported car in Portugal.
Cost of importing to Portugal: €1,500–2,500 plus ISV
On top of the car's purchase price, budget for:
| Cost | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Transport | €500–1,200 |
| ISV | variable (the biggest slice — explained below) |
| Inspection and registration | around €200–400 |
| Paperwork and process handling | — |
The fixed part excluding ISV is about €1,500–2,500. ISV is the decisive variable — simulate it before buying, not after.
ISV: Portugal's one-off car import tax
ISV is paid once, at legalization, and has two components:
| Component | Calculation basis |
|---|---|
| Displacement component | calculated on engine displacement in cm³ |
| Environmental component | calculated on CO2 emissions (WLTP standard), with separate tables for petrol and diesel |
Diesel vehicles also pay a surcharge of around €500 for particulate emissions, except versions with very low emissions.
Age reduction: from 10% to 80%
The big advantage of used EU imports: the assessed ISV gets an age reduction — from 10% for cars up to 1 year to 80% for cars over 10 years. The older the car, the lower the tax.
Electric and hybrid cars
Fully electric cars are exempt from ISV, plug-in hybrids (PHEV) up to 80 g CO2/km get a 75% reduction and hybrids 40%:
| Powertrain | ISV benefit |
|---|---|
| 100% electric | exempt |
| Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) up to 80 g CO2/km | −75% |
| Hybrid | −40% |
To get your car's exact figure, run our ISV calculator before deciding. Our Chrome extension also shows ISV directly on mobile.de and AutoScout24 listings.
IUC: a separate annual tax
The IUC (annual road tax) is independent of ISV: ISV is paid once (on import), IUC every year you own the car. Estimate the annual amount with our IUC calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I save importing from Germany?
It depends on the model. On premium cars, the gap between the German and Portuguese price often exceeds €5,000 even after adding ISV, transport and legalization.
How long does the process take?
From purchase to delivery with Portuguese plates, typically 3–6 weeks, depending on transport and the legalization schedule.
Do I have to pay VAT when importing from Germany?
When buying a used car from a private seller or dealer in the EU, there is generally no additional VAT to pay in Portugal. Rules differ for new vehicles (or those considered new).
Is ISV the same for a new and a used car?
The base calculation is the same, but a used car imported from the EU gets the age reduction — from 10% up to 80% — which significantly lowers the tax.
Can I order a specific car I don't have yet?
Yes. With our import-to-order service, we find the exact car you want and handle the entire process.
How Clara Cars handles it
We run the whole process transparently: we find the vehicle, transport it to Portugal and legalize it through to the plates. Browse available cars in our catalog, see the import-to-order service or sell your current car. Start your import with us.