Short answer: Portugal has no customs duty on cars from the EU. What people call "importing" or "clearing" a car is really paying the ISV (one-off registration tax) and then the IUC (annual road tax). For a typical car from Germany, the 2026 ISV lands roughly between ~€1,500 and €6,000+, depending on engine size, CO₂ and age; the IUC is tens to a few hundred euros per year. Get the exact figure in 2 minutes with the ISV calculator; below is what it's made of.
What "importing" an EU car actually means
There are no customs duties on cars within the EU. If you bring a car from Germany, France, Spain or another EU country into Portugal, you do not pay import duty and you do not pay VAT again (it was already paid in the country of purchase). So "importing" here is mostly about legalising the car and paying the ISV registration tax (Imposto Sobre Veículos).
Duty (10%) and VAT (23%) only appear if the car comes from outside the EU — for example the UK post-Brexit, Switzerland or the US. That's a different scenario and a different bill.
What the ISV is made of
The ISV is the sum of two components:
- Engine-size component (cilindrada) — rises with displacement.
- Environmental component (CO₂) — rises with emissions; higher for diesels, with benefits for hybrids and EVs (100% electric cars are ISV-exempt, plug-in hybrids get a discount if they meet the criteria).
Then surcharges and an age reduction apply (the older the car, the lower the ISV, on a scale from the first registration). That's why a 3–5-year-old car from Germany often makes more sense than a brand-new one: the ISV has already "come down".
| Car type (example) | Indicative ISV* | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol 1.0–1.4, low CO₂, 3–4 years | ~€1,500–3,000 | Economy segment, age reduction |
| Diesel 2.0, mid CO₂, 4–6 years | ~€3,000–6,000 | Diesel CO₂ component is higher |
| Electric | €0 (ISV) | ISV-exempt; still pays IUC |
*Indicative figures, for order of magnitude. The real ISV depends on exact CO₂, engine size, first-registration date and the 2026 tables. Calculate it for the specific car.
IUC — the annual tax, not to be confused with ISV
The ISV is paid once, at legalisation. The IUC (Imposto Único de Circulação) is the annual road tax you pay every year you own the car. It follows a different logic (engine size + CO₂ + year) and is usually tens to a few hundred euros per year. Estimate your IUC in the IUC calculator — a separate tool from the ISV.
Example: a typical car from Germany
Say you buy a 4-year-old 2.0 diesel estate in Germany for €22,000. The order of magnitude of the legalisation costs in Portugal:
| Item | Indicative |
|---|---|
| ISV (registration tax) | ~€3,500–5,000 |
| Inspection (IPO) + IMT/plate process | ~€150–300 |
| IUC (first year) | ~€150–300 / year |
This is why it matters to calculate the ISV before you buy, not after — otherwise the "great" German price can be wiped out by the tax. The "is it even worth importing" analysis is in is it worth importing a car to Portugal, and the step-by-step process in the how to legalise an imported car guide.
How to calculate it exactly in 2 minutes
Don't do the maths by hand from the tables — you'll get the CO₂ component wrong. Enter the car's data in the ISV calculator (separately) and the IUC calculator (separately) to get both figures. If you're looking at a car on mobile.de or AutoScout24, our extension shows the ISV right inside the listing as you browse. And if you'd rather not handle the import yourself, we bring the car turnkey with the tax worked out up front.
Frequently asked questions
Is there customs duty on EU cars in Portugal?
No. On cars from EU countries there is no customs duty and no second VAT. You only pay the ISV registration tax (once) and the annual IUC. The 10% duty and 23% VAT only arise when importing from outside the EU (for example the UK).
How much does it cost to legalise a car from Germany?
Indicatively, the ISV for a typical 3–6-year-old car ranges from ~€1,500 to €6,000+, depending on engine size, CO₂ and age, plus ~€150–300 for inspection and paperwork. The exact amount comes from the ISV calculator for the specific car.
What's the difference between ISV and IUC?
ISV is a one-off registration tax paid at registration. IUC is the annual road tax paid every year you own the car. They are two different taxes with different formulas.
Is an electric car cheaper to legalise?
Yes, 100% electric cars are exempt from ISV. IUC is still paid, but it's lower. Plug-in hybrids get a partial ISV discount if they meet the emissions criteria.
Can I calculate the tax before buying the car abroad?
Yes, and you should. Enter the engine size, CO₂ and first-registration date in the ISV calculator before paying a deposit — that way a "cheap" price abroad doesn't turn into a loss after tax.