Ship Car To Sao Miguel Island

Car Shipping San Miguel Island

Locally referred to as the ‘Green Island’, San Miguel Island is the largest island and has the highest population density. One of the beautiful islands, there are many people looking to retire or work here. And that calls for exploring the island using your own vehicle. Thus, if you are moving from USA to San Miguel Island in Azores, it isn’t difficult to move your vehicle. And you can explore with leisure the island and the surrounding areas when you can commute at your own will. Irrespective of whether you are a returning citizen, diplomat or on a work permit, having your vehicle will be of advantage. As it is a tropical area, there is higher moisture and during the rainy season, it can take a toll on the roads. Additionally, your vehicle would need higher maintenance.

However, before you move to San Miguel Island, it is essential to talk with an experienced shipping agent from A1 Auto Transport service, so that you are clear about the budget and requirements. It can be a tedious process but well-worth it. You might need to check with the Azores Embassy and know more about the latest import laws and regulations. Most of the EU countries have stringent emission laws and before you import to Azores islands, it is better to get the required modifications done, so the vehicle can pass the inspections.

You are required to submit some important documents that verify you as the owner of the vehicle and make the move valid. These include:

• Bill of Lading.
• Bill of sale/ purchase invoice.
• VAT NR.
• Lien-free title deed.
• Insurance.
• Proof of address.
• Passport.
• Work permit/visa of owner.
• Approval from Direcçao Geral dos Impostos.
• Valid driving license.

The method of shipping the vehicle affects the cost directly. RORO is cheap while container shipping is expensive. However, you might not look at the cost if you have an expensive car that needs an extra layer of protection. If this is the case, hire a container and then relax as we handle the cargo. There are no specific restrictions and you can use the container to ship your household goods also. This is why it is more expensive.

RORO on the other hand is cheap and requires adherence to shipping regulations. You are not allowed to put any personal items inside the vehicle. You need to leave minimum fuel in the tank, remove the air conditioning gas and put the car jack, spare tire and floor mats inside the car. You only pay for an open parking slot that you have been assigned on the ship. The vehicle is driven on/off the ship.

As per Azores Customs department the import duty is charged 16% on the basis of the current market price of the vehicle. Then there are VAT surcharge on all vehicles that is calculated accordingly. You are permitted to use the vehicle with foreign registration and license plates for only 180 days. After the lapse of the time frame, you are required to get the license plates and local driving license by contacting the Direcção-Geral de Viação. Before you are provided with the local license tags, the vehicle needs to clear all mandatory EU tests. If the vehicle fails to qualify for these, you will need to pay and get the required modifications done. When you are budgeting for the move, add to it the license fee that you are to pay for getting the Portuguese license plates.