Ship Car To Setúbal

Located in Portugal, Setúbal is very well known for all the industries it brings to the region. Industries include paper, fertilizers, thermal power, cement, pulp, pesticides, and ship building and repair. Back in the 50’s, this area was well known in the automotive industry as well.

When you come to Portugal to visit or to stay a while, you can bring one vehicle with you for personal use only. You can drive that vehicle in Portugal for up to 180 days once you have it registered. It will need to be registered in your name. Only you and the members of your family will be allowed to drive it. You will need to obtain insurance and have a valid driver’s license to be considered. 

Importing your Vehicle to Setúbal, Portugal

When you first get to Portugal, you will want to apply for a residency permit. Before you are allowed to drive your car or motorcycle around Portugal, you will need to have it pass inspection with the Portuguese highway standards. You can visit any authorized inspection station within Portugal to have this inspection done. The standards set for vehicles will vary depending on the model, make, and how old the vehicle is. Classic collectible cars are somewhat different when it comes to standards. As long as the vehicle meets all standards, it will pass inspection. 

Once you obtain a license through Portugal, you will need to turn in the one you previously had. This will need to be done when you fill out the application for a residence permit. You will not need to pay any Value Added Tax, or VAT when importing however, there are a few rules that you must adhere to. For example, you cannot sell your car within the first year of moving to Portugal, otherwise, you will have to pay those taxes to the Portugal Customs. You can ship a vehicle into the country without paying any duty every five years. 

Documentation Needed for Registration

One Citizen Card will serve as the license plate, the registration, and the log book in Portugal. The card will need to be kept inside the vehicle at all times. You will need to register your vehicle with the Civil Registry Office as soon as you get the card. Once you arrive in Portugal, you will need to fill out all the paperwork. If you need help, you can get it from the Citizen’s Shops, a program established by the Portuguese government to help foreigners to understand and open accounts, utility, and get the ID cards they need for Portugal. The assistance comes in handy because all documents are in Portuguese.

Which type Of Shipping is Right for you?

When you get ready to import a vehicle, you will have two means to choose from. The first is Roll On/Roll Off (RORO). The second method is the container shipping method. Your vehicle will most likely travel from the states to Portugal by a cargo ship. With the Roll On/ Roll Off method, the car is driven from the dock to the ship and then it is secured onto the deck. When you choose this method, you cannot leave anything in the car while it is in transport. Once the vehicle reaches the port in Portugal, it will be driven off the ship and await you to claim it. 

If you choose to ship your vehicle by container, you should know that this method is the more expensive of the two. The benefit is that you can pack the container and your car with as much stuff as you can get inside. It won’t cost you anything extra to stuff the container or your car.