Hypothetically , what are the rules for old cars being moved from the US to Portugal? Licensing, insurance, fenders, mirrors, all that stuff? What would I need to do to get my '29 roadster there? TIA!
Hope you get some good quality answers, but I'd also be concerned with the legal issues of just the importing and the tariffs. Here are the top couple search results. https://www.portugal.com/moving-to-portugal/importing-a-car-to-portugal/ https://portugalcarimport.com/guide/ I'd consider both to be basic guides and try to find actual gov't pages. This might be an area where hiring an expert is worth the cost.
In case you are bringing your own car over, because you are moving to Portugal, there shouldn´t be any customs fees or taxes involved. You usually may bring your personal things with you tax free. If you are selling your car to someone in the EU there may be a customs fee of 4-6% depending on the country, if the car is a historical car and a 10% fee plus the VAT valid in the country if it´s a newer car... the taxable amount is the sales price of the vehicle( bill of sale) plus shipping costs to the EU border. A couple years ago I bought a car in the US, had it shipped here, sales prices was 14650 €, shipping and handling was 2000€ straight, I had to pay 4% on 16650€ at the port if Rotterdam, because that´s where my car entered the EU.
Several different scenarios probably each has a different set of rules. Temporary import to use while on vacation or for work. Permanent import for personal use when moving there. Permanent import due to sale to another party. If your aim is a temporary import be cautious if you decide to sell it. You'll need to change your original import paperwork and comply with different rules. Since they are in the EU there is probably a blanket set of rules that must also be met for import into any EU country.
Here is some more info https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...oQFnoECB4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw1IyBAUJajycWT2HBOqufP7
@Deuce Lover I read through that. It's got the information on insurance, fees, taxes, etc., but does not have any information about any specific attributes the car needs to have. I'm not sure if a fenderless car is allowed, or if open exhaust is allowed.
Are you military and taking it for an assignment? If so, the military can tell you what the rules are. Back in the early 80s I couldn’t take my car to Germany with the blower sticking out of the hood. Took an off topic Corvette instead. But they will help you figure out what you need to drive it there as well. If you are going as a civilian for work, check with you company and the state department. They can help with the rules and more importantly they can help if there is an issue. Getting it there isn’t that difficult. Being able to use it and get it back home eventually can become very difficult if you don’t have the right documents from taking it over and if it doesn’t meet the correct requirements at the time it arrives in port going either way. If you are moving there semi permanently, check with their embassy to find out what they want. Document what they want and have copies with you when you pick it up.
Jeff, I am in France and its getting tougher to bring in "modified" vehicles such as Hot Rods.Now all classic car imports are subjected to inspections. What some do here is bring in a bone stock car ,get it registered and then modify it. I clicked on your link and the way the car looked back when you got it looked perfect and no red flags.The last pics without fenders etc I think can pose a problem. If it had proven historical importance it might pass.Now I am talking about France.I have no idea how the Portugese operate. I am an old American Hot Rodder retired here.Spent many yrs in So Cal.Sheldon
I am not military, retired or otherwise. I enlisted in the draft, but it never happened, and instead I went to college and became an engineer. Thanks for the info. I had heard from some locals that it was rather loose for old hot rods in Portugal, but I'm hoping to hear from someone local in country to know for sure. I know we have members on here from Portugal, and I've heard that the hot rodding scene is alive there, but just want to talk to some of them to figure all this out. I'd really not want to be there for a significant amount of time without something fun to drive... Thanks for all the info. I'll keep looking and update this thread as I find new information.
@Jeff34 Best of luck to you on this, hope you get some real local intel, not a bunch of Yanks just guessing! As far as the fun to drive, it's probably sacrilege but the entire world isn't HAMB-centric. Might be fun to explore the local 'have fun with simple transport' while at the same time promoting this facet. When In Rome and so on.
I sold a deuce highboy roadster to a customer in Portugal about 2005. He wired the money and I worked with the shipping agent/broker to facilitate the transportation. Once I had the money I expressed the broker the title and a couple weeks later a Horseless Carriage transport showed up at the shop. I signed some paper work which I copied and sent to the broker. Car left never to be seen again by me. It eventually reached the new owner who was a relatively famous European Grand Prix driver who was apparently not very tall and said the car worked great but that he had to reupholster the seat so he could drive the car.
Are you moving there and taking the car with you ? Then contact someone you know that lives there who has recently imported a car from the states Are you selling or have sold a car to someone who lives there ? Offer feee storage for a reasonable amount of time with full payment and express to the Buyer in writing you are not responsible for loss or damage Jim Transporting To Travel Traveling To Share Stories From The Road
If you have the funds, maybe you should just buy something there, use it during your stay, then sell it before you leave. When you consider the cost of shipping your car there and eventually back, plus all the fees, you might even be able to sell at a loss and still come out ahead.
I think a few UK rodders have taken their cars to the Algarve in Portugal from the UK after moving/retiring from the UK, not sure if any of them post on here though......they most likely will still post on UK forums.? Open exhausts, fenderless, hoodless etc is getting increasingly harder to get away with in EU areas as legislation gets ever tighter. Anything not factory stock is trying to be outlawed in many places by legislation. I've got an ex-workmate who lives in the Algarve, and he sent me this link below to this annual US car show there. Maybe worth emailing them as they may be able to put you in touch with some locals who may be able to answer questions...? https://www.americancarsalgarve.pt/
Is it an "old car" or a hotrod. Importation of any car to anywhere may depend on how its titled, and what inspection standards it needs to meet.
I would think importing it is one thing, getting it registered (and passing an inspection) to drive there is a different thing. In other words, the buyer might successfully get it through customs and delivered to his house, but then have to go through a more or less arduous process to get it licensed for the road. But the second part isn't your problem.
@Beanscoot The way I'm reading it, Jeff is moving there for a while and wants his current car to drive there. So no buyer. He wants to import his own property, then get it legal to drive there. Selected quotes " Hypothetically , what are the rules for old cars being moved from the US to Portugal? Licensing, insurance, fenders, mirrors, all that stuff? What would I need to do to get my '29 roadster there?" and "It's got the information on insurance, fees, taxes, etc., but does not have any information about any specific attributes the car needs to have. I'm not sure if a fenderless car is allowed, or if open exhaust is allowed." and "I'd really not want to be there for a significant amount of time without something fun to drive..." So it sounds like he's mainly asking about equipment regulations for a hot rod in that country and how strict they are (and possibly the EU impacting that, 'cause you know he wants to park in front of the Casino in Monaco, too!)
@trulyvintage I would be living there at least half time and taking it with me. @Corn Fed Interesting idea. Might look around to see what I can find. @'29 Gizmo It's a hotrod. Fenderless, no hood sides, open exhaust '29 AV8 @RodStRace We would be living there half time on a golden visa, and eventually apply for citizenship for our retirement.
Maybe worth contacting Neil at the VHRA in the UK (see link below) as the VHRA has members in various European countries not just the UK, so if there is a VHRA member in Portugal, they may be able to help, as your car is very much a VHRA style car. https://www.vhra.co.uk/contact
my advice- add an apple tag hidden in the car and have insurance to cover the transportation of the car. Or check with your current insurer. good luck and ahve fun driving in another country. its hoot. I recall a guy building his hotrod from parts he took over as checked baggage. like a T- Roadster. It was great.
@Jeff34 I wasn't trying to get into your personal stuff, just clarify that you wanted to import for your own use. Please get back with us on all useful information. I am not planning on a Euro tour, but anything that helps the HAMB knowledge base is welcome.
I can only speak for Germany but the rules inside the EU are very usually quite similar. It´s true that it´s getting harder and harder to get a registraion on a modified car, there are quite some loops to jump through. I´m just in the process of getting my 34 ready for inspection. For Germany your car needs 4 working brakes, a parking brake, turn signals, hazard flashers, lo-hi beams and parking lights, reflectors on the back of your cars, sealed beams are only ok on cars built before 1954 and if they are assymetrical, you will need hood and fenders for the inspection. Odometer needs to work. Once the car is inspected and registered it may get you a fix it ticket if you´r caught without hood or fenders, but that´s pretty unusal. Open exhaust is not going to cut it at the inspection.
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