Purchasing a car in Portugal is a lot easier process than importing. Official dealers are more likely to have parts in stock for models they frequently sell than for models imported from other countries. For further information about car documentation consult Bulletin M/02/E.

New car from a dealer
A dealer with a new vehicle in stock should be able to put you on the road within 1-2 days. They should provide the necessary documentation (temporary documents substituting the Documento Único Automóvel (DUA), their sales receipt, and the manufacturer's guarantee. You will also need compulsory motor insurance (Bulletin I/03/E Car Insurance). The dealer will normally arrange for issue of the official documents (DUA), which should be sent to you within the validity of your temporary documents.

Secondhand vehicles and documentation
The minimum documentation required for sale of a used vehicle is the Livrete and Título de Registo de Propriedade or DUA, and a completed form for registration of the change of ownership (Requerimento de Registo Automóvel). The local Conservatória do Registo Comercial/Automóvel provides this form or you can download it yourself HERE.

The appointment with the Conservatória can be done by e-mail or phone. The contacts are via this link.

Other documents worth consulting are: the road worthiness inspection certificate (IPO, Bulletin M/06/E) and the car service record (Livro de Revisões/Manutenção). A formal receipt of sale, giving the details of the car, the seller and the buyer with annexed photocopies of the Livrete and Título de Registo de Propriedade, or DUA, is also advisable (as is a written sales contract to clarify the terms of sale), along with the proof of payment of the car tax. Your lawyer could draw up a simple contract for you.

The form to register change of ownership (Requerimento de Registo Automóvel) needs to be completed and signed by both the buyer and the seller. It identifies the vehicle, the previous owner, the new owner, and whether there are any reservations on the transfer of ownership (outstanding payments or partial ownership). The signatures do not need to be notarised if both buyer's and seller's identification (this should be a Passport or Identity Card) are shown when the form is deposited at the Conservatória do Registo Comercial/Automóvel. The payment of the registration fees must be by cash or debit card and is about € 65.

Legally the new purchaser is responsible for registering the change of ownership within 60 days of the sale. However, if this is not done the seller remains the registered owner and may be liable for accident damage or traffic fines incurred by the new owner. It is therefore advisable for both the seller and buyer to register the change of ownership at the time of sale. This can be done at the same time exchange of payment for the keys and documentation. The buyer will need his or her own vehicle insurance before driving.

The seller should not forget to cancel the vehicle insurance and send a copy of the change of ownership registration + insurance certificate to the insurance company. Also if you have a transponder for the Tolls, you need to take this out of the vehicle and cancel the contract (Via Verde can be cancelled online if you have a log in to their website).

The registration process can also be submitted online here, but only if one of the parties has digital version of the Portuguese Citizen card (Cartão de Cidadão). It can also be presented by lawyers, notaries, reseller´s and solicitors holding a digital certificate.

When you purchase a new car against the trade-in of a used vehicle, the dealer will ask you to sign the change of ownership registration form and to hand over the traded-in vehicle documents and keys. Ideally, the dealer should sign and register the form as purchaser. However, they may ask you to sign the form with the purchaser's name left open, for completion when they find a final buyer. Since you could remain the registered owner of the vehicle for some time, it would be advisable to ensure that the dealer's receipt for the new vehicle gives full details of the trade-in, identifying the vehicle and its value.

Check if there are outstanding bills
You can request a code from the Conservatória de Registo Automóvel (online this costs 10 euros and if you do it at the Conservatória it costs 17 euros) to see if there are any outstanding bills. Go there and select your district and locality.

Online it works like this:

Enter site
Choose “Pedir certidão permanente automóvel”
You can enter your licence plate here and below that the numbers/letters that appear in the box at CÓDIGO DE VERIFICAÇÃO
Click on VALIDAR You will then see the following screen (see added example):

Automovel online

Where it says Matricula you fill in the licence plate number
Further down, enter the name of the new owner where it says Nome/Firma ou Denominação
Under E-mail your e-mail address
And click in CONTINUAR
On the next page you will find the payment details and also the Código de Acesso.

This will also be sent to the e-mail address you provided along with details for payment, you can transfer the €10.00 via homebanking or make the payment at the multibanco machine.

After receipt of the €10,00 you will also receive the code and the access validity period by e-mail.

Please be aware that the code can only be used after the payment has been made.

Enter the Código de Acesso here.
And click in CONFIRMAR.

This code is valid for 6 months. You can then download the certidão permanente automóvel.

The IUC (road tax) is not shown here, but we believe that outstanding amounts remain in the name of the previous owner. To be absolutely sure, you can check with your local Finanças.

New and secondhand prices
There are a number of regular publications with guides to vehicle prices. Insurance companies and the courts base some on the Eurotax surveys of dealers’ prices used.

Official agents and secondhand dealers
The yellow pages lists official agents and approved dealers in your area, please look under "Automóveis - Agentes e Representantes". Other new and secondhand dealers are listed under "Automóveis - Stands" and "Automóveis Usados - Stands". Official dealers or those registered with the association of motor dealers (which display a sign Garantia ACAP) normally offer guarantees of at least six months.

M05E - Buying & selling a Motor Vehicle

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