Case Study 19 – Subaru ZC6 from the United States

We had been in contact with the owner of a 2014 Subaru ZC6 for several months, starting when he first began planning his move from the United States to Portugal.

The car was a smart choice for a tax-free import, as it is rare in Europe, making it both unique and potentially expensive to purchase locally. However, due to its rarity and the fact that Subaru as a brand isn’t all that common in Portugal, some additional paperwork was required.

The Documents

For this car, we needed to request a Subaru compliance plug, essentially a technical datasheet similar to a COC (Certificate of Conformity). The customer had already contacted Subaru Europe himself, but was unable to obtain this document.

Fortunately, we were able to get through on his behalf. We ordered the compliance plug and arranged for brand representative verification, which is also required for registration. These documents aren’t free, so if you plan to import a non-European vehicle, be prepared to spend a few hundred euros on documentation alone.

Shipping the Car

When it comes to shipping cars from the U.S. to Europe, transport by a cargo ship is almost always the best option. In this case, the customer didn’t know where to start. We connected him with a shipping company we had worked with before, and they successfully brought the car to Portugal.

As always, international shipping took a bit longer than expected, but there were no major delays. If you’re planning a similar move, we’d be happy to connect you with this shipper. It’s a reliable and recommended option.

Vehicle Inspection in Portugal

Once the car arrived, we helped guide it through the inspection process. Because U.S. regulations differ from European ones, some modifications were necessary. Most notably, the signal lights had to be changed from red (legal in the U.S.) to amber (required in the EU).

There was also a small hiccup: the wheels had been changed to a non-standard size. Our strong advice is always:

Bring the car in its original state when importing.

You can always make modifications later, but doing it beforehand can complicate the inspection process.

In this case, the customer got lucky. He explained the situation and the wheels were accepted as-is. But this is not the norm. Many inspection centers will insist on original specifications.

Customs Declaration

After the car passed inspection, we submitted the customs declaration. Most of this process went smoothly, but there was one unexpected issue: the customer had an outstanding IUC (road tax) debt from a different car, which had to be resolved before customs would process the new import.

It’s a good reminder that unpaid taxes can block your import, even if they relate to a different vehicle.

Key Takeaways

• Importing non-European vehicles can involve extra documentation and associated costs.
• Cars from overseas may need modifications to meet European inspection standards (e.g., lighting).
• Always try to import the car in its original condition, so it matches the documentation exactly.
• Outstanding IUC debts—even unrelated to the import—can prevent customs from accepting your application.