Case Study 20 – Ford Ranger with Snorkel from France

This was a unique case—we didn’t handle the full import from the beginning. The process was initially started by our customer’s lawyer, but things took a turn that brought the customer to us for help.

Inspection Issues – The Snorkel Problem

The customer contacted us after running into trouble during the vehicle inspection. The reason? A snorkel had been installed on the Ford Ranger—an aftermarket modification not included in the original specifications. The inspection center flagged it as non-compliant, and the vehicle failed the inspection.

We reviewed the situation and advised the customer to:

• Remove the snorkel
• Seal the opening with tape
• Return for re-inspection
• We also called the inspection center ahead of time to explain the circumstances.

This approach worked—the Ranger passed the inspection, and the customer continued the import process with their lawyer.

Registration Setback – IMT Rejection

While the lawyer successfully obtained the DAV document (customs clearance) and the Ranger received its Portuguese license plates, there was another setback.

During the IMT registration phase, the application was rejected. Why?

The inspection document had become outdated due to delays. Re-inspecting the vehicle wasn’t a real option, because the updated inspection document would no longer match the one used during the customs process. This mismatch could invalidate the registration attempt.

To avoid further complications, we advised the lawyer to:

• Cancel the registration attempt
• Pick up all physical documents
• Send everything to us
• We then restarted the registration process ourselves and successfully completed it—avoiding the conflict entirely.

Legalizing the Snorkel

Although the Ranger was now legally registered in Portugal, the snorkel was still not approved. The customer had obtained the official data sheet for the snorkel, which we submitted to IMT along with other required paperwork.

As expected, IMT had additional questions, but we tracked down the answers and followed up consistently.

In the end, the snorkel was fully legalized, and the modification is now part of the truck’s official registration.

Bonus Task – Driver’s License Exchange

The customer was so pleased with the results that he asked for help with something we don’t usually handle: exchanging a foreign driver’s license for a Portuguese one.

We agreed to take it on. We:

• Instructed him on which documents were needed (including a doctor’s exam)
• Submitted the application on his behalf
• While the customer still had to visit IMT personally for the photo and document verification, the rest of the process was handled smoothly. The new Portuguese license was mailed directly to his home.

Key Takeaways

• Lawyers aren’t always familiar with car import complications. If the customer had started the process with us, it would have been faster and cheaper.
• Avoid importing vehicles with modifications. If possible, bring the vehicle to Portugal in its original state, and install extras (like a snorkel) after the registration is complete.
• If you get stuck mid-process, don’t hesitate to contact us. Even if we didn’t start the import, we may be able to get things back on track.