![The customer approached us after already transporting his fully electric 2022 Porsche Taycan 4s from the Netherlands to Madeira. Since the vehicle was electric and came with a valid Certificate of Conformity (COC), the import process was smooth and, best of all, completely tax-free. Transporting the Vehicle to Madeira At the time the customer contacted […]](https://carimportportugal.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/Taycan.png)
The customer approached us after already transporting his fully electric 2022 Porsche Taycan 4s from the Netherlands to Madeira. Since the vehicle was electric and came with a valid Certificate of Conformity (COC), the import process was smooth and, best of all, completely tax-free.
Transporting the Vehicle to Madeira
At the time the customer contacted us, his Porsche was already on the island. It’s important to note that there are no regular direct ferry services from mainland Portugal to Madeira at the time of this writing. This means that if you’re planning to bring a vehicle to the island, it must be shipped via freight transport. You can’t simply drive it onto a ferry.
Importing to Madeira vs. Mainland Portugal
The vehicle registration process in Madeira is largely the same as in mainland Portugal, with one small difference: registrations are handled by DRETT, Madeira’s counterpart to the IMT. The process is virtually identical, though there is a slightly higher registration fee on the island.
No Import Taxes for Electric EU Vehicles
Because the Porsche Taycan was both fully electric and originated from within the EU, no ISV (vehicle tax) or IVA (VAT) was due.
However, there are a few conditions to keep in mind:
If the vehicle is less than 6 months old and/or has under 6,000 km on the odometer, VAT must be paid, even within the EU.
Vehicles imported from non-EU countries are also subject to VAT, regardless of age or mileage.
Fast-Track Import Service
The customer needed the process completed quickly, and that’s what we did.
Thanks to the absence of tax steps and the fact that the vehicle had a European type approval number, we were able to complete the registration process in just four days from the inspection date to receiving the license plate number.
This kind of speed is possible when the documentation is complete and the import qualifies for a simplified procedure.
Key Takeaways
- Importing a car to Madeira is very achievable—the biggest hurdle is transport to the island.
- Electric cars from the EU can be imported completely tax-free, provided they meet age and mileage requirements.
- Our “extra fast” service is ideal for straightforward cases like this. While we can’t control customs processing times, we do everything in our power to expedite the process on your behalf.
