Case Study 31 – A Toyota RAV4 from Germany

A German-speaking client wanted a well-kept, used 2018 Toyota RAV4 from Germany. To respect his language preference, we carried out the entire email exchange with the help of an online translator, something we’re always happy to do for customers who prefer another language.

Costs & Paperwork

The RAV4 already had European Type Approval, so the paperwork was straightforward.
Because the car was fairly new and had a larger engine, the ISV (vehicle tax) came to just over €3,000.
RAV4s are popular and pricey in Portugal, so even with that tax the total cost was still attractive.
The German pricing was lower, the condition excellent, and the car passed inspection with no issues.

Paying ISV Directly

Given the high tax amount, we advised the client to pay ISV straight to the Portuguese tax office.

After we filed the customs application, the authorities issued a DUC (official tax invoice).
Payment must be made via a Portuguese bank’s online “Payments to the State” option, no IBAN transfer. New arrivals often don’t know this, so we guided him through the process.

Customs Approval

ISV was paid promptly, but customs took longer than usual, several weeks instead of one, so we followed up multiple times.
Once approval came through, registration moved ahead smoothly and the client received his Portuguese plates.

The customer now enjoys his Toyota RAV4 on Portuguese roads, well worth the effort despite the higher tax.

Key Takeaways

• Cost comparison matters: even with higher ISV, importing a popular model like a RAV4 can save money versus buying locally.
• Large ISV bills: paying the tax directly to the authorities is often simplest—we supply the DUC invoice and instructions.
• German-sourced cars: typically well maintained, making them good candidates for import into Portugal.