Case Study 33 – Volkswagen Caddy from the Netherlands

This case was a great example of how some creativity and the right guidance can make a complex import smooth and successful.

A Portuguese customer, who had been working in the Netherlands, decided to buy a 2018 Volkswagen Caddy from a local seller. Before making the purchase, he reached out to me for advice. We discussed what to look out for, how to avoid high taxes, and how to choose a vehicle that wouldn’t create paperwork headaches later on. This ensured he picked the right car from the start.

The Challenge: Wrong Information from the Dutch Vehicle Authority

Since he wasn’t a resident of the Netherlands, the buyer couldn’t register the vehicle in his own name. So, after paying for the van, he left it parked outside the seller’s house while they tried to figure out how to proceed.
Together, they contacted the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority), but unfortunately, the information they received was vague and partly incorrect. The buyer was told he couldn’t get export plates, which wasn’t true.

In a surprising and thoughtful move, the seller himself called me. He was eager to free up his driveway and wanted to help the buyer move things forward. I explained the situation clearly, walked them through the process, and with that information, they were able to get export plates after all and successfully bring the van to Portugal.

Documentation

Because the car was exported using export plates, the buyer received both:

• The original Dutch registration document (Part 1)
• An export certificate (Part 2), which is only issued when export plates are used

To keep things moving quickly, the customer asked me to arrange the COC substitute document, which we provided in less than 24 hours. Everything was ready for inspection before the van even arrived in Portugal.

Inspection and Customs

Since all documentation had been prepared in advance, the vehicle went straight into inspection and passed without issue.
We immediately submitted the customs application, and within just one week, the customer had his new Portuguese license plates.

Key Takeaways

• You can buy a vehicle abroad and bring it to Portugal using export plates, just make sure the seller understands the process too.
• Local authorities in other countries (like the Dutch RDW) may not be familiar with Portuguese import requirements and sometimes provide incorrect or incomplete information.
• We can quickly arrange a COC substitute, often cheaper and faster than going through the official brand channels.