Case Study 38 – Jaguar and Mercedes from Belgium

This customer first contacted us in a state of panic. They had entrusted the import of their two cars to a contact recommended by their lawyer. But after 5 months, nothing had happened… the process hadn’t even been started.

All the necessary documents had already been collected, but the person responsible never followed through. Running out of time to complete the tax-free import within the 12-month window, the couple decided to search for someone else and reached out to us.

The vehicles in question were:

2010 Jaguar XF
2021 Mercedes V-Klasse

Both were to be imported tax-free from Belgium.

Our Approach – Fast Action

Because they had already lost 5 months, and many people don’t start their import immediately after arrival, we had to move quickly. Fortunately, most of the documentation was already in order, so we could immediately begin the process.

Customs Approval and Inspections

We arranged the inspections right away, and both cars were approved within a few weeks. Customs did raise some questions regarding the proof of living documentation, but this was resolved quickly.

As a result:

The first car was approved promptly.
The second was approved about a week later.

Extra Fast Registration

At the time we received the documents with the Portuguese plate numbers (DAV), the couple had just left for a 4+ week trip abroad. This meant they couldn’t immediately send us the final documents.

To avoid delays, we recommended opting for an extra-fast IMT registration. This service costs €45, but ensures IMT completes the registration within a reasonable timeframe. Without it, the registration can sometimes take so long that the DAV technically expires before the process is finished.

We’ve been recommending this option to all clients in recent months, as it greatly reduces risk. In this case, with a 4-week delay before the customers could send documents, it was especially valuable.

The Outcome – A Fast Turnaround

Thanks to the extra-fast registration, we were able to provide the Portuguese plates well within 4 weeks. Compared to the previous company, which hadn’t even started after 5 months, the customers were both surprised and delighted by how quickly everything was finalized.

Key Takeaways

• Choose reliability: If someone isn’t following through, don’t wait months, contact us and we’ll get things moving quickly.
• Expect questions: Customs often asks for clarification on documentation. This is normal and usually resolved quickly.
• Consider extra-fast options: At the time of writing, we recommend the €45 extra-fast IMT registration for all cases. We also offer extra-fast service upgrades if you want even faster progress.