Case Study 39 – Skoda Rapid Spaceback from the Netherlands

When this customer first approached us, she was considering two potential cars. Both, however, came with relatively high import taxes. We advised her on how she could save significantly on taxes, and she ultimately decided to purchase a Skoda Rapid Spaceback 1.0.

At the time, she was still in the Netherlands and waiting for the car to be delivered. Knowing the importance of timing, we recommended that she request a Certificate of Conformity (COC) immediately. This was a smart move, as the COC ended up taking more than two weeks to arrive. This is a common delay.

Tax Advantage – When Dutch Exports Pay Off

One of the unique benefits of importing cars from the Netherlands is the potential refund of BPM taxes (a Dutch vehicle tax). In this case:

• ISV (Portuguese import tax): approx. €130
• BPM refund from the Netherlands: nearly €800

Because the Portuguese taxes were much lower than the BPM refund, the customer effectively imported her car for free. After subtracting all costs from the tax refund, she even came out ahead.

This shows why it’s always worth checking BPM refunds when importing newer Dutch cars — in some cases, you can break even or even profit from the process.

Why Not Tax-Free Import?

The customer had only just purchased the car, which made a tax-free import impossible (you must own the vehicle for at least 6 months prior to moving to Portugal to qualify).

That said, with such low ISV taxes, it was actually cheaper to import with taxes. Not only were the taxes minimal, but the service costs are also lower because the process is simpler.

Insurance Considerations During Emigration

Another challenge was car insurance during the move. Normally, when you deregister your residence in the Netherlands, Dutch insurers stop covering your car.

We recommended one common solution: keeping a “mailing address” in the Netherlands during the transition. By registering with family or similar and being listed as “travelling outside of the country,” insurance usually remains valid for the trip to Portugal.

In this case, however, the customer discovered her Dutch insurance company was one of the few that continued to cover her even during emigration. This made the process easier, but many others do need the mailing address solution.

The Import Process – Smooth and Straightforward

The only real delay was the COC, which took over two weeks to arrive. Had the customer been in a hurry, we could have provided a COC substitute within 24 hours through a Portuguese engineer.

Once the COC arrived, the process went smoothly and without hurdles.

The Outcome – A Cost-Free Import

Thanks to the BPM refund, the customer was able to cover all costs and essentially import her car at no cost at all. The process was smooth, and the end result was a Portuguese-registered Skoda Rapid Spaceback, ready for life in Portugal.

Key Takeaways

• Request your COC early: Free COCs can take weeks to arrive, so apply immediately.
• Check BPM refunds: For newer Dutch cars, the refund may offset (or exceed) Portuguese taxes.
• Plan insurance carefully: When moving countries, confirm with your insurer if coverage remains valid, or use a “mailing address” solution.