Case Study 40 – Renault Captur from Netherlands

This customer was relocating to Portugal and wanted to bring his Dutch Renault Captur with him. At first, he asked about a tax-free import. But after reviewing the costs, we advised him to import the car with taxes instead — a choice that ended up saving him money.

Why Import with Taxes?

While “tax-free import” sounds attractive, in some cases it isn’t the cheapest or most practical option. Importing with taxes has several advantages:

• Simpler process – fewer documents are required.
• Lower service costs – several hundred euros cheaper than tax-free imports.
• Faster completion – the process moves along more quickly.

In this case, the import taxes for the Captur were under €200. Paying this was far cheaper than the extra service and documentation costs of a tax-free import.

BPM Refund – Making Money on the Import

Because the Renault was a relatively new Dutch car, the customer was also entitled to a BPM refund in the Netherlands. This refund actually outweighed the import taxes and costs in Portugal — meaning the customer ended up making money on the import.

This is one of the main advantages of importing newer cars from the Netherlands.

COC – Already in Place

The customer already had the Certificate of Conformity (COC), which made the process even smoother. For Renault and other French brands, COCs are rarely free. In those cases, we can often save customers time and money by arranging a COC substitute through a Portuguese engineer.

For this Captur, however, the existing COC was sufficient.

Extra Fast Service – Plates Within 2 Weeks

Because the customer’s Dutch insurance would only remain valid for a short time, he chose our extra fast service. This option allowed us to deliver Portuguese plates within two weeks of the car’s arrival.

This is often a better choice than arranging temporary import insurance, which can be costly and complicated. We always recommend the solution that best fits each customer’s situation.

The Outcome – Plates in Just 8 Days

The import process was smooth from start to finish. With the COC already in hand and the Captur being a relatively new vehicle, the car passed inspection without issue.

• Plates were issued just 8 days after the inspection.
• The customer saved money by opting for import with taxes.
• Thanks to the BPM refund, the entire process resulted in a financial gain.

Key Takeaways

• If your car has very low import tax (under ~€350), importing with taxes is usually the easiest, fastest, and cheapest option.
• With Dutch cars, always check for a BPM refund. It may cover or exceed your costs.
• Our extra services, such as extra fast service or a COC substitute, can save both time and money.