Case Study 41 – Volkswagen Caddy from Germany

This customer contacted us about importing their Volkswagen Caddy. The vehicle had extra seats compared to most Caddys, which meant it was classified as a passenger car in Portugal rather than a work van. As a result, no work van discount could be applied to the import.

Paying the ISV Taxes – Over €2,000

Because the Caddy was treated as a passenger car, the ISV import tax amounted to over €2,000. Given the high amount, we recommended that the customer pay the ISV directly to the Portuguese authorities.

Unlike in many other countries, such payments in Portugal don’t use an IBAN transfer. Instead, a Portuguese bank account is required, and payment must be made either:

• Online via internet banking
• At a Multibanco machine

Once customs reviews the application, they issue a DUC document with a reference number. This number is then used to make the payment under “Pagamentos ao Estado” (“Payments to the State”).

Transfer of Ownership – Within the Family

The Caddy was being transferred from a family member in Germany to a family member in Portugal. This process was straightforward: both parties simply needed to sign a transfer of ownership document.

A simple online template with the correct details filled in was sufficient to meet the legal requirements.

The Importance of Part II of the German Registration

Because the car came from Germany, both Teil I and Teil II of the German registration documents were required. When the process began, however, Teil II was still in Germany, which caused a delay.

It took several weeks before someone could physically bring the missing document to Portugal. Only then were we able to proceed with the inspection and registration.

The Import Process – Fast Once Documents Arrived

Although the preparation phase was slow due to the missing paperwork, once Teil II was in hand, the process moved very quickly. The inspection and registration were completed without issues.

Key Takeaways

• For high tax amounts, it can be reassuring to pay the ISV directly to the authorities. You will need a Portuguese bank account to do this.
• Transfer of ownership is easy as long as both parties sign a simple document.
• For any import from Germany, both Teil I and Teil II of the registration document are required.