Matrícula
Certificado de Matrícula
The Certificado de Matrícula is the registration certificate for Portuguese cars, a card that combines the vehicle details and the ownership record. It shows the matrícula (registration), the owner, the VIN (número de quadro) and the date of first registration. Portuguese plates since 2020 use the AA-00-AA format; older plates such as 00-AA-00, 00-00-AA and AA-00-00 carry a yellow band showing the year and month of first registration. Please have the original ready, in your name.
DUA
Documento Único Automóvel (DUA)
Before the Certificado de Matrícula, Portuguese cars were issued with the Documento Único Automóvel (DUA), which itself replaced the old separate livrete and título de registo de propriedade. If your car is older, you may have a DUA, or even the earlier documents. They are all fine: send us a photo of whatever you have.
Registo
Change of ownership (registo automóvel)
In Portugal, a change of owner is recorded on the vehicle register (registo automóvel), usually with a sale form signed by seller and buyer. Until that happens, the car stays in the seller's name. If your car is still on the Portuguese register, we'll go through the sale paperwork with you on collection so the change is properly recorded.
IPO
Inspeção Periódica Obrigatória
The IPO is Portugal's equivalent of the MOT. Cars are first inspected at four years old, then every two years, and every year once they are older. If you have the latest IPO report, send us a photo. An expired IPO doesn't stop us buying the car.
IUC & IMT
IUC road tax and taking the car off the register
The Imposto Único de Circulação (IUC) is Portugal's annual road tax, charged to the registered owner for as long as the car is on the Portuguese register. When a car leaves Portugal for good, its registration can be cancelled for export through the IMT (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes). Every situation is different, so we'll tell you what applies to your car and what we need from you.
UK side
NOVA, MOT and DVLA
To go on UK plates, a car brought in from Portugal needs a NOVA notification to HMRC, an MOT and a DVLA registration application. When you sell to us you don't need to do any of that: we buy the car on its Portuguese plates and handle the UK registration ourselves.
Your checklist
- The Certificado de Matrícula in your name, or the Documento Único Automóvel on older cars
- Photo ID: passport or driving licence, plus your Portuguese NIF
- All keys, plus service history and receipts
- The latest IPO inspection report, if you have it
- Proof the IUC is paid up to date, if you have it
- If the car is on UK plates already: the V5C
This page is a plain-English guide, not legal or tax advice. Portuguese procedures change from time to time: we'll always tell you exactly what applies to your car.