Requesting the seizure of a vehicle

If you sell or transfer a vehicle to another person, that person has 60 days to register the vehicle in their name in the Motor Vehicle Register (Registo Automóvel).

If the change of ownership is not recorded within that deadline, seizure of the motor vehicle or trailer may be requested because the change of ownership has not been officially registered.

Service channels

Who can requesting the seizure of a vehicle?

The person who sold or transferred the vehicle and in whose name the vehicle is still registered.

The vehicle can be any type of heavy or light vehicle, such as a car, motorbike or trailer.

When can you requesting the seizure of a vehicle?

You can request the seizure of a vehicle from 60 days after the sale, if the person to whom it was sold has not updated the ownership register.

What are the documents and requirements to requesting the seizure of a vehicle?

When you request the seizure of a vehicle, you will need to submit the following documents:

  • Your Citizen Card or identity card (or other identification document, if you are a foreign national)
  • Form IMT 9

What is the price to requesting the seizure of a vehicle?

The seizure price is 10€.

How requesting the seizure of a vehicle?

You can request the seizure of a vehicle:

You must send IMT form 9, together with a copy of your identification document and a declaration stating that you authorise the copy of your identification document to be used in the request.

If you have purchased a vehicle that is subject to a request for seizure, please go to an IMT service desk to rectify the situation.

How do you know whether a vehicle is subject to a request for seizure?

The IMT keeps registered requests for seizure in a database, and the new owner can request this information.

What should you do if the vehicle has not been seized?

What should you do if the vehicle has not been seized?

If it has been more than six months since a request for seizure was made and more than a year since the vehicle was sold, you can issue instructions to cancel the vehicle’s registration, if the person to whom you sold it has still not officially registered their ownership.

Cancelling registration means you will no longer be responsible for fines, taxes or other obligations associated with the vehicle.