Register a vehicle

You can register a vehicle online at any time, within a maximum period of 60 days from the date of purchase.

If you register the vehicle after 60 days, you must pay a fine.

The documents and requirements needed to register a vehicle depend on how the registration is completed.

ONLINE

To register a vehicle online, you need one of the following authentication methods:

• Portuguese Citizen Card, PIN codes and card reader
• Access credentials to the Tax Portal (tax number and password)
• Digital certificate for lawyers, notaries, solicitors or dealers

If you want to use the Portuguese Citizen Card, check how to authenticate with the Portuguese Citizen Card.

IN PERSON

To register a vehicle in person, you need:

• Completed and signed Vehicle Registration Application Form
• Vehicle Registration Certificate/Single Vehicle Document (DUA)
• Purchase and sale declaration signed by both parties
• Portuguese Citizen Card or Identity Card and the tax identification numbers (NIF) of the buyer and seller
• Permanent Commercial Certificate, if one of the parties is a company

Payment for vehicle registration is always made by the buyer.

If the service is completed online, there is a 15% discount compared to the current fee charged at any vehicle registration office.

Costs associated with online registration:

• Registration completed within the legal deadline costs 55.30 euros
• Registration completed more than 60 days after purchase costs 120.30 euros
• For vehicles up to 50 cm³, registration under this special regime costs 25.50 euros
• Initial registration of a vehicle with licence plates assigned in the last 60 days costs 46.80 euros
• When a company that buys and sells vehicles purchases a vehicle and resells it within 180 days, registration in the new owner’s name costs 25.50 euros

In this last case, the indicated fees are paid by the company that buys and resells the vehicle. When the vehicle is sold, the final buyer reimburses the company for the amount paid to register the vehicle.

The reduced fee only applies if these conditions are met:

• The company must request the resale registration for the new owner within two working days after the sale (including payment)
• The company must have requested online registration of the vehicle in its own name within two working days after acquiring it. This rule does not apply when the vehicle was purchased from another company in the same business sector. In that case, the registration may be requested by the company that first purchased the vehicle.

Costs associated with in-person registration:

• Registration completed within the legal deadline costs 63.60 euros
• Registration completed more than 60 days after purchase costs 138.35 euros
• For vehicles up to 50 cm³, registration under this special regime costs 29.33 euros
• Initial registration of a vehicle with licence plates assigned in the last 60 days costs 53.82 euros
• When a company that buys and sells vehicles purchases a vehicle and resells it within 180 days, registration in the new owner’s name costs 29.33 euros

In this last case, the indicated fees are paid by the company that buys and resells the vehicle. When the vehicle is sold, the final buyer reimburses the company for the amount paid to register the vehicle.

The reduced fee only applies if these conditions are met:

• The company must request the resale registration for the new owner within two working days after the sale (including payment)
• The company must have requested online registration of the vehicle in its own name within two working days after acquiring it. This rule does not apply when the vehicle was purchased from another company in the same business sector. In that case, the registration may be requested by the company that first purchased the vehicle.

The examination of the application for registration is only started after confirmation of payment.

Once the payment is confirmed, and if there is no place to fill any deficiencies of the request (for the supply is due the fee of € 10), the deadline for registration is two business days.

You can register a vehicle:

• Online,via the Automóvel Online portal
• In person, at a Vehicle Registration Office, a Citizen Shop or service desk of the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN)

ONLINE

To register a vehicle online:

1. Access the Automóvel Online
2. Click on “Aceda” (enter) in the “Autenticação com Certificado Digital” (digital certificate authentication) area
3. Choose the option that best matches the registration, for example, “compra e venda” (purchase and sale)
4. Fill in the vehicle details (registration number, brand, chassis number and sale date)
5. Enter the buyer’s details
6. Enter the seller’s details
7. Select the option “Com aprovação pelo sujeito passivo” (with approval by the taxable person) so the seller receives an email request to confirm the information. If the purchase and sale were agreed verbally and buyer and seller handle the registration without a lawyer, notary or solicitor, using the online approval system is mandatory
8. After the seller confirms the information, you receive a confirmation email with payment instructions

All parties involved receive an email and SMS notification when the registration is completed. After payment confirmation, IRN completes the registration within two working days.

The new owner receives the Vehicle Registration Certificate/Single Vehicle Document by post at their home or company address.

IN PERSON

Go to a vehicle registration office that handles Vehicle Registration matters. You can check the list of offices on the Justice Portal.