Buying a used car in Portugal: what to check

Before buying: quick checklist

1. Compare the asking price with listings for similar cars. Compare the model, trim, age and mileage before using the median asking price in listings as a guide.
2. Check the car’s identity. Compare the registration number, vehicle identification number (VIN) and details in the listing with the documents and the car itself.
3. Request the technical inspection results report. Check the recorded mileage and results. You can request it even if you are not the owner.
4. Check the permanent vehicle registration certificate. Compare the registered owner with the seller and see whether any charges are recorded.
5. Read the Certificado de Matrícula (registration certificate), also called the Documento Único Automóvel (DUA; Single Vehicle Document). It identifies the car and its owner. Clarify any discrepancies before paying.
6. If buying from a dealer, confirm the warranty terms in writing. If buying privately, bear in mind that the consumer protection under EU rules for purchases from professionals does not apply to sales between private individuals.
7. Agree how the registration application will be submitted and arrange your insurance. The seller’s insurance ends at midnight on the day of the sale.

How much do used cars cost in Portugal?

The table shows the most frequently listed used models in our data, with the median asking price from dealers, the middle half of asking prices and the number of cars. These are advertised prices, not final sale prices. Also compare each car’s trim, mileage, history and condition.

Dealer asking prices on 4 Nov 2026, not sale prices. Models with at least 30 cars for sale; the range is the middle half of asking prices (P25–P75).

See all models and advertised prices in Portugal. To assess a specific listing, use the price check and see the methodology.

What to check before buying

Inspections and mileage. For a private passenger car on mainland Portugal, the first periodic inspection takes place four years after first registration. After that, inspections are required every two years until the car is eight years old, then annually. In years when an inspection is due, the deadline is the day and month of the first registration.

Request the technical inspection results report and check the sequence of recorded mileages, as well as the pass or fail results. If you cannot explain a discrepancy, ask the seller to explain it and provide supporting documents. The report gives you points of comparison; it does not replace inspecting the car. The IMT certificates only list inspections carried out at centres on mainland Portugal. To check inspections in the autonomous regions, contact the relevant regional transport authority.

Owner and charges. The permanent vehicle registration certificate shows who is registered as the owner and any charges recorded against the vehicle. Request a current certificate before handing over money. The fee listed by the IRN is €10 and the certificate is valid for six months. If a reservation of ownership or another charge appears, ask the seller how it will be resolved and check the register. The Automóvel Online service provides a specific application to cancel a reservation of ownership.

Car identity. Compare the VIN on the vehicle with the one on the documents provided. Do the same with the registration number and the details in the listing. The Certificado de Matrícula (DUA; registration certificate) identifies the car’s features and its owner; the permanent certificate shows the registered status. If the details do not match, ask for an explanation you can verify before proceeding.

Documents and change of ownership

Before handover, check the Certificado de Matrícula (DUA) and the permanent certificate. Keep the purchase document and write down what was agreed about the car, the price and handover. Agree with the seller who will submit the registration application and how you will both confirm it has been completed. Do not leave this unclear after you receive the keys.

The application to register the change of ownership must be submitted within 60 days of the sale. If the application is made in person or by post, the IRN says you need to complete the Requerimento de Registo Automóvel (Vehicle Registration Application). For a subsequent registration, the listed fee is €65. Check the application details before submitting it and keep the proof of submission.

Buying from a dealer or a private seller

If you buy from a professional seller, they are liable, as a rule, for lack of conformity that becomes apparent within three years of delivery. For a used car not advertised as reconditioned, buyer and seller can agree to reduce this period to 18 months. Read the proposed terms before signing and keep a copy of what you agreed.

For a private purchase, the consumer protection under EU rules for purchases from professionals does not apply to sales between private individuals. It is therefore worth resolving any questions about the car’s condition, documents and charges before paying. In any case, a warranty does not replace checking the inspection history or registration.

After buying

Insurance. Motor insurance is compulsory for motor vehicles in Portugal. Do not rely on the seller’s policy: it ends at midnight on the day of the sale and the new owner must take out a new policy. Arrange your insurance before driving.

Tax and inspection. Check the Imposto Único de Circulação (IUC; single circulation tax) that applies to the car. For payments in 2026 in years following the year of registration, the Tax Authority gives a deadline of the end of the registration month. Check the deadline for your case on the Portal das Finanças. Also check the next inspection date and keep the car’s documents somewhere you can find them.

Buying here and registering the car in another country?

Before choosing a listing, check the registration requirements in the destination country and calculate the total cost. The asking price in Portugal alone does not tell you the total cost of buying the car and having it registered in another country.

See also the calculators for other destinations.