How to buy a car (new or second-hand vehicle)
Last activity 10 April 2022 by JohnnyPT
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How to buy a car (new or second-hand vehicle)
To buy a car in Portugal you must have :
• A proof of portuguese domicile (a rental agreement, proof of purchase of real estate or a resident's card) ;
• A tax number (NIF - número de identificação fiscal);
• An identity document (id card, passport, driving license ...).
If you live in Portugal for more than 6 months a year, you must register your foreign vehicle within 12 months of your installation in the country.
BUY A NEW CAR
Most major car brands presented in Portugal:
https://www.audi.pt
https://www.fiat.pt (AlfaRomeo / Fiat/ Lancia)
https://www.honda-automoveis.pt
https://www.mitsubishi-motors.pt/
https://www.porsche.com/portugal/
https://www.volvocars.com/pt
In each of these websites, you can choose "concessionários" / "ponto(s) de venda", concessions of the brand of your choice near you.
It is the seller who takes care of registering your new car with the portuguese authorities. It can also offer you a maintenance contract for your vehicle.
The seller can help you with insurance. In Portugal it is the car itself which is insured and not the designated drivers, which means you can lend it to your family and friends.
BUY A SECOND-HAND CAR
A. Research/"Pesquisa" Online
https://www.standvirtual.com/
Standvirtual's used options are more than many: Cars, Motorcycles, Boats, Commercials or Motorhomes/Autocaravanas
https://www.auto.pt/
AutoPT promise "a visit to the best stands in the country" through a single visit to their website.
https://carmine.pt/
Website of the specialized magazine "Auto Compra e Venda". In this portal you can find several used vehicles through the search tool and also the stands that are closer to your area of residence.
https://auto.sapo.pt/
With 13 years of experience in the market, Auto Sapo is dedicated to selling used cars online. It is one of the largest in the country
https://www.piscapisca.pt
It is the new online stand for new and used certified cars.
https://www.guiadoautomovel.pt
Prices, features and equipment of new vehicles on sale in Portugal from the magazine "Guia do Automovel". All about cars.
Note: I do not recommend other sites such as OLX, CustoJusto,... (see section C)
B. Used cars sold by Stands/"Concessionários"
In Portugal it is common to buy used car in stands. The bigger the stand, the more likely it is to have a wide variety of second-hand cars for sale. Legally, all must provide a guarantee (1 or 2 years), thus this option is one of the most reliable and safe.
eg.
https://www.caetanoretail.pt/viaturas-usadas/
https://www.santogal.pt/carros/carros-usados-santogal/
https://usados.toyota.pt/viaturas/inicio
https://www.benecar.pt/mobile/pesquisa-avancada.php
https://www.entrepostoauto.pt/viaturas
http://www.usadosvolvotrucks.com/
(...)
C. Second-hand cars sold by private individuals
One of the main reasons people are afraid to buy a used car from an individual is the risk associated with this type of transaction. Therefore, before arriving at the appointment to see the car, you must have already asked the seller a number of questions about the vehicle. Ask about the maintenance history, the number of kilometers and, most importantly, the general condition of the car.
In Used cars ("usado") / Second-hand ("segunda mão") you have to pay careful attention to the documents presented by the seller especially when it is an individual. Make sure that the identification number indicated on the chassis corresponds to the number of the "documento único automóvel" / gray card.
The "documento único automóvel" booklet and the registration of the property are fundamental. We must make sure that everything is ok.
--------------------------------
Network of websites for English-speakers moving or living abroad in Portugal
For " Car Dealers: Sales New & Used " in Lisbon & Algarve, I've found this in english, which seems to me reasonably good to start other searches, and most of the links are updated.
https://www.angloinfo.com/lisbon/direct … -driving-1
https://www.angloinfo.com/algarve/direc … -driving-1
Categories:
. Auto Spares, Parts & Accessories
. Bike Hire, Scooter & Cycle Rental
. Cars, Bikes & Driving
. Car Dealers: Sales New & Used
. Car Hire & Vehicle Rental
. Driving Schools, Instructors & Lessons
. Motor Service, Repairs & Restoration
. Motorbike & Scooter Sales & Service
. Taxis, Shuttle, Transfers & Minibus
Most major car brands presented in Portugal:
(Copy and paste the selected link into your browser address bar)
abarth.pt
alfaromeo.pt
lisboa.astonmartindealers.com
audi.pt
lisboa.bentleymotors.com
bmw.pt
chevrolet.pt
citroen.pt
cupraofficial.pt/
dacia.pt
dsautomobiles.pt
lisboa.ferraridealers.com/pt_pt/
fiat.pt
ford.pt
honda-automoveis.pt
hyundai.pt
jaguarportugal.pt
jeep.pt
kia.pt
lamborghini.com/en-en/ownership/dealer-locator/lamborghini-lisbon
landrover.pt
lexus.pt
maserati.com/pt/pt
mazda.pt
mercedes-benz.pt
mini.pt
mitsubishi-motors.pt
nissan.pt
opel.pt
peugeot.pt
porsche.com/portugal/
renault.pt
seat.pt
skoda-auto.pt
smart.com/pt
suzukiauto.pt/
tesla.com/pt_pt
toyota.pt
volkswagen.pt
volvocars.com/pt
What do you advise for a small family?
Buying a second-hand car
For passenger cars (in portuguese: ligeiros de passageiros), the first inspection must be carried out 4 years after the date of first registration (first car plate) and then every 2 years thereafter until it reaches 8 years. After that, the inspection must be done yearly.
https://www.e-konomista.pt/inspecao-automovel/
When buying a second-hand car, you should check if the car has the mandatory inspection up to date. You should ask the owner for the last inspection certificate of the vehicle and check if it is approved and if it has any remarks for further repairs (at the bottom of this certificate).
You can also explain to the current owner that your decision to buy the vehicle depends on an up-to-date inspection (e.g. done less than 15 days ago), to ensure that the vehicle is in the right conditions. The mandatory inspection for a passenger car costs € 31.43 (in 2021), so I don't think this will be a big problem for the seller.
If the seller doesn't want to pay and if you are very keen on that car, you should know that this amount will be (+/-) equal than what you will pay in a garage to have the car checked. So, I would advise you to have the car inspection done at an authorised centre.
Through the date of the first registration of the car you can see when the next inspection will have to be done:
http://www.imt-ip.pt/sites/IMTT/Portugu … bmenu.aspx
_______
Where can I find the vehicle inspection centres list:
https://eportugal.gov.pt/servicos/consu … e-veiculos
1. Search for inspection centres on the IMT website:
http://www.imt-ip.pt/sites/IMTT/Portugu … eccao.aspx
Categoria = Todos (All vehicle categories)
Concelho onde pretende que o carro seja inspecionado = ... (All the inspection centres in a municipality)
Then press "Listar"
2. or, you can consult a map where each centre is located on the map of Portugal (through the centre number, you get the name of the centre on the listing shown on this PDF, and then you can consult that centre name on the internet, to know their address, phone contacts, working hours, etc.).
http://www.imt-ip.pt/sites/IMTT/Portugu … 199;AO.pdf
This PDF takes some time to become fully readable...
Electric cars in Portugal
Buying electric cars
https://www.uve.pt/page/modelos-ve-portugal-mercado/#
(Select english option)
https://wattson.pt/mercado/
Charging electric cars: where and how
https://carroseletricosportugal.pt/carr … eletricos/
https://www.uve.pt/page/como-carregar-u … -eletrico/
(Select english option)
Charging stations and apps
a) PCR – Postos de Carregamento Rápido (Fast Charging Stations)
https://www.uve.pt/page/postos-carregam … -portugal/
(Select english option)
b) Rede MOBI.E
https://www.mobie.pt/en/redemobie/procurar-posto
https://www.electromaps.com/en/map?qsearch=Portugal
https://www.electromaps.com/pt
https://www.parkio.eu/
h) Comunicade Waze
_________
The 10 cheapest electric cars in Portugal
https://www.guiadoautomovel.pt/noticia/ … m-portugal
Websites for buying used electric cars
https://carroseletricosportugal.pt/onde … ico-usado/
StandVirtual:
https://www.standvirtual.com/carros?sea … =parcerias
AutoSapo:
https://auto.sapo.pt/carros/pesquisa?fid=8&psz=1
Byrdstore:
https://www.byrdstore.com/?utm_source=c … =parcerias
Zeev:
https://www.zeev.pt/
(...)
Car Leasing
Car Leasing Simulators on Banks' websites in Portugal:
(New vehicles)
Leasing Santander
https://www.santander.pt/credito/credit … el/leasing
Minimum term: 1 year
Maximum Term: 7 years
Leasing MilleniumBCP
https://ind.millenniumbcp.pt/pt/particu … movel.aspx
Minimum term: 1 year
Maximum Term: 8 years
Leasing NovoBanco
https://www.novobanco.pt/particulares/s … -automovel
Minimum term: 1 year
Maximum Term: 8 years
Leasing Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD)
https://www.cgd.pt/Particulares/Credito … movel.aspx
Minimum term: 1.5 years
Maximum Term: 7 years
Leasing Montepio
https://www.bancomontepio.pt/particular … asing-auto
Minimum term: 2 years
Maximum Term: 8 years
Leasing Crédito Agrícola
https://www.creditoagricola.pt/para-mim … -automovel
Minimum term: 1 year
Maximum Term: 6 years
Leasing BPI
https://sim.bancobpi.pt/simulador-credi … omovel.jsp
Minimum term: 11 months
Maximum Term: 10 years
(...)
____________
Car Dealer Simulators:
If you are thinking of leasing a specific car brand, check out the websites of those brands. They all offer information on how to finance, but only a few offer leasing simulators to their customers.
(See post # 2 )
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 29#5099334
Eg.
BMW
https://www.bmw.pt/pt/fastlane/financia … -cash.html
Renault
https://www.renault.pt/financiamento/rci.html
Volkswagen
https://www.volkswagen.pt/campanhas-e-f … e-and-care
(...)
____________
Other Simulators:
https://www.leaseplan.com/en-pt/
(new/used vehicles)
(...)
@JohnnyPT Hi Johnny, I am wondering what is the best way to get car insurance and can I continue using my Irish/Eu driving licence? Thank you for your help
Hi Ornagh, Welcome
Auto insurance companies
How to buy New and Second-Hand Boats in Portugal
1. Boat dealers
2. Portuguese web marketplaces (Mostly second-hand boats)
3. Web marketplaces for international sellers' ads
How to get a Sailing License in Portugal
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