The Fiscal Unit of the GNR has been busy checking foreign registered vehicles being driven in Portugal and so far has raked in €1.3 million in fines.
Foreigners and Portuguese returnees who have a vehicle in the country for more than six months in a year, consecutively or otherwise, and officialy have not imported it, are being stopped and fined an average of €250 a time.
In two and a half years to June 2014, 5,126 fines have been issued for non-payment of the ISV import tax, 95% of cases were for vehicles owned by individuals, 5% were company owned.
"We take action on cars being driven over the six months limit in Portugal and which do not have Portuguese number plates," according to the Fiscal Unit chief.
Fines are issued to returnees to Portugal who have not regularised their cars but also those who come back to their country for an extended period to deal with family issues, nobody is exempt.
For those foreigners living in Portugal who think they can argue the case when stopped, think again as the authorities now are using a range of electronic surveillance techniques at borders to establish times and dates for those drivers who just can’t give up the family car, or who in acts of futile defiance refuse to pay the often ludicrously high import taxes demanded.
Comments
Looking at what is going on and the non respect of EU legislation , then why is Portugal getting bailout money .
The Portuguese government can be classed as a criminal organisation as it will not respect EU legislation and does so because EU fines are less than the money they get from the imports .
EU politicians have to be made legally responsible for their decisions and actions , even after leaving posts , and made really accountable to citizens , or is the EU Commission and Parliament afraid of this real accountability
Another little know fact is that you have a concession to personally drive the car for 6 months in ANY EU country, you may not allow anyone else to drive it and it is illegal to leave it in Portugal when you fly to the UK or anywhere else. The same rule applies in the UK....please look it up!
I have been very lucky, I brought a truck here from the UK and although the path was bumpy and I encountered officials who did not know the rules after 3 months I managed it paying 0% tax. A special type vehicle I agree!
Still love it here though.
So you miss the point.!
. The huge difference is that Portugal charges these "import taxes" illegally and against EU law, every year the Portuguese government is fined for imposing the taxes but while the revenue gained exceeds the fine they will continue to do so.
Unless someone is completely ignorant (unlikely) that this regime exists in Portugal then why on earth would you import normally a RHD car and expose yourself to these problems? Yes, cars purchased here are expensive but no more so than importing and the cars are "fit for purpose". The high taxes are ridiculous but well known and well documented, for god's sake stop moaning about the "unfairness" of this situation, you know it exists....make an informed decision!
A 250 euro fine doesn't seem much. Do they confiscate the car after several fines?
YES THEY CAN CONFISCATE YOUR VEHICLE AND HAVE DONE SO QUITE A LOT