Car tax, MOT and service

[spook]

Is it possible to get a RHD UK registered and plated car Moted, serviced and taxed here? If so does anybody know where/who? We are contemplating buying a car here with a view to eventually driving back to the UK. However, the existing legal requirements expire very soon. Any help/advice would be much appreciated

[smudger]

Sorry, no idea really. Though servicing shouldn't be a problem, I'd thought any garage would welcome the work!

There's an MoT Testing Station, on the EN125. Think it's a few km beyond Porches up to the left heading towards Faro. They might be able to answer the MoT and Tax question.

[RichardHenshall]

A UK registered car must have a valid UK MoT before it can be taxed. The tax can be applied for online, so the car's presence in Portugal is not, of itself, a problem. Unsurprisingly, the UK MoT test must be done in the UK.

You can check the tax & MoT status at https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/.

Remember that when a car changes hands it must now be taxed by the new owner from the start of the month of ownership as any unused road tax is refunded to the vendor.

[steve]

People do keep UK registered cars here and get a Portuguese inspection done in place of a UK MoT test. Insurance can be arranged here but you cannot tax a UK registered car under the Portuguese system. It is of course a contravention of Customs law to keep a foreign registered vehicle here for longer than 6 months unless you are in the process of matriculating it and you cannot go out of the country in the 6 month period without the car. Having said all that there are several foreign registered vehicles around Carvoeiro which seem to be here permanently. From what I understand the GNR seem to be satisfied if you have insurance and an inspection certificate but there are likely to problems if there is a Customs officer at a roadside checkpoint.

[spook]

Many thanks to you all for the advice but on the whole sounds safer to not go ahead with the purchase over here!!!!

[steve]

An important point to remember if you have a residencia is that according to recent advice from AFPOP. in the same way as Portuguese nationals you are not allowed to drive any foreign registered vehicle - although if you can produce a UK driving licence and a passport the GNR are in no position to know.