Homologating a non-EU car in Portugal
Homologação individual (IMT)
A vehicle imported from outside the EU generally doesn't have a certificate of conformity valid for Portugal, so it needs a homologação individual through the IMT: a detailed technical evaluation that can include laboratory tests and a physical inspection, carried out by an accredited testing laboratory before the IMT grants the approval.
The process, step by step
- 1Documentation review
We check whether the vehicle has any usable certificate of conformity, or needs the full individual homologation route.
- 2Technical dossier and lab tests
An accredited testing laboratory evaluates the vehicle and, where needed, runs physical tests against Portuguese/EU requirements.
- 3Physical inspection
The vehicle itself is inspected as part of the laboratory's technical report.
- 4IMT approval
Once the laboratory's report is complete, the IMT reviews and grants the individual homologation.
- 5Registration
With homologation granted, the vehicle can be registered and plated.
Varies by vehicle and how much technical/lab work is required. We give you a realistic estimate after reviewing your vehicle.
The IMT registration fee for vehicles requiring individual homologation is a fixed amount (€165 as of the most recently published schedule), separate from the accredited laboratory's technical evaluation fee. We quote the full picture after reviewing your vehicle.
Frequently asked
No. A vehicle with a valid certificate of conformity mostly goes through an administrative and fiscal legalization process. Homologação individual is the heavier route for vehicles that don't have one, which covers the large majority of vehicles imported from outside the EU.
It's governed by Decree-Law No. 116/2014 and by EU Regulation 2018/858, with the IMT as the national authority responsible for assessing and approving individual homologation requests.
HomologateMyCar handles what happens once the car is in Europe. If you haven't sourced it yet, our sister company DriveSino exports vehicles from China to Portugal and has a dedicated import guide for it.
DriveSino's Portugal import guide