Driving to Portugal - Need Insurance Abroad!

rarrainbow

Hello All!

Please can somebody help? I hope so!

We are currently living in the UK. Our plan is to move to Portugal. When we get there we need a car. This is presenting many uncertainties that I would appreciate help/clarification of:

1) Is it cheaper to buy a car second hand in the UK or Portugal?

We have had a good look at Golf TDI 2002 2l and they seem to be much cheaper here than Portugal. Driving the whole way is much cheaper than taking a car ferry (and lots more fun!).

We have also figured out lots of tricks of the trade regarding insuring for the UK but unfortunately all companies we have spoken to so far only insure for a maximum of 30 days abroad.

2) How do we go about insuring a car that will set off from the UK but become permanent in Portugal?

I am English and do not speak any Portuguese... It has been such a full time job figuring out how to insure the car with English speaking companies, I cannot imagine how tricky it'll be doing it in a foreign language....

We haven't bought the car yet and wont until we know it's in a cheap insurance bracket...

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks

Rainbow :-)

spiro

Some info based on a friend who has a property in Spain - I am guessing the rules are probably/possibly the same.

• You can not buy a car until you have a residence number - like an NI number I think.
• They insure the car not the driver so anyone can drive the car.
• If you take an english car you may have to reregister it to get local plates.
• If you are living there a left hand drive car would be easier. You can sometimes find these for sale in the UK.
• 2nd hand cars in Spain are more expensive than here.
• If you take and keep a UK car there you will need to come back and get an MOT. You may also have to have a UK insurnace policy which will not cover you living there full time or my mate never found one.

Hope these pointers help.

rarrainbow

Thanks very much!
I know that I can have a UK car over there for 6 months before registering it with Portuguese plates.... the issue really is how to insure from the UK....

pendulum

You won't have to look too hard to find an English speaking legal bod who can sort out all the insurance and necessary paperwork for you. It's what my dad did and it didn't cost too much and saved a lot of hassle. Go to some ex-pat bars and the owners will probably recommend you someone that knows their stuff.

Second hand car prices in Portugal are very high. I'm not sure how much they charge to register a UK car in portugal though, and as above I'm pretty sure you have to be "residentia" or something - my dad ended up registering a car for someone as he'd had residentia for long enough whereas the real owner hadn't.

I have driven from Portugal to England, it's fun but not cheap, you'll spend a lot on tolls, they're everywhere.

vaio

As part of EU law any UK policy must provide the legal minimum required in all EU states without additional cost or any time restrictions so if you have any UK policy you'll be legal in Portugal but your insurer can charge/limit any cover over and above the minimum legal level, (generally third party)

I think there are a few that include unlimited full EU cover (SAGA?) but I suspect your best bet is to get it insured over there, go to one of the English speaking enclaves and I'm sure you'll find a broker that speaks English and has dealt with this before.

rarrainbow

I have found these 2 websites.....

andrewcopeland.co.uk

ibexinsure.com

Fingers crossed!

rs65

vaio wrote: »

so if you have any UK policy you'll be legal in Portugal

Most UK insurers will require you to have a UK address so are unlikely to continue cover once the move has taken place.

I would think the only option is to arrange cover in the country you are resident in.

somalt

My Parents moved to Portugal a few years ago. Insurance is I think cheaper than the UK, they also don't speak Portuguese but arranged insurance via AFPOP. (http://www.afpop.com/uk/index.php) who are also a useful source of help and advice. They will also help you connect with other Expats (who often can help you settle.)

If you do not own a vehicle for more than six months when you take it to Portugal, when you come to Metriculate it, (Register and get it checked for road worthiness) they WILL charge import duty. You have to Metriculate within 3 months or you will be fined.

It may be more economic to buy the car here if you have time, but it can also be economic to ship items and fly out yourselves and look for a vehicle there. Prestige, or multi seat vehicles may be more expensive in Portugal due to the import duty, a more modest vehicle will be cheaper and easier to find. My parents took one with them and brought one there. My brother picked up a run about cheap.

Cars that have been registered for a while tend to have lower car taxes. But again they are generally lower than the UK, but so are wages.

And, make sure you get you residencia sorted if you intend to stay, it'll make it easier to access services and health care.

Obviously, I don't know where you are planning to go in Portugal, or if you will need an income when you are there. My knowledge is limited to the Algarve, and at present, it is very difficult to find work there, especially if you do not speak Portuguese. A lot of people my parents know have returned to the UK because of this.

Good Luck, it is a lovely country, and my parents are very happy there.

rarrainbow

somalt wrote: »

My Parents moved to Portugal a few years ago. Insurance is I think cheaper than the UK, they also don't speak Portuguese but arranged insurance via AFPOP. who are also a useful source of help and advice. They will also help you connect with other Expats (who often can help you settle.)

If you do not own a vehicle for more than six months when you take it to Portugal, when you come to Metriculate it, (Register and get it checked for road worthiness) they WILL charge import duty. You have to Metriculate within 3 months or you will be fined.

It may be more economic to buy the car here if you have time, but it can also be economic to ship items and fly out yourselves and look for a vehicle there. Prestige, or multi seat vehicles may be more expensive in Portugal due to the import duty, a more modest vehicle will be cheaper and easier to find. My parents took one with them and brought one there. My brother picked up a run about cheap.

Cars that have been registered for a while tend to have lower car taxes. But again they are generally lower than the UK, but so are wages.

And, make sure you get you residencia sorted if you intend to stay, it'll make it easier to access services and health care.

Obviously, I don't know where you are planning to go in Portugal, or if you will need an income when you are there. My knowledge is limited to the Algarve, and at present, it is very difficult to find work there, especially if you do not speak Portuguese. A lot of people my parents know have returned to the UK because of this.

Good Luck, it is a lovely country, and my parents are very happy there.

Thankyou for your reply!

I am getting lots of mixed reports! I guess what will be will be with lots of it! We have found a good company that provides really good rates of insurance specifically designed for UK cars in France, Portugal and Spain. The only condition is that it has to be out of the UK for 11 months of the year. So getting the car over is OK now.

As long as we make sure the old banger we buy here comes complete with 1 year tax and MOT then we are fine for the first 6 months.

Then opting not to matriculate will save us loads of cash as the value of the car is so low. We plan to find a buyer to drive it back to the UK to sell there. Then buy a local car (apparently there are cheap bangers there too :-) ) then transfer the insurance.

Appreciate your help, thank you kindly!

Have a nice day :-)