Shipping a car to Portugal typically costs between 700 euros (from Spain by road) and 4000 USD (from the United States by container). Delivery times range from 2-3 days for intra-EU truck transport to 30-45 days for transatlantic container shipping. This 2026 guide compares methods, operators and costs from official sources.
Three main methods depending on origin and vehicle type.
For drivable vehicles from France, Spain, Germany, Belgium. 2-7 days. Cost 700-1700 euros.
Vehicle drives onto a ferry-cargo ship. From Le Havre, Antwerp, Hamburg to Lisbon or Setúbal. 5-10 days. Cost 900-1500 euros.
Multiple vehicles in one container. 8-15 days within EU; 30-45 days from US. Cost 700-4000 USD.
| Origin | Method | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| France (Paris) | Truck flatbed | 3-5 days | 900-1300 euros |
| Spain (Madrid) | Truck flatbed | 2-3 days | 500-800 euros |
| Germany (Berlin) | Truck flatbed or RoRo | 5-8 days | 1300-1800 euros |
| Belgium (Antwerp) | RoRo | 7-10 days | 1100-1500 euros |
| United Kingdom (London) | RoRo | 10-15 days | 1500-2200 euros |
| United States (New York) | Container | 30-45 days | 2500-4000 USD |
Four specialist transporters cover most traffic.
Specialist in intra-Europe road transport. Short transit times, competitive prices. Trustpilot 4.4 / 5. Best for France-Portugal.
RoRo specialist from northern European ports. 7-10 days transit. Trustpilot 4.3 / 5. Best for Germany/Belgium.
Container and RoRo internationally. Includes import service. Trustpilot 4.2 / 5.
Specialist for transatlantic shipping. Shared container. Trustpilot 4.0 / 5.
Generally 700-2200 euros from EU and 2500-4000 USD from USA. Spain: 500-800. France: 900-1300. Germany: 1300-1800. UK: 1500-2200. US: 2500-4000.
Intra-EU truck: 2-7 days. EU RoRo: 7-15 days. US-EU container: 30-45 days.
Original registration, ID/passport, bill of sale, loan release if applicable, vehicle photos, Portuguese NIF for final registration.
VAT: 23% on shipping service. ISV: usually 0 for EU vehicles 6+ months old with proof of use. Outside EU: ISV can hit 50-100% of vehicle value.
Intra-EU road: CarOnTheTruck (4.4 / 5). RoRo: Schiffer Cars (4.3 / 5). International: Auto Europe Shipping (4.2 / 5). Always get 3 quotes.
Yes, strongly recommended. Cost 1-3% of vehicle value. Covers damage, theft, loss. Most carriers offer basic but limited insurance; supplementary cover advised.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim earns a commission when readers book a temporary rental via DiscoverCars. We do not earn commission from the shipping companies listed.
Fact-checked: Rates and operator ratings verified 25 April 2026 against carrier websites and Trustpilot.
Primary sources: CarOnTheTruck, Schiffer Cars, Auto Europe Shipping, Sevenseas Shipping, IMT Portugal, Trustpilot.
