PCV
Published 8 November 2026, 22:44
Pedido de Certificado do Veículo — application for a vehicle certificate
A step at IMT that completes the legalisation of a car brought in from another country: after the special roadworthiness inspection and payment of ISV, you submit the PCV and pay for it, and only then can the car be registered in your name at IRN and the DUA issued. In September 2026 the motor trade association APDCA complained that this step was taking three to four months.
Where you come across it. Bringing your own car into Portugal, registering it, getting Portuguese number plates.
A PCV does not yet make you the registered owner. Even once IMT has finished, registration has to be filed separately with IRN, and its processing time comes on top.