How much does it cost to import a BMW 320d from Germany in 2026?

The BMW 320d has been one of the most sought-after models for anyone considering importing a car from Germany for years now. The reason is simple: it's one of the most common diesels in the German car fleet, with a maintenance history that's usually well documented (the famous Scheckheft, the service booklet), and supply is large — which makes it easier to find the right configuration at a competitive price.

But "cheaper in Germany" doesn't mean "cheaper once registered in Portugal." The purchase price is only one line item in the total cost. This article walks through all the others.

The line items that make up the total cost

1. Purchase price in Germany

This is the starting point, never the final figure. Listings on platforms like mobile.de or AutoScout24 frequently show a "net of VAT" price (for dealers reselling) or export prices — always confirm the real purchase price before estimating anything else.

2. ISV (Vehicle Tax)

ISV applies to used vehicles brought in from another EU member state and is calculated from two components — one tied to engine displacement, the other to CO2 emissions — to which an age-based reduction is then applied (the older the vehicle, the larger the reduction). For diesel and petrol engines there's also a fixed surcharge applicable to most passenger cars.

3. Transport

Getting the car from Germany to Portugal — via professional trailer transport or by driving it yourself — has a cost that varies with distance and method. It's worth budgeting for this upfront, not as a last-minute extra.

4. Registration, inspection and Certificate of Conformity

Once the car arrives in Portugal, you need to: file the customs vehicle declaration (DAV), pass a technical inspection specific to imported vehicles, and secure the Certificate of Conformity (COC) — the document proving the vehicle's homologated technical specifications to the Portuguese authorities. Without a valid COC, registration cannot proceed.

5. The intermediary's fees

A company like PuraRota charges for managing the entire process — search, history verification, negotiation, paperwork and follow-through to delivery. Our fees are always fixed and known upfront, never a hidden percentage buried in the final price. They're typically structured across three distinct moments: an initial amount that kicks off the process, an amount tied to the active search phase, and a final amount tied to the successful completion of the deal — scaled to the vehicle's price bracket, so the incentive always stays aligned with the client's interest.

What documents to request from the seller before moving forward

Before any reservation or payment, there's a set of documents you should always confirm with the German seller:

• Fahrzeugschein and Fahrzeugbrief — the vehicle's "ID card" in Germany, with its homologated technical specifications.
• Scheckheft — the service booklet, even if digital in some more recent cases.
• Latest TÜV/Hauptuntersuchung report — the German equivalent of the mandatory periodic inspection.
• Original purchase invoice, if the vehicle has already changed hands since leaving the factory.

Without these documents, both history validation and the Portuguese registration process slow down — and in some cases become unworkable. That's why document validation always happens before we move ahead with the purchase.

Buying in Portugal or importing? A direct comparison

In practice, the real savings only become clear once every line item is added up — and that's exactly what our simulator does in under two minutes, using up-to-date tax tables.

Frequently asked questions

Does a diesel BMW 320d pay more ISV than the equivalent petrol version?

Both fuel types pay the same displacement component, but CO2 emission tables differ by fuel type — so the final figure can differ even for engines of similar displacement. The simulator automatically applies the correct table based on the fuel type entered.

How long does the whole process take, from purchase to Portuguese registration?

It varies with how quickly the German seller can provide documentation and with the timelines of the Portuguese entities involved in registration, but the process has well-defined stages — from initial validation through to delivery — that we track closely to avoid avoidable delays.

What if the car is over 10 years old?

The age-based reduction applied to ISV grows with the vehicle's years in use, but a minimum tax floor always remains — it never drops to zero purely because the car is old. The simulator automatically applies the reduction for the vehicle's first registration year.