Good day.

I am new to the forum and we are planning to immigrate to Portugal in 2020 from South Africa. I am looking for information specifically related to import duties and costs in Portugal to import 2 Vespa 300cc scooters. We bought it new in South Africa in may 2018 and both are currently registered in my name due to financing rules. One of the scooters will be re-registered in my wife's name in due course as originally intended in 2018. I saw on the forum that there is a requirement that only one vehicle per person can be imported, which must be at least 1 year registered in the name of that person as well as documentation confirming country of registration. Is this information still applicable before I spend money on the re-registration of a scooter into her name?

Do you think it is viable to import the scooters to Portugal from a cost perspective (import duties, re-registration, licensing, and other tests required by the authorities?

I must still establish the cost to ship it from SA to Portugal.

From information available, it seems not viable to import motor vehicles with right hand steering due to the conversions required. The vehicles are also of a low value and would probably be cheaper to buy another vehicle in Portugal.

Your assistance will be appreciated.

Regards.

Pieter Ehlers
Pretoria
South Africa

I am pretty sure that the one year rule still applies but prices for motorbikes and scooters are not much different throughout Europe unlike cars that are crazy prices in Portugal. An example is the Honda Forza I recently purchased in Portugal for €5.050, in the UK the price was €4.968. And it would have cost me a lot more than the €82 I would have saved to ship it here and I didn't have all the hassle of changing the registration once it arrived. Have a look on the Piagio/Vespa Portuguese concession websites to compare SA/PT prices and whatever you choose let me know when you arrive and I will introduce you the President of the Portuguese Vespa Owners club who is my neighbour, he has several early Vespa's and has just purchased a new 300GTS.

Thanks. Vespas are very expensive in SA. I have paid ZAR 151000 (Appox EUR 9378) for a new (2018) 300GTS. I will have to look at the most cost effective way to deal with it.
Selling it in SA will also result in a substantial loss.

A FURTHER QUESTION:

We have a Class A drivers license for automatic motorbikes of 125cc and higher as wel as an EB license for light motor car including the towing of a trailer more than 500KG. Is the drivers license "transferable" or will we have to re-write the drivers license tests for these vehicle types?

When I changed my uk licence for a portuguese licence I lost all classifications including A1 and C1 and now have only B1 and B. I believe you need a separate licence to tow a trailer. A Vespa gts Super with ABS is €6,200 in Portugal. I was allowed to continue using my Uk licence until it expired and then had to change it for a Portuguese licence but you will need to register your SA licence with IMTT which is very straightforward.

Thanks. I doubt if I will tow a trailer. Used off-road trailer and caravans in SA to camp in the bush - will miss that. SA Vespa prices are a rip-off. Will possibly be better to sell and buy new ones or good second hand ones in Portugal. Sale proceeds will be sufficient to buy new one's.

Have a look here..................https://www.standvirtual.com/motos/vespa/gts-super/?search%5Bfilter_enum_damaged%5D=0&search%5Bnew_used%5D=all

Thanks. From the information supplied, I have no doubt but to sell it in SA. A replacement model in the advert with the same year and km is the equivalent of ZAR 89100 vs my purchase price of ZAR 151000!!!!!! Even if I sell for R100000 I can replace it with the same year and model and km with money in my pocket. No container fees, admin, customs, waiting period to receive it etc.

Thanks to all the responses received.