Example: a Chevrolet Bel Air 1957 bought for US$42,000 in the USA. Registered in Portugal, it comes to about €47,787 all-in — car €37,325, shipping €3,822 and €6,640 in taxes and fees, via another EU country — by direct import: €74,270. A vehicle over 30 years old can qualify for the collection regime, which legally reduces the taxes. Run your own case in the free calculator.
Run the full free simulation for this car →Assumptions, identical to the calculator: price US$42,000 at 0.8887 USD→EUR (ECB, 16/10/2026) = €37,325 · RoRo freight from New York · collection-vehicle status accepted · built in the USA · in each country, the cheapest route (direct import or via another EU country).
| Country | Taxes and fees | Total cost | Annual tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italydirect import | €2,434 | €42,781 | €28/yr |
| Belgiumdirect import | €2,582 | €42,929 | €110/yr |
| Francedirect import | €2,702 | €43,049 | — |
| Germanydirect import | €3,000 | €43,347 | €192/yr |
| Polanddirect import | €3,222 | €43,569 | — |
| Luxembourgdirect import | €3,242 | €43,589 | €25/yr |
| Swedenvia another EU country | €2,715 | €43,862 | — |
| Netherlandsvia another EU country | €3,415 | €44,562 | — |
| Portugalvia another EU country | €6,640 | €47,787 | — |
| Spainvia another EU country | €10,009 | €51,156 | €120/yr |
The 1957 Bel Air, with its tail fins and chrome, is the most recognisable Chevrolet of the 1950s. It was sold with a straight six or the 283 V8, the latter also offered with fuel injection.
Inspect the floors, the trunk, the lower front fenders and the area behind the rear wheels. Fuel-injected cars are rare and often faked, so ask for proof if the price reflects fuel injection. The large chrome parts are expensive to redo, so their condition weighs on the budget.
The Chevrolet Bel Air 1957 left the factory with several engines. Registration taxes are mostly calculated on engine size, so the same car can cost very different amounts to register. Same purchase value (US$42,000), by both routes:
| Engine | Taxes in Portugal direct import | Taxes in Portugal via another EU country |
|---|---|---|
| 235 ci 6 cyl. (3.9 L) | €28,548 | €5,766 |
| 283 V8 (4.6 L) | €33,923 | €6,640 |
Same car, same engine, three purchase prices. Taxes based on the value (import VAT, and in some countries the registration tax) follow the price; taxes based on engine size and age do not.
| Purchase price | Taxes in Portugal direct import | Taxes in Portugal via another EU country |
|---|---|---|
| US$21,000 | €29,631 | €5,520 |
| US$42,000 | €33,923 | €6,640 |
| US$84,000 | €42,508 | €8,866 |
The figures above assume the car is accepted as a collector vehicle: more than 30 years old and in original condition. If customs refuse that status, the Chevrolet Bel Air is taxed like an ordinary used car:
| Taxes in Portugal direct import | Taxes in Portugal via another EU country | |
|---|---|---|
| With collector status | €33,923 | €6,640 |
| Without collector status | €33,923 | €10,903 |
A vehicle over 30 years old usually qualifies for the EU collection regime (0% customs duty, reduced VAT, exemption from many registration taxes) — when the status is granted. This 1957 model is over 30 years old → eligible for the collection regime.
It depends on the vehicle: engine size, CO₂, value and age all change the ranking, as does the route the car takes into the EU. The full comparison for this example is in the table above — run your own case in the free simulator.
Yes, in the “Total cost” column: the car converted at the stated rate, RoRo ocean freight from New York (port charges and insurance included), transport inside the EU when the route goes through another country, and taxes and fees. The “Taxes and fees” column shows only customs duty, VAT, registration tax and mandatory approval and inspection fees. The calculator itemises every line.
Estimates based on 2026 rates — to be confirmed with the competent authorities. Not tax advice.