Example: a Ford Mustang 1967 bought for US$28,000 in the USA. Registered in Portugal, it comes to about €34,708 all-in — car €24,884, shipping €3,821 and €6,003 in taxes and fees, via another EU country — by direct import: €59,643. 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$28,000 at 0.8887 USD→EUR (ECB, 16/10/2026) = €24,884 · 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 | €1,812 | €29,717 | €28/yr |
| Belgiumdirect import | €1,835 | €29,740 | €110/yr |
| Francedirect import | €2,018 | €29,923 | — |
| Germanydirect import | €2,129 | €30,034 | €192/yr |
| Polanddirect import | €2,227 | €30,132 | — |
| Luxembourgdirect import | €2,247 | €30,152 | €25/yr |
| Swedenvia another EU country | €1,968 | €30,673 | — |
| Netherlandsdirect import | €3,415 | €31,320 | — |
| Portugalvia another EU country | €6,003 | €34,708 | — |
| Spainvia another EU country | €7,427 | €36,132 | €120/yr |
The 1967 model year brought the first real redesign of the Mustang: a longer, wider body that made room for the big-block 390 V8. It remains one of the most imported American classics, which keeps parts easy to find in Europe.
Rust usually starts in the floor pans, the cowl under the windscreen (which lets water into the cabin) and the rear quarter panels. The VIN's fifth character gives the original engine: a car sold as a 390 should carry an S code. Ask for photos of the underside and of the door data plate before paying a deposit.
The Ford Mustang 1967 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$28,000), by both routes:
| Engine | Taxes in Portugal direct import | Taxes in Portugal via another EU country |
|---|---|---|
| 200 ci 6 cyl. (3.3 L) | €21,671 | €4,366 |
| 289 V8 (4.7 L) | €31,738 | €6,003 |
| 390 V8 (6.4 L) | €43,159 | €7,860 |
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$14,000 | €28,877 | €5,257 |
| US$28,000 | €31,738 | €6,003 |
| US$56,000 | €37,461 | €7,497 |
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 Ford Mustang is taxed like an ordinary used car:
| Taxes in Portugal direct import | Taxes in Portugal via another EU country | |
|---|---|---|
| With collector status | €31,738 | €6,003 |
| Without collector status | €31,738 | €8,898 |
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 1967 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.