The type B inspection for an imported car
Updated 25 October 2026 · Legaliza na Hora
The inspeção tipo B is the inspection an imported car has to pass before a Portuguese registration number is issued. It costs €93.52, paid directly at the inspection centre, and can be done at any authorised centre in the country, so you do not have to come to Lisbon. It is not the periodic roadworthiness test, and a valid MOT, TÜV or contrôle technique does not replace it. It is done after the approval stage, and it is the only part of the whole process where the car has to be physically present.
What it checks, and what it is not
Cars in Portugal take inspections of several types. Type B is the one carried out for the allocation of a new registration number, for example to an imported car. It is a check of identity and characteristics: the centre confirms that the car in front of it is the car described in the documents and in the approval. Chassis number, version, engine, dimensions and equipment have to match.
That is a different job from the annual test you are used to. A British MOT, a German TÜV report or a French contrôle technique says the car is roadworthy. It does not say the car is the one in the Portuguese approval file, so it cannot stand in for the type B inspection.
Where it sits in the process
- Documents received and checked.
- Approval at the IMT, with the certificate of conformity or through individual approval.
- Modelo 9 and the authorisations signed. In our approval service the completed Modelo 9 is included.
- Type B inspection, as soon as we tell you the file is ready for it.
- Inspection documents sent back to us, by photograph or PDF.
- DAV and ISV, then the registration number.
Going to the centre before the approval is settled is the most common way to waste a trip. Wait until the file is ready. Our internal target for this stage is up to seven days, depending on the centre’s availability; it is a target, not a guaranteed date.
Where to go
Any authorised inspection centre. You choose one near you, anywhere in mainland Portugal, and the rest of the process is handled remotely. Centres are listed in the IMT directory of inspection centres. Confirm with the centre that it carries out type B inspections for your category of vehicle before you book.
What to take with you
- The car itself, still on its foreign plates.
- The complete foreign registration certificate, all parts of it.
- The certificate of conformity and the approval documents in the file.
- The Modelo 9 and the applicant’s details.
- Your identity document.
We tell you the exact list for your case when the file is ready. An example list from another country or another car is not a substitute for that check, and the centre has the final say on what it requires.
Right-hand drive cars
Right-hand drive is legal. The headlights have to be aimed for driving on the right, and that is verified at the type B inspection. Depending on the car, that means an adjustment or a replacement unit. Deal with it before the appointment rather than after a failed one. See registering a UK car in Portugal.
Who pays, and how much
The inspection is paid to the centre, separately from our service. The published reference figure for a type B registration inspection in mainland Portugal in 2026 is €93.52, including VAT. Confirm the tariff and the suitability of the inspection for your vehicle at the centre you choose. It is never part of our fee, in any of our packages.
If the car does not pass
A type B inspection can be held up because a figure in the documents does not match the car, because a modification is not covered by the approval, or because the headlights are not right for driving on the right. What happens next depends on which of those it is: some are corrected at the centre, some need the approval file reworked, and some need a change of characteristics process. Send us the inspection paperwork and we will tell you which case you are in.
If the inspection is already done
Keep the certificate and the receipts, and work out which stages are left. If only the tax stage remains, DAV filing on its own costs €123 including VAT: see who files the declaration. If you would rather hand over the whole file, the EU registration service is €329.50 including VAT, and our team prepares the documentation and follows the requests while you take the car to the centre and pay the inspection directly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the inspeção tipo B?
The inspection carried out before a Portuguese registration number is issued to an imported car. It confirms the car matches its documents and the approval. It is not the periodic roadworthiness test.
How much does it cost and who do I pay?
€93.52 including VAT, the published reference figure for mainland Portugal in 2026, paid directly at the inspection centre. It is not part of our service price.
Does my MOT count instead?
No. An MOT, TÜV or contrôle technique certifies roadworthiness in another country. It does not replace the Portuguese type B inspection.
Do I have to bring the car to Lisbon?
No. You can use any authorised inspection centre near you. The inspection is the only part of the process that is done in person.
When should I book it?
After the approval stage is settled and we tell you the file is ready. Booking earlier usually means a wasted trip.
Is right-hand drive a problem?
It is legal, but the headlights have to be aimed for driving on the right, and that is checked at the inspection. Sort it out before the appointment.
Official sources: IMT, directory of vehicle inspection centres. The €93.52 figure is the published 2026 reference tariff for mainland Portugal, including VAT, and is set by third parties.
Want us to prepare the file before the inspection?
Send us the registration document and the certificate of conformity. We will handle the approval stage and tell you when to book the inspection and what to take.