Everyone has that friend, neighbour or second cousin who swears blind they went to Germany and brought back a "practically free" BMW or Audi with half the kilometres. You sit there listening to the story over coffee and think: "Could I actually pull this off too?"
The short answer is: yes, you can. And with used-car prices in Portugal hitting record highs, importing remains one of the smartest ways to save several thousand euros.
But careful — the year is 2026 and the market has changed. Germany is no longer the only oasis of cheap cars. If you want to find the real bargains and immaculate cars, you have to widen your horizons. Here are the 4 best countries to go and fetch your new machine:
1. Germany: The Classic That Never Fails 🇩🇪
We couldn’t do this list without mentioning the "mecca" of automobiles. Germany’s great advantage is still the absurd quantity of supply. If you want a very specific model, in an exact colour and with an XPTO equipment level, that’s where you’ll find it.
The master tip: Always look at Autohaus (authorized dealers). Cars usually come with European warranty and the sacred TUV inspection report, which guarantees you’re not buying a wreck.
2. The Netherlands: Paradise for Electrics and Hybrids 🇳🇱
If your goal is not to pay (or to pay very little) ISV here in Portugal, you have to go and fetch an electric or plug-in hybrid. And there’s no better place than the Netherlands. Because they had massive incentives for buying these cars a few years back, the used market there is now flooded with them at incredible prices.
Bonus: The country is completely flat. This means the engines, clutches and brakes of Dutch cars suffer far less wear than in a country full of mountains.
3. Belgium: The Best-Kept (and Safest) Secret 🇧🇪
Belgium has a huge leasing and corporate fleet market. This means cars 3 or 4 years old that had every service done on time at the brand’s workshop.
But the Belgians’ great trump card is the Car-Pass. It’s a mandatory document for the sale of any used car that records the vehicle’s mileage throughout its life. It’s practically impossible to buy a "tampered" car in Belgium if you demand this document. Peace of mind has no price!
4. France: The Smart Choice for "French" Cars 🇫🇷
Got your eye on a Renault, Peugeot or Citroën? Then forget Germany and go to the source. In France, the used-car market for these brands is huge and prices are very competitive.
The logistical advantage: It’s the closest country. If you decide to drive the car back, the roadtrip home to Portugal can be done easily in one or two days, saving a lot on hotels, fuel and patience.
The Trip Begins… Who’s Taking You to the Airport?
You’ve already chosen the country, found the dream car on Mobile.de and have the plane ticket in your pocket. You convinced your best friend to come along to share the driving hours on the way back (a masterstroke!).
But now you have to sort out the initial logistics: how are the two of you getting to the airport at 5 a.m.?
Are you going to ask someone to wake up at dawn to give you a lift? Are you going to pay a small fortune for an Uber?
Nothing of the sort. Take your friend’s car (or your current one) and drive to the airport. When you arrive at Departures, hand the keys to a Multipark driver. We park the car safely in our Valet Parking lot.
You fly to Europe, buy the new "beast", and make the epic drive home. When you land in Portugal, you swing by the airport to pick up the car Multipark looked after, and each of you drives home happy as can be.
Importing a car is an adventure, the trip to the airport doesn’t have to be. Run your Valet Parking simulation at Multipark before you fly!
