In this guide
If you plan to buy a used car in Paraguay and register it in Brazil, the short answer is no: Brazil bans the permanent import of used vehicles except in three narrow cases (Siscomex, 2021 (opens in a new tab)). A brand-new car can be imported, but only by paying Brazil's import taxes and getting it certified there, and a Paraguayan-plated car may only be driven in Brazil as a tourist vehicle, by an owner who lives in Paraguay (Correio do Estado, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
Which cars bought in Paraguay can be imported into Brazil for good?
Brazil's Siscomex Q&A on used goods (opens in a new tab) (updated December 2021) allows a used vehicle to be nationalised only if it is:
- More than 30 years old, imported for cultural and collection purposes, stated as such on the import licence (LI).
- A passenger car owned by a person with a disability who has lived abroad for at least two years and bought it more than 180 days before the LI was filed.
- A car owned by a Brazilian diplomat or other public servant who meets the Customs Regulation requirements.
Anything else is prohibited, in line with the general ban on used consumer goods in Portaria Decex 8/1991 (opens in a new tab).
What about a new car bought in Paraguay?
It is possible, but the shop price in Ciudad del Este or Pedro Juan Caballero is only the start. A car cannot travel as baggage: the Receita Federal (opens in a new tab) lists cars and motorcycles among items excluded from baggage, so it needs a regular import customs clearance.
Correio do Estado (2024) (opens in a new tab) lists the costs on top of the price:
- 35% import duty, charged on the price plus freight, insurance and fees.
- IPI of about 25%, ICMS of 17% and PIS/Cofins of 11.6%.
- Altogether, taxes can raise the final cost by up to 80% of the original value.
- Inspection and certification to Brazilian safety and emissions standards, which can take up to three months.
Ask a Brazilian customs broker (despachante) for a written quote for the exact model, then compare it with buying the same car from a Brazilian dealer.
Can I drive a Paraguayan-plated car in Brazil?
Only as a tourist, and only if the owner has a fixed residence in Paraguay (Correio do Estado, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). Citing the Receita Federal, the paper explains that tax residence decides it: if you file income tax in Brazil, you cannot keep a Paraguayan-plated car, even if you work, study or run a business in Paraguay.
Keeping a foreign car in Brazil without meeting these conditions can be treated as smuggling, with criminal charges, fines and seizure of the vehicle (Correio do Estado, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
Collector cars: the only route for an old used car
For a classic over 30 years old, Brazil has a dedicated service (gov.br (opens in a new tab)). The car must keep its original factory features and the owner must belong to a recognised collectors' club. The steps:
- An import licence with "Deferido" (approved) status and the import invoice.
- An originality certificate (CVCOL) from a body recognised by Senatran, four photos of the car and the club membership statement.
- Filing on the SISCAT system; Senatran reviews it within 60 days, then registers the model in Renavam and issues the certificate.
If you are Brazilian and live in Paraguay
Then you can buy and register the car in Paraguay with Paraguayan paperwork: a notarised deed, a title and liens certificate, inspection and the municipal licence (Registro de Automotores (opens in a new tab)). Check where the car came from: in July 2026 Paraguay's police warned that cars stolen in Brazil were being sold in Paraguay with forged papers and advertised on social media, with Toyota Fortuner and Hilux the most seized (ABC Color, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). Match the stamped chassis number to the registration card and never pay without the certificate.
If you later move back to Brazil, that used car cannot be nationalised unless it fits one of the exceptions above.
Before you pay: three concrete steps
- Get your case confirmed in writing by a customs broker or the Receita Federal on the Brazilian side of the border.
- Add up the full cost of a new car: price, 35% duty, IPI, ICMS, PIS/Cofins, freight, certification and the waiting time.
- Do not buy a used car "to take across later": if it does not fit the exceptions, there is no procedure that makes it legal.
FAQ
Can I register a used car bought in Paraguay in Brazil?
No, unless it is over 30 years old and imported for collection, belongs to a person with a disability who has lived abroad for at least two years, or belongs to a Brazilian diplomat. Otherwise permanent import of used cars is prohibited.
What taxes apply to importing a new car from Paraguay to Brazil?
According to Correio do Estado: 35% import duty, about 25% IPI, 17% ICMS and 11.6% PIS/Cofins, which can raise the cost by up to 80%. The car must also be certified.
Can a Brazilian drive a Paraguayan-plated car in Brazil?
Only as a tourist vehicle and only if the owner has a fixed residence in Paraguay. If you file income tax in Brazil, you cannot keep a Paraguayan-plated car.
What happens if I drive an irregular Paraguayan car in Brazil?
It can be treated as smuggling, with criminal charges, fines and seizure of the vehicle.
