Vehicle registration abroad (EU) - when and how?

 

I'm about to move to another EU country. Is it possible to continue using my vehicle with Bulgarian registration numbers, or do I have to register it again? Are there certain deadlines and what happens if they are not met? In order to be better informed about these conditions and situations, I will draw attention to the explanations below.

 

Is it important for how long I am abroad?

At first I have to distinguish between temporary stay and permanent residence in another EU country.

 

Temporary stay

 

If I live permanently in a Member State (in this case, Bulgaria) but spend in less than 6 months in another EU country, I do not have to re-register my car and I will be able to use it with Bulgarian registration numbers. When I am staying in another EU country, I do not have to pay any taxes for registration there but I may have to pay other taxes related to the use of my car in the country concerned (road taxes such as a vignette, vehicle, etc.).

 

Important! In this case, however, I can not:

 

sell;

I am renting;

I take my car to someone who lives in that country (but I can take my car to friends or family members who do not live permanently in that country).

Permanent residence

 

If I plan to move to a long-term EU country, ie for more than 6 months, I have to get to know the national rules for registering a car in the country. I have no obligation to register my car during the first 6 months from the date of my arrival in the country. However, if I have stayed for more than 6 months, I am obliged to register my car. If I do not, I will have to pay any penalties for a customs violation in the form of fines, so I have to watch carefully when and for how long I am a driver in another EU country.

 

Important! I can not register my car after these 6 months in the following cases:

 

  If I'm a student and the only reason for my stay in another country is related to my training, I can use my car without registering or paying taxes there while I'm enrolled in a local school. However, if I started working as a student there, I have to register my car;

  If I am a cross-border worker and regularly travel to my workplace in another EU Member State, my car may remain with the registration numbers issued by the country where I live.

Registration procedure

Since there are no common European rules on vehicle registration and each Member State applies its registration procedures, they can levy freely registration fees and set up internal vehicle registration rules. Generally, in the registration procedure, you must submit the following set of documents:

 

Certificate of Conformity for New Vehicles - It is issued by the manufacturer and proves that the technical characteristics of the vehicle meet the safety and environmental standards. It can be European, valid for all EU member states, or national, which is valid only within the country in which it was issued;

certificate of registration of already registered vehicles;

proof of insurance;

proof of ownership;

proof of VAT paid against the national rules for calculating and paying VAT;

proof of technical fitness

payment of vehicle registration / road tax.