Registering an imported car: how the process works

Updated 2026 · ~7 min read

You bought a car abroad and drove it home. What now? The steps below apply across most of the EU — the names of the offices differ, the sequence rarely does.

One caveat up front: registration is national. This article describes the shape of the process; the exact offices, deadlines and fees are set by your own country. Always confirm with your national vehicle authority before you start.

Before you travel

Two things are far cheaper to sort out before you buy:

The COC document (Certificate of Conformity). Without it the process is longer and more expensive almost everywhere. Ask the seller in your first message.
Both parts of the registration document. In Germany these are Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Teil II. Without Teil II — the title document — you cannot register the car anywhere.

To drive it home you need export plates and insurance, or a transporter. Driving on the seller's plates is not permitted.

Step 1 — Sales contract

Two copies, signed by both parties. It should contain both parties' details, the vehicle details (make, model, VIN, year, odometer reading), the price and the date. Motoring clubs publish free templates.

In a private sale the warranty is normally excluded, and the contract will say so explicitly.

Step 2 — Identification and conformity check

The first stop at home, usually at a licensed inspection station. They verify that the vehicle matches its documents and complies with national requirements. Bring:

both parts of the foreign registration document,
the COC document if you have it,
the sales contract,
your ID.

Without a COC most countries require individual approval — a longer procedure in which conformity is demonstrated by measurement. It costs more and takes longer, which is why the COC is worth chasing before you buy.

Step 3 — Registration tax

This is where costs vary most between countries, and where estimates usually go wrong.

Most European countries no longer calculate it as a percentage of the price. Slovenia, for example, has based it on CO₂ emissions, fuel type and EURO emission standard since 2021, with a reduction for vehicle age. Austria (NoVA) and the Netherlands (BPM) are also emissions-based. Germany and Czechia have no registration tax at all — only an annual road tax.

The practical consequence: a frugal, low-emission used car can attract a surprisingly small tax, while a high-emission car of the same value attracts a large one.

Do not estimate this figure. Use your country's official calculator and the CO₂ value from the COC document — numbers quoted in classified ads are not a reliable source.

Step 4 — Roadworthiness test

A standard technical inspection: brakes, lights, emissions, wear, safety equipment. A recent test abroad does not usually substitute for the national one.

Expect something to need attention — tyres, brake pads and bulbs are the usual culprits.

Step 5 — Insurance

Third-party liability insurance must be in place before registration. It can often be arranged at the same place where you register.

Step 6 — Registration and plates

The final step. Bring:

the conformity/identification certificate,
proof that registration tax has been paid,
the roadworthiness test report,
the insurance policy,
the sales contract and both parts of the foreign registration document,
your ID and tax number.

You receive a national registration certificate and plates. The foreign document is normally retained by the authority.

Rough time and cost

Step	Typical cost
Identification and conformity check	€50–100
Roadworthiness test	€40–60
Registration and plates	€50–90
Registration tax	depends on CO₂ — official calculator
Insurance	depends on driver and vehicle
Administrative costs (excl. tax and insurance)	~€150–250

Figures are indicative and vary by country and provider. With documents in order, a few days to two weeks is realistic; without a COC, considerably longer.

Work it out before you buy → On AutoRadar every listing has an «import cost» button showing transport and administrative costs for your country, plus a link to the official tax calculator.

Where people get stuck

Missing title document. Registration is impossible without it. Verify before you pay.
No COC. Order one from the manufacturer, or budget for individual approval.
Modified vehicle. Tow bar, non-standard wheels, sports exhaust — all must be type-approved or the inspection fails.
VIN mismatch between the vehicle and the paperwork stops everything immediately.
High CO₂. On more powerful cars the tax can be a shock — calculate it before buying, not after.

How AutoRadar helps

AutoRadar searches every major European market at once and ranks cars by real value. Each listing shows estimated transport and administrative costs for your country and links to the official tax calculator. When a new match appears or a price drops, we message you.