Import car to Romania: RAR checks and registration
Import car to Romania as a dealer: RAR identity card (CIV), ANAF check, CoC rules, ITP, registration fees and what Romanian buyers need from you.
· 7 min read
To import a car to Romania, the buyer presents it to the Romanian Auto Register (RAR) for a technical check and the vehicle identity card (CIV), which RAR issues only after the tax authority ANAF has had the chance to check the intra-EU purchase. Then the car needs a valid roadworthiness test (ITP), insurance and registration at the local registration office. Romania has no one-off registration tax on used imports, so the costs are fees, not taxes.
Is there a registration tax when you import a car to Romania?
No. Romania abolished its environmental stamp (timbru de mediu) on cars in February 2017 and has not replaced it with a one-off registration tax. What the buyer pays are administrative fees:
| Item | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| RAR check and documents | a few hundred lei; the authenticity certificate is listed at 245 lei for cars in 2026 tariffs reported by the Romanian press |
| Registration certificate and standard plates | about 49 lei |
| ITP (roadworthiness test), if needed | set by the testing station |
| Compulsory motor insurance (RCA) | depends on driver and car |
| Annual local car tax | set by the municipality, mainly by engine capacity |
Electric cars pay a symbolic annual tax: according to ACEA's 2026 overview, battery-electric cars pay a unique tax of RON 40 (about €8).
The absence of a registration tax is why Romania is one of the larger destinations for used cars from Western Europe. The price question is purely the purchase price, transport and VAT.
What does the RAR check involve for an imported car?
RAR inspects the car physically, verifies that its identity and technical data match the documents, and issues the vehicle identity card (cartea de identitate a vehiculului, CIV), without which a Romanian registration is impossible. For a used car from another EU country, RAR asks for:
- the applicant's identity document and a declaration signed at RAR;
- the original foreign registration document;
- the certificate of conformity (CoC) issued by the manufacturer, mandatory for cars whose CO2 was measured under WLTP, typically those built after 31 August 2018;
- the intra-Community purchase document (invoice or sales contract), original or a legible copy;
- a power of attorney if someone else presents the car.
RAR scans the purchase documents and sends them to ANAF. Since July 2022, under the protocol based on Emergency Ordinance 120/2021, ANAF can ask RAR to suspend the CIV for up to five days while it checks the VAT treatment of the purchase. Only the intra-Community buyer named in the purchase documents, or their legal representative, can obtain the CIV. This rule was introduced to stop VAT fraud with straw buyers, so Romanian dealers are careful that the invoice names exactly the company that will register the car.
If the CoC is missing for a WLTP-era car, RAR will not proceed. Order it before the car leaves; our certificate of conformity guide explains how.
For car dealers
Know your margin before you buy
MyCarDealer compares any car from an auction or listing with the market in your country and shows the net margin after VAT, transport and costs – and the maximum bid.
Request accessWhich documents does a Romanian buyer need from the seller?
A Romanian buyer needs a clean, consistent document set, because RAR and ANAF compare every detail. Supply:
- Original registration certificate, Part I and Part II where issued;
- an invoice in the buyer's company name with VIN, date, price and the correct VAT wording;
- the CoC;
- the latest roadworthiness report and service history;
- for a VAT-qualifying sale: the buyer's VAT number verified in VIES, and your proof of intra-Community delivery (CMR or entry certificate).
The VAT wording matters more in Romania than in most markets because of the ANAF check. A margin car must carry the margin-scheme reference; a VAT-qualifying car must be invoiced net under the intra-Community supply exemption. A wrong or missing reference is exactly what triggers a suspension. Our VIES VAT number check and proof of intra-community delivery guides cover both sides.
ITP and registration: the remaining steps
After the CIV, the car needs a valid ITP, compulsory insurance (RCA) and registration at the public registration service in the owner's county. The usual order:
- RAR: inspection and CIV (ANAF check runs in parallel).
- ITP: if the foreign roadworthiness certificate is not valid or not accepted, a test at an authorised Romanian station.
- Local tax office: register the car for the annual car tax.
- RCA insurance: issued on the VIN.
- Registration office: file the documents, pay the certificate and plate fee, receive the Romanian registration certificate and plates.
The registration file contains the sales contract, the CIV, the previous registration certificate, proof of local tax registration, valid RCA insurance and, where the previous plates were withdrawn, the corresponding fee receipt.
How long registration of an imported car takes in Romania
With complete documents, registration usually takes one to two weeks, most of it waiting for a RAR appointment. The ANAF check can add up to five days. Common delays are a missing CoC, a missing Part II certificate, an invoice in the wrong name and a temporary transit plate that expires before registration.
Plan the transport so that the car arrives on the truck or on valid export plates. Our overview of export plates in Europe explains which options work for driving a car to Romania.
What Romanian buyers pay, and where you fit in
Romanian buyers are price-sensitive, and they buy older, higher-mileage cars than buyers in Germany. According to listings tracked by MyCarDealer in October 2026:
| Model, years | Germany | Romania |
|---|---|---|
| VW Golf 2016–2019 | €13,500 (1,944 listings, median 114,000 km) | €9,800 (35 listings, median 190,000 km) |
| Dacia Duster 2018–2021 | €12,470 (219 listings) | €11,990 (63 listings) |
| VW Passat diesel 2015–2018 | €12,500 (467 listings) | €11,490 (34 listings) |
The Golf gap looks large, but the Romanian cars have about 76,000 km more on the clock. That is the market: the sweet spot for exporters is the high-mileage, well-documented diesel that sells slowly in Germany but at a fair price in Romania. Run each candidate through a free valuation at the Romanian end before you bid, and include transport, which on a 1,500 km route is a real share of a €9,000 car.
Frequently asked questions
What does the RAR check involve for an imported car?
RAR physically inspects the car, checks its identity and technical data against the documents, and issues the vehicle identity card (CIV). It requires the original foreign registration document, the purchase invoice and, for WLTP-era cars, the manufacturer's CoC. ANAF can ask RAR to hold the CIV for up to five days to check VAT.
Is there a registration tax on imported cars in Romania?
No. Romania abolished the environmental stamp in 2017 and has no one-off registration tax on used imports. The buyer pays RAR fees, the registration certificate and plates (about 49 lei), insurance and the annual local car tax.
Which documents does a Romanian buyer need from the seller?
The original registration certificate (both parts where issued), an invoice in the buyer's name with the correct VAT wording, the CoC and the latest roadworthiness report. The invoice must name exactly the company or person who will register the car, because only that intra-Community buyer can obtain the CIV.
How long does registration of an imported car take in Romania?
Usually one to two weeks with complete documents, mostly depending on RAR appointment times. An ANAF check can add up to five days, and a missing CoC or registration certificate can delay it much longer.
Is a CoC mandatory in Romania?
For cars with WLTP-measured CO2, typically those built after 31 August 2018, RAR requires the manufacturer's certificate of conformity. For older cars RAR can work from the registration document and its own data, but a CoC still makes the check faster.