Import car to Slovakia: registration fee and checks
Import a car to Slovakia: originality check, technical and emission inspection, the registration fee by kW and emission class, documents and VAT for dealers.
· 8 min read
To import a car to Slovakia from another EU state, the car needs an originality check, a technical and emission inspection where no recognised valid test exists, Slovak insurance and registration at a district traffic inspectorate. The fee is a rate by engine power multiplied by an emission-class coefficient, plus €18 for the certificate and €50 for plates: €116 for a 110 kW Euro 6d car.
Import car to Slovakia: why dealers sell there
Slovakia is a small market with prices close to Czech levels for volume models, so imports work best on cars that are scarce locally or clearly dearer there.
According to listings tracked by MyCarDealer in October 2026, median asking prices for 2019–2021 cars were:
| Model (2019–2021) | Slovakia | Germany | Czech Republic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skoda Octavia | €14,999 (210 listings) | €16,500 (538) | €14,382 (632) |
| VW Tiguan | €19,900 (132) | €22,000 (615) | €19,855 (267) |
| BMW 5 Series | €25,999 (47) | €24,800 (337) | €27,406 (255) |
| Tesla Model 3 (2020–2023) | €26,990 (126) | €28,000 (243) | €28,452 (271) |
The lower Slovak medians are not simply bargains. Slovak Tiguans in the sample had a median of about 145,000 km against 100,000 km in Germany, and Octavias about 150,000 km against 114,000 km. Slovak buyers pay noticeably less for high-mileage cars, so a low-mileage German car can still find a Slovak buyer at a premium, but the gap is smaller than the headline medians suggest.
The originality check
The originality check (kontrola originality) is compulsory before an imported used car can be registered. It verifies that the car and its identifiers, such as the VIN and manufacturer plates, match the documents and that the car is not stolen or altered.
The check is carried out at an authorised originality-check station under Act No. 106/2018 Coll. on the operation of vehicles in road traffic. You book it in advance, and the result is a certificate that the traffic inspectorate needs. The price is set by the station.
Common reasons for failing:
- a damaged, repainted or welded VIN area;
- missing manufacturer labels or plates;
- body parts replaced in a way that is not documented;
- a mismatch between the VIN in the car and in the papers.
These problems are much cheaper to find before purchase. Our guides to the car history check for imports and VIN cloning show what to look for.
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 accessTechnical and emission inspection
Whether an import needs a Slovak technical inspection (technická kontrola) and emission inspection (emisná kontrola) depends on the car's test status. If you can prove a valid periodic test from the country of origin that Slovakia recognises, the next Slovak test follows the normal interval. Without it, or where the vehicle has to be individually approved, both inspections are done before registration.
Check the exact requirement for a specific car with the testing station or the inspectorate before you book transport, especially for cars whose foreign test is about to expire.
How the Slovak registration fee is calculated
Since 1 July 2023 the fee under Act No. 145/1995 Coll. on administrative fees is a base rate by engine power multiplied by a coefficient for the emission class. Age no longer changes the fee directly, except that cars older than 40 years get a low coefficient.
| Engine power | Base rate |
|---|---|
| up to 80 kW | €33 |
| 80–90 kW | €60 |
| 90–100 kW | €90 |
| 100–110 kW | €120 |
| 110–125 kW | €200 |
| 125–140 kW | €300 |
| 140–155 kW | €500 |
| 155–170 kW | €700 |
| 170–210 kW | €900 |
| over 210 kW | €1,000 |
| Emission class | Coefficient |
|---|---|
| Euro 1 and older | 1.0 |
| Euro 2 | 0.8 |
| Euro 3 | 0.7 |
| Euro 4 | 0.6 |
| Euro 5 / EEV | 0.5 |
| Euro 6a–c | 0.45 |
| Euro 6d and newer | 0.4 |
Special cases: a fully electric car pays a flat €33, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen cars use a coefficient of 0.2, and cars older than 40 years use 0.1. Ordinary hybrids are treated like any other car. On top come €18 for the registration certificate and €50 for a new set of plates.
Worked examples:
| Car | Calculation | Total with certificate and plates |
|---|---|---|
| 85 kW, Euro 6a–c | €60 × 0.45 = €27 | €95 |
| 110 kW, Euro 6d | €120 × 0.4 = €48 | €116 |
| 140 kW, Euro 6a–c | €300 × 0.45 = €135 | €203 |
| 195 kW, Euro 6a–c | €900 × 0.45 = €405 | €473 |
| Plug-in hybrid, 150 kW | €500 × 0.2 = €100 | €168 |
| Electric car | €33 | €101 |
The emission class in the documents decides, not the year. A car first registered in 2019 may be Euro 6c or already Euro 6d-TEMP, and a 2016 car may still be Euro 5, so read the class from the registration certificate or the certificate of conformity before pricing.
Documents needed to register an imported car in Slovakia
To register an imported car in Slovakia you need the original foreign documents, proof of acquisition, the originality-check certificate, inspection reports where required, insurance and ID.
- Original foreign registration documents (for a German car, Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Teil II).
- Invoice or purchase contract showing the VIN, price and date.
- Deregistration confirmation from the country of origin, if its rules require one.
- Certificate of the originality check.
- Technical and emission inspection reports, where required.
- Proof of compulsory motor insurance (PZP).
- Tax office confirmation of VAT paid, only for a new means of transport.
- ID of the applicant, or a power of attorney.
Registration takes place at a district traffic inspectorate (dopravný inšpektorát), usually with an online appointment. With complete papers, plates and the certificate are issued during the visit.
Can a dealer register cars for a buyer?
Yes, with a power of attorney from the buyer. Many Slovak dealers register imports in the buyer's name as part of the sale, which saves the buyer a trip and lets the dealer control the paperwork. Check with the inspectorate whether the signature on the power of attorney must be officially verified.
VAT when selling into Slovakia
Slovakia's standard VAT rate has been 23% since 2025. A margin car bought from an EU dealer arrives without further VAT and is resold under the Slovak special arrangement for used goods (section 66 of the VAT Act No. 222/2004 Coll.).
A VAT-qualifying car invoiced net to a Slovak VAT payer is an intra-Community supply; the buyer accounts for 23% Slovak VAT and deducts it. A car under six months old or with no more than 6,000 km is a new means of transport: VAT is always paid in Slovakia, and the inspectorate asks for the tax office's confirmation.
What a Slovak buyer's total cost looks like
For the buyer, the registration side of an import is cheap: the originality check, any inspection, the fee and insurance. That is why the purchase price decides almost everything. A 2020 Tiguan bought in Germany for €21,500 with €450 transport and about €300 of checks, fees and preparation lands at roughly €22,250, against a Slovak median of €19,900 for the model. It sells only if it is clearly better than local stock, for instance with much lower mileage.
The quickest way to test this before bidding is to price the exact car against the Slovak market. MyCarDealer calculates the market price from comparable listings in your country and the margin after VAT and transport; one car can be valued for free.
Frequently asked questions
What is the originality check for imported cars in Slovakia?
It is a compulsory inspection at an authorised station before the first Slovak registration. It checks that the VIN, manufacturer plates and other identifiers match the documents and that the car is not stolen or altered. The certificate is required at the traffic inspectorate.
How is the Slovak registration fee calculated?
The fee is a base rate by engine power in kW multiplied by a coefficient for the emission class, for example €120 × 0.4 for a 110 kW Euro 6d car. Electric cars pay a flat €33. Add €18 for the certificate and €50 for plates.
Does the age of the car change the Slovak registration fee?
Not directly since 1 July 2023. The emission class, which usually reflects the car's age, sets the coefficient. Only cars over 40 years old get a separate low coefficient of 0.1.
Which documents are needed to register an imported car in Slovakia?
The foreign registration documents, invoice or contract, the originality-check certificate, inspection reports where required, proof of insurance and ID. A VAT confirmation is needed only for new means of transport.
Can a dealer register cars in Slovakia on behalf of a buyer?
Yes, with a power of attorney. Many dealers handle the originality check, insurance and registration so the buyer collects a car already on Slovak plates.