The full report — €9.95
The same car costed and ranked in all 34 countries so you can compare, the cost over five years, and every reservation behind the figures. It opens straight away — print it or save it as a PDF.
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How it works
- 1
Pick the two countries
Where the car is now and where you will register it.
- 2
Enter the car
The price, then year, fuel, engine size and CO₂ from the registration papers.
- 3
See the real cost
Tax, VAT and fees, free. The full report compares all 34 countries.
The full report — €9.95
- Your car priced in all 34 countries, cheapest to dearest
- The cost over five years
- Every caveat behind each figure
- Ready at once — print it or save it as PDF
Refunded within 14 days if it's not what you expected
How the cost of registering a car from another European country is calculated
Within the European Union a car moves freely between member states. No customs duty and no new type-approval: the EU approval is valid in every member state. The documents asked for (foreign registration certificate, sometimes the COC) depend on the destination country.
A used car bought in another EU country pays no VAT on arrival, because VAT was already paid in the country of purchase. The exception is a car that counts as new for VAT purposes, meaning less than 6 months since first registration or 6,000 km or less on the clock: VAT is then due in the country where it is registered (EU VAT Directive 2006/112/EC, article 2). What remains is the national registration tax, and its rules differ from one country to the next. Some countries tax CO2 emissions, engine size, power or weight, most reduce the tax as the car gets older, and some base it on an official value set by their administration, in which case the figure shown is an estimate. Administrative fees for registration, plates and inspection come on top, followed later by an annual tax.
Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Andorra are outside the EU, so bringing a car there is an import: customs duty may apply and import VAT is due even on a used car. Monaco follows French customs and VAT rules. The calculator runs in your browser and needs no account or e-mail address. Every result is an estimate; the final amount is set by the authority of the destination country.
How the registration cost is calculated: our method, with one car compared across 33 countries
Importing a used car from the EU into the UK: import duty, VAT and DVLA registration
Importing a used car into Ireland from the EU: VRT, NOx levy and motor tax
Importing a used car into Malta from the EU: registration tax, fees and licence
Do I pay VAT again on a used car bought in Germany?
No, as long as the car is used in the VAT sense and is registered in another EU country: the VAT was paid in Germany. VAT is due in the country of registration only if the car is new in the VAT sense, meaning less than 6 months since first registration or 6,000 km or less.
Do I need a new type-approval to register a car from another EU country?
No. Within the EU the type-approval is recognised in every member state and no customs duty is charged. The documents asked for (foreign registration certificate, sometimes the COC) depend on the destination country.
How is the registration tax calculated, and is it lower for older cars?
Each country sets its own rules. The tax can depend on CO2 emissions, engine size, power or weight, and most countries reduce it as the car gets older. Some use an official value set by their administration, so the result shown is an estimate.