Importing a car from Poland to Austria: buy safely and register it

Yes, a private individual resident in Austria can buy an ordinary used passenger car in Poland and import it into Austria. Do not pay, however, until the seller's identity, proof of ownership, vehicle identification number, original documents, vehicle condition and transport method are all consistent. Also clarify in advance whether the vehicle has EU type approval and how NoVA will be treated. As Poland is in the EU, no customs duty is payable on this route; Austrian NoVA, any Austrian acquisition VAT that may be payable, approval, insurance and registration remain unaffected. 1 2

Make a sound purchase decision before paying

For the free government vehicle history service, ask for the Polish registration number, the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the date of first registration. The search can show stored data on the technical inspection and compulsory OC motor liability insurance, the type and number of previous keepers, deregistration or theft status, technical data, mileage recorded during inspections since 2014 and selected foreign risks. Save the result before paying. 3

The downloadable result is for information only; some foreign risk data comes from an external system. The absence of a warning proves neither unencumbered ownership nor a complete mileage history, an accident-free record or sound condition. Therefore, compare the VIN in the search result, on the vehicle and in all the documents. Separately check the seller's identity, their authority to dispose of the vehicle and an unbroken chain of ownership evidence. 3 4

An on-site inspection should cover the bodywork, underbody, tyres, brakes, engine, gearbox, electronics, stored fault codes and a possible test drive. It replaces neither the Polish technical inspection nor the Austrian § 57a inspection. Conversely, a valid inspection is not a comprehensive condition report.

Secure the contract, payment and original documents

The written purchase contract should state at least the full details of the contracting parties, VIN, registration number, purchase price, mileage, known damage, accessories, number of keys and all documents handed over. Also record when the vehicle will be handed over and when possession and risk will pass. Verify the bank details and payee through a separate communication channel; do not make a non-recoverable deposit while the identity, vehicle and documents remain unverified. Obtain confirmation of every payment and of the handover.

At handover, obtain the proof of ownership, the registration certificate for the previously registered vehicle and the applicable technical-inspection evidence. Where available, also take the COC as evidence of EU type approval. For the later Austrian procedure, you will in any event need the purchase contract or, if buying from an authorised motor vehicle dealer, the invoice, as well as the foreign vehicle and approval papers. 4 7 6

Choose a legally compliant transport method from Poland

The robust planning option is to use a carrier or transport the vehicle on a trailer; the budget table is based specifically on the carrier branch. If you want to drive the vehicle yourself, you need written clarity before collection on registration, recognition of the plates and insurance cover for the driver, the dates and every country on the specific route. Temporary plates are not harmonised across the EU. If confirmation is missing, switch to transporting it without the purchased vehicle being driven on public roads. 5

Polish temporary registration for export is issued at the vehicle owner's request and results in a temporary permit and legalised temporary number plates. If the owner has neither permanent nor temporary residence in Poland, the registration authority at the place of purchase or collection is competent. It is valid for no more than 30 days. A single 14-day extension is intended solely to clarify registration-related matters and must not be factored in as an automatic extension for travel. These statements were checked on 13 September 2026 against the current ELI codified PDF dated 20 August 2026, in Art. 74, and confirmed by an independent retrieval. 4 8

The prescribed declaration by the owner is required for the associated automatic deregistration for export. If the export has taken place, the temporary number plates do not have to be returned after they expire. The specific authority must nevertheless confirm its current list of required original documents and its arrangements for appointments, processing and costs. 8

A vehicle without a valid technical inspection and compulsory OC insurance may not be driven on the road in Poland. Both forms of evidence are only prerequisites for driving, not a pre-purchase condition inspection. 3

Austrian temporary transfer plates are valid for 3 to 21 days and, on 13 September 2026, cost EUR 248.60 plus insurance; this includes a refundable number-plate deposit of EUR 36.00 if the plates are returned within one year. The Austrian information recommends foreign temporary transfer plates when importing a vehicle yourself because Austrian plates can cause problems abroad. They likewise do not prove recognition in Poland or along the route. 9

After first bringing the vehicle into Austria, a person resident in Austria may generally use an imported vehicle with foreign plates in Austria for one month. A further month is available only if it can be credibly shown that registration was not possible earlier. This period extends neither the Polish registration nor its insurance. 10

NoVA, approval and registration in Austria

The first decisive issue is the Austrian acquisition-VAT classification: the vehicle is considered new if it has covered no more than 6,000 km or its first entry into service was no more than six months before the acquisition. It is considered used only if it has covered more than 6,000 km and its first entry into service was more than six months earlier. The sales description alone is not decisive. 10 2

For a private purchase of a vehicle from Poland that is classified as new for tax purposes, 20% Austrian acquisition VAT and NoVA must be paid before registration; the treatment of foreign VAT depends on the statutory conditions for an intra-Community supply. A private purchase of a used vehicle is generally subject to NoVA, but not to this acquisition-VAT branch for new vehicles. For a used car already registered in the EU, the applicable NoVA regime and value development are generally governed by its first EU registration. The current formula must therefore not be applied indiscriminately. A conspicuously low private purchase price may need to be substantiated against an Austrian vehicle valuation. 2 11

Every imported vehicle must be entered in the Austrian vehicle approval database before registration. With EU type approval, no new Austrian approval is normally required; a COC or foreign registration certificate can provide evidence of it. Without EU type approval, individual vehicle approval and possibly an exemption approval are required. As at 13 September 2026, the reimbursement of expenses for the database entry may be up to EUR 180.00; individual vehicle approval is stated at approximately EUR 150.00 depending on the evidence; this indicative amount is not a cap, and additional documents, modifications or expert reports may incur further costs. 6

For the NoVA 2 declaration filed with the tax office, the invoice must be attached when buying from an authorised motor vehicle dealer. For an ordinary private purchase, the purchase contract and a vehicle valuation, such as Eurotax, Autopreisspiegel or a report by a sworn expert, must be attached; do not assume that any of the narrowly limited official exceptions applies without meeting the relevant conditions. Other documents include, among other things, the foreign vehicle and approval papers, an extract from the Austrian vehicle approval database and photo ID. A customs assessment would be required only for an import from a third country and is not relevant to this route. Only after the applicable taxes have been received does the tax office release the vehicle in the database for registration. 7

For Austrian registration, you need motor vehicle liability insurance valid in Austria, evidence of identity and approval and, where applicable, both parts of the previous EU registration certificate. If the periodic inspection is due and no valid result is stored in the Austrian database, a current positive inspection report is required. For a vehicle you import yourself, the database entry and NoVA clearance are also required; customs confirmation is not required on this EU route. 12

The base passenger-car registration items listed on 13 September 2026 total EUR 270.00: an authority share of EUR 178.00, a handling fee of EUR 65.60, a ZMR residence-register query of EUR 1.10, an inspection sticker at EUR 2.30 and number plates at EUR 23.00. The optional chip-card registration certificate costs an additional EUR 31.10. Insurance, inspection, translation, technical modifications, transport, taxes and other charges are additional, depending on the case. 12

A budget without false precision

The following plan assumes a carrier and – subject to checking – that EU type approval is available. There is no universal amount for NoVA, the purchase price, the carrier, insurance or case-dependent work. Obtain the specified vehicle data, information from the authorities and quotes; while required values are missing, no reliable total is possible. 11 9

Chronological checklist with stop points

Complete the steps in this order. If a discrepancy concerning identity, ownership, the VIN, original documents, transport cover or eligibility for approval remains unresolved, stop before paying or collecting the vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

Are customs duty or Austrian VAT payable?

No customs duty. For vehicles classified as new for tax purposes, 20% acquisition VAT and NoVA are payable; foreign VAT depends on the rules for the intra-Community supply. For a private used-car purchase, the NoVA branch applies. 1, 2, 7

When is a used car treated as new for tax purposes?

It is considered new at no more than 6,000 km or no more than six months since its first entry into service. It is used only when both thresholds have been exceeded. 10, 2

Can I drive home on temporary plates?

Only after a case-specific check. The export registration runs for no more than 30 days; its recognition is not harmonised. Confirm the plates and OC for the driver, dates and route; otherwise, choose a carrier. Austria's one-month period does not extend the export registration. 4, 8, 5, 10

Which documents are required for NoVA 2 after a private purchase?

For a private purchase, you need the purchase contract and a vehicle valuation, such as Eurotax, Autopreisspiegel or a report by a sworn expert. You also need the vehicle papers, an extract from the Austrian vehicle approval database and photo ID. Exceptions require the relevant conditions to be met; clearance follows payment. 7

Is a COC sufficient for Austrian registration?

No. A COC can provide evidence of EU type approval, but it does not replace the database entry, NoVA clearance, insurance or registration documents. Without EU type approval, individual vehicle approval and possibly an exemption approval are required. 6, 7, 12

What can a CarAudit inspection in Poland provide?

On 13 September 2026, the checked CarAudit page listed Poland as an available service country. Depending on access, the inspection covers areas such as bodywork, mechanical components, diagnostics and a test drive. The advertised prices were EUR 229.00 including VAT and travel, plus an optional EUR 179.00 for the battery. The advertised target was a report within 48 hours after the inspection; weekends and public holidays were excluded, and the target remained subject to vehicle access and operational restrictions. It does not include import handling, approval, a statutory inspection or a guarantee; confirm availability. 13, 15, 14

Enquire about a pre-purchase inspection

For a vehicle in Poland, you can enquire about availability and scope. The inspection does not replace document checks, the import process or registration and is not a guarantee. 13, 15, 14

Sources

1. Kfz-Import aus EU-Ländern
2. Fahrzeugerwerb aus Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union
3. Check vehicle history
4. Vehicle registration — temporary registration
5. Buying and leasing a car in another EU country
6. Import von Kfz — Genehmigungsdatenbank und Typisierung
7. Verfahren bei Fahrzeugimport
8. Road Traffic Act — current ELI codified PDF dated 2026-08-20
9. Überstellungskennzeichen
10. Allgemeines zum Eigenimport von Kfz
11. NoVA Steuersatz
12. Kfz-Zulassung
13. CarAudit Austria — service and order page
14. CarAudit-Bedingungen
15. CarAudit Austria — Was wir prüfen