Importing a car from Romania to Austria: process and costs

Yes: as a private individual resident in Austria, you can import an ordinary used passenger car from Romania. Do not pay, however, until the seller's identity, VIN, proof of ownership and vehicle documents all match. It is also crucial to obtain written guidance from the authorities on Romanian tax clearance: the 2026 amendment reviewed through current official indexed text makes local tax clearances or electronic checks on both the seller's and buyer's sides material to the validity of the transfer, but does not clarify the route for a person without Romanian domicile, registered office or place of work; the full official page could not be accessed directly. 1

Because the vehicle comes from an EU Member State, no customs duty is payable in Austria. NoVA, any Austrian acquisition VAT that may apply, approval, insurance and registration remain unaffected. 23

Decide before paying a deposit

Ask for the VIN, the Romanian vehicle identity card (CIV), registration documents and proof of ownership, and cross-check all of them against the vehicle and the seller's ID. Also establish the Austrian tax status: the car is new if it has covered no more than 6,000 km or its first use was no more than six months before acquisition. It is used only if it has covered more than 6,000 km and its first use was more than six months before acquisition. 43

History, condition and contract

Request the VIN-based RAR Auto-Pass before payment. According to the official indexed text available on 13 September 2026, the certificate, which is valid for 60 days, may contain reported odometer readings, ITP events, certain repairs following serious safety-related accidents, and recalls. A negative certificate means that RAR has no database entry; it proves neither that the vehicle has never been in an accident nor that its mileage is unchanged. Coverage depends on reports from authorised entities. Because the full page text could not be accessed directly, you should not infer more detailed history claims from it. 10

Check condition and identity separately: the VIN, documents and seller details, as well as the bodywork, underbody, tyres, brakes, fluids, cold start, fault memory, test drive and maintenance records. A pre-purchase inspection complements the Auto-Pass, but replaces neither the Austrian § 57a periodic roadworthiness inspection nor vehicle approval and cannot guarantee detection of every defect.

On 13 September 2026, CarAudit's displayed live coverage list included Romania. The advertised prices were EUR 229.00 including VAT and technician travel for the standard inspection, and EUR 179.00 for the optional traction-battery diagnostics. The target of providing a report within 48 hours after the inspection excluded weekends and public holidays and remained subject to seller access and operational limits. It is not a promise of an appointment or outcome, nor is it import handling, a statutory inspection or a warranty. 111213

Record the parties, VIN, registration number, model, mileage, price, known damage, keys and original documents in the contract. Make the payment traceable and pay only in exchange for the agreed originals. Discrepant details, a third-party recipient account or time pressure are stop signals.

Export and transport

Romanian Order 181/2024 provides, at the owner's request, for a separate temporary export registration for a buyer without Romanian domicile, registered office or residence. It is valid for no more than 30 days and requires proof of ownership and identity, the CIV and valid motor liability insurance; for this branch, the Order includes an exception from fiscal registration. The authority decides the individual case and the documents to be submitted. 5

The ordinary Romanian provisional circulation authorisation is different: with qualifying insurance, it can run for no more than 90 cumulative days, but is valid only in Romania and not for the journey to Austria. 8 Nor does the export registration prove recognition or insurance cover for the entire route. Confirm both for every transit country or choose lawful towing or vehicle transport. 59

The registered owner must apply for deregistration within 30 days after the vehicle is taken out of Romania for registration abroad. The listed items are the registration certificate, number plates, proof of identity and evidence of the reason for deregistration; regulated substitutes are available for missing documents or plates. 5

Steps in Austria

Every imported vehicle must be entered in the Austrian vehicle approval database (Genehmigungsdatenbank) before registration. With EU type approval, database entry supported by a COC or suitable foreign registration certificate is usually sufficient. Without EU type approval, you need individual vehicle approval and possibly an exemption approval. 67

NoVA is vehicle-specific. For a used car previously registered in the EU, its treatment is generally based on the regime applying at its first EU registration and on the change in its value; do not apply the current formula across the board. An unusually low private-sale price may have to be substantiated against an Austrian valuation. 315

For a NoVA 2 filing, the invoice serves as proof of purchase when buying from an authorised dealer. For an ordinary private purchase, you need the purchase contract and a vehicle valuation, such as Eurotax, Autopreisspiegel or a report by a generally sworn expert. Do not assume that any of the limited exceptions applies. Other listed evidence includes the foreign vehicle and approval papers, an extract from the Austrian vehicle approval database and photo ID. Only after the tax has been paid does the tax authority release the vehicle for registration. 6

If the car is classed as new for tax purposes under the OR rule, you owe 20% Austrian acquisition VAT and NoVA before registration; the foreign VAT treatment depends on the conditions for an intra-Community supply. For an ordinary private purchase of a car classed as used for tax purposes, NoVA generally applies, but this new-vehicle acquisition-VAT branch does not. 36

For registration, you need motor liability insurance valid throughout Austria, proof of identity and approval, and, where applicable, both parts of the previous EU registration certificate. If the periodic inspection is due and no current positive result is stored, a positive inspection report is required. Database entry and NoVA clearance are additionally required for a privately imported vehicle. 16

Budget without false precision

The table selects a specialised vehicle transporter and, where EU type approval is present, entry in the vehicle approval database. If type approval is absent, individual vehicle approval must be budgeted for instead; the stated figure was approximately EUR 150.00 depending on the evidence, not a cap. 7

On 13 September 2026, the basic Austrian registration items totalled EUR 270.00: EUR 178.00 authority fee, EUR 65.60 processing fee, EUR 1.10 ZMR check, EUR 2.30 inspection sticker and EUR 23.00 number plates. The optional chip-card vehicle registration certificate cost EUR 31.10. 16 Because mandatory amounts remain unresolved, there is no misleading grand total.

Chronological checklist

Resolve every stop signal before any money changes hands or the vehicle is moved.

Frequently asked questions

When is the car considered used for Austrian acquisition VAT?

Only if it has covered more than 6,000 km and was first used more than six months ago. If it has covered no more than 6,000 km or was first used no more than six months ago, the new-vehicle branch applies, with 20% Austrian acquisition VAT and NoVA due before registration. 4, 3, 6

Does a negative RAR Auto-Pass prove that the vehicle has never been in an accident?

No. It may merely mean that RAR has no database entry. A sparse report does not rule out damage, repairs, odometer manipulation or earlier history; coverage depends on data reported by authorised entities. 10

Can I drive to Austria with the ordinary Romanian 90-day circulation authorisation?

No, it is valid only in Romania. The separate export branch runs for no more than 30 days; nevertheless, recognition and insurance must be confirmed in every transit country. Otherwise, choose lawful vehicle transport. 5, 8, 9

What should I do if the Romanian buyer-side tax clearance is unclear for me?

Do not pay. The reviewed 2026 text does not clarify the procedure for an Austrian private individual without Romanian domicile, registered office or place of work. For the specific purchase, request written guidance from the competent tax and registration authorities. 1

What core evidence do I need for Austrian registration?

You need motor liability insurance valid throughout Austria, identity, approval evidence, database entry, NoVA clearance and, where applicable, both parts of the previous EU registration certificate. If the inspection is due and no positive result is stored, you also need a positive inspection report. 16, 7, 6

Does a CarAudit pre-purchase inspection replace the Austrian roadworthiness inspection (Pickerl), approval or a warranty?

No. It is a commercial condition inspection, not an Austrian § 57a periodic roadworthiness inspection, approval, import handling or a warranty. It cannot guarantee detection of every defect; availability and seller access must be confirmed. 11, 12, 13

Pre-purchase inspection subject to confirmed availability

If the vehicle is accessible in Romania, you can enquire about the availability and terms of a CarAudit pre-purchase inspection. The list checked on 13 September 2026 included Romania; booking, appointment and outcome remain unconfirmed. The inspection replaces neither import handling nor approval, the Austrian § 57a periodic roadworthiness inspection or a warranty. 11, 12, 13

Sources

1. Emergency Ordinance 7/2026
2. Kfz-Import aus EU-Ländern
3. Fahrzeugerwerb aus Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union
4. Allgemeines zum Eigenimport von Kfz
5. Order 181/2024
6. Verfahren bei Fahrzeugimport
7. Import von Kfz — Genehmigungsdatenbank und Typisierung
8. Provisional authorisation and deregistration guidance
9. Buying and leasing a car abroad
10. RAR Auto-Pass
11. CarAudit Austria — service and order page
12. CarAudit Austria — Was wir prüfen
13. CarAudit-Bedingungen
14. Überstellungskennzeichen
15. NoVA Steuersatz
16. Kfz-Zulassung