Import car EU

Buying a vehicle in another country and then importing it to Sweden on your own can in some cases be cheaper or better equipped for the same price as a similar car in Sweden. You may even find an unusual or special model that is not available in Sweden. You may wonder how to go about buying and importing a foreign car or if there is any danger in buying a car that someone else has imported. It is very important to make sure it is legal and registered in Sweden, CARFAX has put together an explanation of the process. More information can be found at all the authorities that should, can or will be involved in importing your car to Sweden; www.transportstyrelsen.se, www.skatteverket.se, www.tullverket.se and the website of the inspection body. Certificate of Conformity When you buy a foreign car, it needs a so-called Certificate of Conformity to prove that it maintains the safety standards set by the EU. Since 1996, car manufacturers have been required to provide an 'Operational Standard Certificate', a so-called 'whole vehicle approval'. Importing a new or used car as a private individual The first step in the process of importing a foreign car is to decide on either a new or a used vehicle. The tax rules look a little different depending on your choice. Importing a new vehicle within the EU For new cars bought within the EU, you must pay VAT in the country of destination, even if you are a private individual. A car or motorcycle is classed as new if it has been on the road for less than 6 months or if it has been driven less than 600 miles. To be considered second-hand for VAT purposes, it must have been driven more than 600 miles AND been on the road for more than 6 months. 25% VAT is payable on the purchase price and is payable even if tax has been paid on the purchase in the country of origin. The idea is that the seller should not charge VAT on the sale abroad. As a private individual, you register your purchase of a new vehicle with the Tax Agency in Ludvika. On the Tax Agency's website there is a brochure and a form to fill in (new means of transport). Importing a used car within the EU The Swedish Transport Agency's check of origin After this, a check of origin needs to be done. You can apply for this on the Swedish Transport Agency's website. The purpose of this check is to: establish the identity of the vehicle Verify that the documents submitted are genuine and original Ensure that the vehicle is not stolen or that the documents are forged Determine the origin of the vehicle, its nearest point of origin The documents needed for the origin check are: Signed confirmation, if using the e-service or completed application form. Original registration certificate from the country of origin. This should be provided by the seller. All parts of the original registration certificate must be included. Receipt, bill of sale or other documentation showing how the vehicle came into your possession. This must state that it is a receipt, as well as the chassis number, buyer, seller, what changed hands and the date of sale. Just like the registration certificate, this is something you should get from the seller. Registration inspection In addition to the original inspection, what usually needs to be done for registration in Sweden is a registration inspection and an identity check. This requires an approved origin check. To find out what applies to the particular vehicle you want to import, contact your vehicle inspection company. The documents needed for the registration inspection are: Details of the vehicle's technical data. This information is usually contained in the foreign registration document. If it is not available, you can also obtain this information from the manufacturer of the car and the general agent. The vehicle's "Certificate of Conformity" also called CoC or whole vehicle approval. The vehicle owner's manual. the record of the approved roadworthiness test of the vehicle. After this, your car will receive a registration number automatically, provided everything is approved. The Department of Transport will send the registration certificate and licence plates to the owner. If three years or more have passed since the vehicle was put into service, so that it falls under the rules for roadworthiness testing in Sweden, such a test must also be carried out. This is not included in the registration inspection. To find out if your vehicle needs to be inspected, contact an inspection company. Once this has been done, and provided the car is approved, you can simply turn it on and start using it. If you are applying for temporary registration in conjunction with the original inspection, you will also need temporary motor insurance, which you can obtain through your insurance company. The temporary registration, provided it is approved, is valid for three months and can only be granted if the owner is a permanent resident of Sweden and has bought the vehicle abroad. If the car has current foreign motor insurance and a valid foreign registration, it may be driven in Sweden for a maximum of one week from the date of entry into the country. Buying re-imported cars Re-imported cars are those that are, for example, manufactured in Sweden, purchased outside Sweden and then imported back into Sweden later in their lifetime. This may seem illogical, but it is a relatively common procedure in the car market. Carfax report - a reliable and impartial source of vehicle history When buying used cars, it is important to know both the car's provenance and other vehicle history. Whether you are dealing with imported or re-imported cars, there is always a reliable and impartial source for this information, a CARFAX report. The CARFAX report provides both buyers and sellers of vehicles with detailed information about the vehicle's history. Such as whether it is imported or re-imported, as well as which country the car was imported from. The CARFAX report also contains other information, such as the number of owners, usage history (e.g. taxi use, rental car, etc.), odometer reading, service history, inspection data, collision damage and much more. Cars from Germany Vehicle imported from Germany If you're buying a used car, get a CARFAX report and make sure you're making a good investment.