Motor vehicle registration

Motor vehicles (new or used) are considered domestic goods according to Customs regulations in any EU Member State and their transfer from other EU Member State is not liable to customs clearance procedure since the date of accession of the Republic of Croatia to the EU ( 1 July, 2013). Motor vehicles imported from third countries (non -EU countries) are subject to customs clearance. Persons who change their place of residence from the third country to the Republic of Croatia may be exempted from customs duties and VAT. Additional information can be found at the following link:  Customs
All imported personal cars are subject to a special tax defined by the Law on special tax on motor vehicles regardless of the fact that the vehicle has been exempt from customs duties and VAT. Additional information can be found at the following link: . You can estimate the special tax on your vehicle using Taxes Calculator.
When importing or transferring your car (new or used), namely before the first registration of the car in the Republic of Croatia, all imported cars must pass a process of determining if the car complies with the Croatian regulations, so-called homologation process. In order to find out in advance if your vehicle meets the requirements you can request from a seller a copy/scan of a registration certificate based on which it can be concluded whether the vehicle will pass the homologation process. Relevant information may be provided by:

  • authorized suppliers in the Republic of Croatia

  • Roadworthiness Testing Centres - the Centre for Vehicles of Croatia/Croatian Automobile Club (CVH/HAK) that perform homologation (testing centres).

The Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure is competent for specific homologation criteria that should be fulfilled for the vehicle imported from the third country. Additional information can be found at the following link:
For all queries about  import/transfer of cars you can contact the Customs Administration by :
telephone: 01 6211 280  or e-mail: motorna.vozila-uvoz@carina.hr.

Roadworthiness Testing and Motor Vehicle Registration

Additional information about the scope of work of competent bodies regarding the roadworthiness testing and motor vehicle registration in the Republic of Croatia can be found at the following link Registration of Motor Vehicles for Croatian Repatriates  

First registration of an imported car

First registration is performed at Roadworthiness Testing Centres in the Republic of Croatia. It can also be performed by a testing centre outside registration area where your residence is or the car owner’s seat by submitting a written request to the testing centre (where a person wants to have the car registered) and notify them 30 days before registration.

The following documents should be submitted for the first registration of a new car:

  • proof of vehicle ownership (invoice) 

  • certificate of compliance of the inspected vehicle after the homologation procedure

  • proof of paid prescribed obligations

  • identity card or passport

The following documents should be submitted for the first registration of a used car:

  • proof of vehicle ownership  (invoice, sales contract , customs declaration etc)

  • foreign traffic license

  • proof of roadworthiness (report on performed roadworthiness test)

  • proof of paid prescribed obligations

  • identity card or passport

Costs of roadworthiness testing and vehicle registration:

The costs of various taxes and fees paid at roadworthiness testing centre during the registration process or extension of the validity of the registration certificate are paid into the state budget of the Republic of Croatia. Part f costs are related to an automobile liability insurance policy issued and charged for by insurance companies. As all the costs of roadworthiness testing and vehicle registration cannot be determined distinctively, you can make a cost estimate at  the following  link .  Roadworthiness testing and vehicle registration can be performed by a car owner’s attorney.

Extension of the validity of the registration certificate

In case of extension of the validity of the registration certificate roadworthiness testing and vehicle registration is performed by Roadworthiness testing centres.

The following documents should be submitted for the extension of the validity of the registration certificate:

  • Driving license

  • Proof of identity (Identity card or passport)

 
Except the car owner, roadworthiness testing and extension of the validity of the registration certificate may be performed by another person who has to present the    car owner’s identity card or power of attorney by which  the car owner authorizes the person to act on his behalf. Power of attorney has to be certified at a public notary office, but an original document has to be enclosed.

Deregistration of a vehicle

You shall deregister your vehicle if you sold it, if it was stolen from you, if it was destroyed or if you no longer plan on using it. Additional information can be found at the following link: Deregistration of a vehicle cannot be performed by submitting the owner’s driving license but a power of attorney should be submitted.

Transfer of vehicle ownership

Roadworthiness testing centre within your registration area according to your residence /seat of the car owner is competent for the transfer of vehicle ownership or a testing centre outside your registration area but you have to send a written request to the testing centre (where a person wants to have the car registered) and notify them 30 days before.

The following documents should be submitted for the transfer of vehicle ownership:

  • proof of vehicle ownership  (invoice, sales contract, gift deed, effective  court decision etc)

  • driving  license

  • proof of roadworthiness (if the validity of a driving license has expired)

  • proof of paid prescribed obligations

  • identity card or passport

Transfer of plates to a new owner

In case of change of ownership in the same registration area, a previous owner can  transfer registration plates to a new owner, but has to state this in the car purchase contract or give a written statement about it at the police administration or police station where deregistration is performed.

Test plates

Test plates are issued at the roadworthiness testing centres to  vehicle owners or their attorney only if they have a regulated status in the Republic of Croatia  for the vehicles  already registered in Croatia, new vehicles,  imported/transferred vehicles and for the vehicles that have never been registered in the Republic of Croatia. Test plates are issued for the period no longer than 15 days, and for the purpose of roadworthiness testing for the period of 3 days. For imported/transferred used vehicles which have never been registered in the Republic of Croatia, test plates are issued without payment of import duties, or for vehicle transfer without payment of a special tax on motor vehicles and fees for management of end-of-life vehicles.

Following documents should be submitted for issuing test plates:

  • Proof of vehicle ownership

  • Foreign traffic license if available