Questions and Answers
Car registration
Road Safety - Car registration
When and where
- I spend half my week in the country where I’m resident and the other half working in another EU country, which I drive to. Where should I register my car?
- I’m Italian and every year I take a three-month holiday in my second home in the French Alps, taking my car with me. Can I register my car in France?
- I’m Slovak. If I buy a new car in Hungary, do I have to register it there?
- I’m Slovak. If I buy a second-hand car in Hungary, do I have to register it there?
- I’m a Polish student, enrolled on a two-year Master’s course in the UK. Do I have to register my car there?
- I’m working in another EU country on a ten-month temporary contract, after which I’ll be returning home. Do I have to register my car in that country?
Road Safety - Car registration
I want to buy a car in Germany but take it back home to Holland to register it. Do I have to pay the VAT twice and then claim it back?
NO - just tell the German vendor you are going to register the car in another country. You will then pay VAT in Holland only.
When and where
I spend half my week in the country where I’m resident and the other half working in another EU country, which I drive to. Where should I register my car?
If you’re commuting regularly like this, you can keep the car registered in your country of residence.
I’m Italian and every year I take a three-month holiday in my second home in the French Alps, taking my car with me. Can I register my car in France?
NO - you can only register your car in the country where you are permanently resident.
I’m Slovak. If I buy a new car in Hungary, do I have to register it there?
NO - you can obtain registration plates from Slovakia, on the strength of the certificate of conformity, before going to Hungary and then you can drive home using them.
I’m Slovak. If I buy a second-hand car in Hungary, do I have to register it there?
NO - you can obtain registration plates from Slovakia, on the strength of the Hungarian registration document based on the harmonised European model and of a valid technical inspection certificate, before going to Hungary and then you can drive home using them.
I’m a Polish student, enrolled on a two-year Master’s course in the UK. Do I have to register my car there?
NO - if the sole purpose of your stay is to study.
YES - if you also start working during your stay.
I’m working in another EU country on a ten-month temporary contract, after which I’ll be returning home. Do I have to register my car in that country?
YES - because your stay is longer than six months.