How to register a car in Bulgaria?
In Bulgaria, foreigners are allowed to import private vehicles (cars, trucks, etc.) to Bulgaria, the vehicle can bring it from an EU member state or any other country.
If you move to Bulgaria, you can bring your vehicle with you even if it is registered in another country and it is possible to temporarily drive it on Bulgarian territory for up to six months, without changing the plates, as long as the car has a valid Third Party liability insurance.
Before the six month period ends, you will need to register the car in Bulgaria.
If the vehicle has been previously registered in a member state of the European Union or EEA, you are not required to pay import duty or VAT.
But if you import your vehicle from a country outside the European Union or EEA, you will need to pay the corresponding import duties and VAT.
The import duty for cars in Bulgaria is 10%, and the VAT in Bulgaria is 20%.
Then you basically have 2 options:
Each one with it’s pros and cons.
1- Bring your car to Bulgaria with you
2- Sell your car before moving to Bulgaria, and buy a car in Bulgaria
Importing a used car into Bulgaria
When you buy a used vehicle from a private individual, you don’t need to pay VAT either in the country where you purchased it or in Bulgaria. If the seller is a Car dealer company, you will pay the amount of VAT applicable in the country where you first buy the car. And you will not pay VAT in Bulgaria.
Be aware that the ‘used’ car is considered when a vehicle more than six months old and/or has been driven more than 6 000 km.
You will have to choose between registering the vehicle for personal use or as a company asset.
If you decide to register your car as a particular asset, you first need to be a Bulgarian resident, and have your id card, and be ready to present the following documents at the Bulgarian Traffic Police to obtain Bulgarian license plates:
Valid Bulgarian ID card
Ownership documents
Third-Party Liability Insurance (purchased the same day)
Proof of paid Eco Tax (bought the same day)
Current EU registration documents
Current license plates or export plates
Alternatively, the vehicle can be registered as a company asset by when buying by a Bulgarian limited company. Company formation is simple and can be done in a short period, it takes a few working days for your new Bulgarian company to be officially registered and incorporated.
Bulgarian Certificate of Good Standing
Third-party liability insurance (purchased on the same day)
Proof of paid Eco Tax (bought on the same day)
Old registration documents
Current license plates or export plates
Please note that vehicles imported from countries outside the EU/EEA will need to undergo a technical test in Bulgaria. Right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles must have the headlights adjusted before registration.
Remember that to drive your car on public roads the Bulgarian government charges, you need to buy and electronic vignette which can be bought online or buy it in any of the gas stations that sell it, and their duration range from one year, six months, one month, one week or weekend. The price of a car vignetter per annum is about 97 BGN (2020). The vignetter is not mandatory, but you need them if you plan to drive on public highways and first-class roads outside the city where the car is registered.
Third-party car insurance is mandatory in Bulgaria and the price it depends primarily on the engine power of the vehicle adjusted by a factor depending on the year of manufacturing.
Your Bulgarian third party car insurance is valid in all EU member states and outside of Europe as well. It covers all damages and liabilities caused to a third party. You have to consider that the insurance must be purchased on the name of the car, not on the name of the driver. In that case, the person who drives the vehicle is also cover for the damages caused to the third party due to a car accident.
If you register your car in Bulgaria, you will be able to drive it legally in any European country.
