HOW TO IMPORT AND CLEAR A CAR FROM EUROPE THROUGH CUSTOMS?

Before buying, clearing through customs, and importing a car into Ukraine, you need to calculate all taxes so that you do not have to pay a fine later, and also clearly understand the final cost of the vehicle.

In accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Certain Issues of Importing Vehicles into the Customs Territory of Ukraine and Conducting the First State Registration of Vehicles", a car is cleared through customs and registered if it meets certain environmental standards, meaning the vehicle must be:

• no lower than the "EURO-5" standard – from January 1, 2016, with the exception of vehicles manufactured in Ukraine or imported into the customs territory of the country up to and including December 31, 2015;
• no lower than the "EURO-6" standard – from January 1, 2025, with the exception of vehicles manufactured in Ukraine or imported into the customs territory of the country up to and including December 31, 2024.

Such standards help regulate the content of harmful substances in exhaust gases, and thereby reduce emissions into the environment.

Customs Declaration.

The declaration is processed by the customs authority at the place of permanent or temporary residence of the owner of the vehicle to be purchased. The customs declaration is valid for three months from the date the registration number is assigned.

To complete the declaration, the following details about the vehicle must be provided:

• vehicle type
• model and make
• color, year of manufacture and commissioning
• identification number
• body, chassis (frame), and engine numbers
• engine displacement (cc)

Such a document is usually completed independently or with the assistance of a customs officer.

Calculation of the Cost of Customs Clearance for a Vehicle

The calculation of customs duties based on the vehicle's value and its parameters includes excise tax, import duty, and VAT. The amount of excise tax depends on the engine type and year of manufacture. The import duty rate for passenger cars is 10% of the tax base (customs value), and for electric vehicles – 0%. The value-added tax is paid by the owner at a rate of 20% of the tax base (vehicle value).

Goods may be imported into Ukraine under a preliminary customs declaration within 30 days from the date it was processed by the customs authority.

Importing a car across the state border

In order to import a 'euro-plate' vehicle, the following documents must be collected:

1. confirming the right of ownership of the vehicle or the right to use it (including the right of disposal)
2. technical documents for the vehicle (if it was registered with a registration authority of a foreign state or Ukraine) with notes on deregistration of the vehicle, if such documents are issued by the registration authority
3. confirming the right to tax benefits, and in the case of customs clearance of a vehicle with tax benefits provided;

Certificate of Conformity

A certificate or other document confirming the vehicle's compliance with the requirements of technical regulations indicates the specific level of emission standards that the vehicle meets by design ("EURO-2" – "EURO-6", etc.). Such a notation is indicated in the vehicle registration certificate. The certificate is obtained at any certification laboratory before submitting documents for customs clearance of the vehicle, if the vehicle registration certificate or technical passport does not specify the eco standard it complies with.

Customs Clearance

If the car has crossed the border, it must be processed at customs. This procedure is allotted 10 days.

The following documents are required for customs clearance:

a) an invoice or other document confirming the value of the vehicle

b) a vehicle purchase and sale agreement

c) technical passport

d) a document confirming the fact of deregistration of the vehicle in the country of registration

e) a document confirming the environmental standard of the vehicle

After submitting the documents and completing the supplementary declaration, a certificate is issued. The vehicle can then be registered with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.