How to buy a car from Finland and bring it to Romania: Traficom, documents and transport

Yes, a private individual resident in Romania and not registered for VAT can buy an M1 passenger car from Finland. Before paying a deposit, make the decision conditional on the seller's identity, both paper parts of the certificate and transport valid for the entire route. Registers describe what is recorded, an inspection only the condition accessible for checking, and RAR, the tax authority and SPCRPCIV each decide within their own remit. 1 2 3 4

First establish whether the transaction can proceed

Apply the stop conditions before a flight, deposit or transport; a promise that the documents will arrive later does not resolve the risk.

Traficom, the owner and documents before payment

Compare the car's VIN with the certificate, acquisition document and reports. Identify the seller, the owner and the right to sell. A vehicle belonging to a finance company requires the owner's consent; where there are joint owners, all must consent even if one signs. Request the contract/invoice, originals and technical documentation; a copy does not automatically replace an original required by RAR or SPCRPCIV. 5 13 2 14

For registration abroad, the owner may order and must hand over Part I and Part II of the certificate. The holder may order only Part I. Do not leave with only the digital transfer certificate: you need both paper parts. 6 5

Traficom provides technical, inspection and tax data free of charge; owner and history data are chargeable. Private access requires authentication and disclosure may be restricted. If direct access fails, ask the seller for verifiable evidence. 1

The register does not establish the current condition of the chassis, heating, brakes or battery. For an EV, record the test and charging conditions; do not estimate battery health from the country of origin. 1

Finland–Romania transport must be documented

The Finnish transfer permit concerns the specific vehicle and a justified purpose. Require a roadworthy car, no overdue vehicle tax, a marked VIN and valid or temporary motor liability insurance. The permit's start date must be set no later than one week after application. 7

The Nordic agreement on plates covers Denmark, Norway and Sweden, under local rules, not automatically the rest of the route. The permit route must start or end in Finland. For FI–SE–DK–DE–AT–HU–RO, obtain written confirmations for every country, date, driver/owner and ferry; otherwise choose a vehicle transporter. 7 8 9

For deregistration abroad, the owner or holder must prove that the vehicle has left, normally through foreign registration or Finnish customs proof. EU notification to Traficom may be delayed, and the contract alone is not proof of departure. Establish who is responsible and the deadline. Deregistration ends Finnish vehicle tax and insurance validity, so coordinate its timing with transport. 16

RAR, VAT and the Romanian file

For a vehicle last registered in the EU, RAR issues the CIV directly if there is EU type approval and the approved configuration is unchanged; otherwise it may require individual approval. RAR performs the technical check and authenticity certification. The CoC is compulsory on the WLTP branch indicated by RAR, usually after 31 August 2018, but the year alone is not decisive: confirm it for the VIN. 2 14 17

Authenticity certification checks identification and the previous document; the certificate serves a single registration for a maximum of 60 days. It does not prove condition, civil ownership, absence of finance or complete history. 3 17

For VAT, a vehicle is new if it has no more than 6,000 km or is delivered within no more than six months of first registration; it is used only if it has more than 6,000 km and more than six months have passed. Equality at a threshold remains on the new-vehicle branch. A new vehicle is taxable in Romania at 21%. A vehicle exceeding both thresholds does not usually give rise to additional acquisition VAT, but the invoice depends on the seller and the normal or margin scheme; do not assume a net price, deduction or refund. 11 18 19

If the registration applicant is the intra-Community buyer not registered for VAT, the ANAF VAT certificate confirms VAT paid or not due. For a new vehicle, deal with D301 and payment before registration and by the tax deadline; foreign documents submitted to ANAF require authorised translations. This is not the local tax clearance certificate. 13 20 12 18

Before signing, address separately Article 159(5²), applicable from 25 February 2026: request the buyer's tax clearance certificate for the local budget at their domicile or electronic verification; paragraph (6) provides for the nullity of acts concluded in breach of paragraphs (5) and (5²). The text does not clarify the territorial application to a contract with a foreign seller. Confirm the accepted form with the local tax authority and do not describe the contract automatically as valid, void or exempt. 10 21 13

Within 30 days from the RAR CIV, not from the contract, declare the vehicle for local tax and record the ownership document. At the SPCRPCIV for your domicile, submit as applicable the locally tax-recorded document, identity document, CIV, RCA for the owner/authorised holder, ITP and authenticity certification valid at registration, fees, original foreign documents and plates, and the ANAF certificate. Some checks are electronic. 22 13 20 12 23

A budget without a false total

Compare quotes for the same vehicle and date. Driving it and carriage on a vehicle transporter are alternatives; conditional VAT is not automatically included for a vehicle used for VAT purposes. Romanian local vehicle tax is a separate amount, to be determined for the specific vehicle and the buyer's domicile. 23 24 25

Checklist before transferring the money

Frequently asked questions

Is a car already registered in Finland automatically used for VAT purposes?

No. It is new for VAT purposes if it has no more than 6,000 km OR delivery takes place within no more than six months of first registration. It is used only when it has more than 6,000 km AND more than six months have passed; equality at a threshold remains on the new branch. 11, 18

Who requests the ANAF certificate and what does it prove?

When the registration applicant is the private individual not registered for VAT who made the intra-Community acquisition, the ANAF certificate proves that VAT was paid or is not due. For a vehicle new for VAT purposes, D301 and payment must be dealt with by the deadline and before registration. It is not the buyer's local tax clearance certificate. 13, 20, 12, 18

Do the 30 days for the local tax declaration start from the contract?

No. For a vehicle acquired abroad, the deadline is 30 days from RAR issuing the CIV. The ownership document must then be recorded with the local tax authority for the registration file. 22, 13

Can I come from Finland using Romanian provisional plates?

No. The Romanian provisional authorisation is issued in the owner's name, requires valid RCA for the correct person and permits driving only in Romania. The normal period is no more than 90 days, including cumulative shorter periods; if foreign registration documents are missing, the special branch is a maximum of five days. 20

Are Finnish plates automatically valid in Romania for 90 days?

No. The limit for a Romanian resident is no more than 90 days from the vehicle's entry into the country and applies only while the vehicle is insured. It does not extend registration, a plate, ITP or insurance that expires earlier and does not validate international transit. 15

Does an RAR Auto-Pass document with no data confirm that the history is clean?

No. The free no-data statement says only that the RAR register has no data; it does not automatically cover the history from Finland. Where data exist, the document costs 42.00 lei and is valid for 60 days. The handover obligation concerns vehicles registered, recorded or introduced on the Romanian market and does not automatically oblige the Finnish seller on the first direct import. 26, 27

Is CarAudit available in Finland at €239 and delivered within 48 hours?

These published conditions are not a confirmed offer for Finland. For this origin, use only the contact page and request individual confirmation of the locality, availability, price, time window and scope; no enquiry or order was sent while preparing this guide. 28, 29, 30

Does the sale contract prove that the car has left Finland?

No. For deregistration abroad, the owner or holder must provide proof of departure, normally foreign registration or Finnish customs proof. Notification between EU authorities may be delayed, and the timing of deregistration affects Finnish tax and insurance. 16

Independent inspection in Finland

For Finland, separately confirm the locality, availability, price, time window and scope. The inspection may cover up to 270 points, depending on access, a lift and lawful test driving; it does not involve dismantling. Faults arising later are excluded and the certificate is not a civil guarantee. Do not promise complete history, every test for every VIN, transport, RAR, formalities, registration or the absence of future faults. 4 30

For a car located in Finland, request separate confirmation of the exact locality, availability, price, time window and scope of the inspection. Until you receive a reply, do not assume a rate or deadline and do not treat contact as a reservation. 30

Sources

1. Traficom — checking vehicle information
2. RAR — CIV for used vehicles last registered in the EU
3. RAR — authenticity certification
4. CarAudit Romania — what we inspect
5. Traficom — sale of a used vehicle
6. Traficom — both parts of the registration certificate
7. Traficom — applying for a transfer permit
8. Your Europe — Buying or leasing a car abroad
9. Your Europe — Buying or leasing a car abroad
10. Romanian Tax Procedure Code, consolidated text — Article 159
11. Your Europe — VAT when buying or selling a car abroad
12. ANAF Order No. 1611/2022
13. Bucharest Prefecture — vehicle-registration guidance
14. RAR — documents for DOIIT activities
15. Emergency Ordinance No. 195/2002 — Article 82(4)
16. Traficom — decommissioning a vehicle transferred abroad
17. RNTR 7 — authenticity and individual approval
18. ANAF Brașov — VAT and vehicle acquisitions
19. ANAF — Romanian VAT rates
20. MAI Order No. 181/2024 — registration and provisional circulation
21. Emergency Ordinance No. 7 of 24 February 2026
22. Law No. 296/2020 — amendment to Article 471(3)
23. MAI service hub — vehicle registration
24. MAI Order No. 55/2025 — registration-plate tariffs
25. Buzău Prefecture — fee notice dated 2 September 2026
26. RAR Auto-Pass — official service information
27. Law No. 142/2023 — RAR Auto-Pass
28. CarAudit Romania — home and order section
29. CarAudit Romania — frequently asked questions
30. CarAudit Romania — contact