How to buy a car from Sweden and bring it to Romania: debts, documents and export

You can safely buy a second-hand M1 passenger car from Sweden for personal use in Romania, but the right decision is made before the deposit. Confirm together the car, the person selling it, vehicle-related debts, the latest set of documents and an export solution that works in every country crossed. After arrival, three separate Romanian processes follow: RAR/CIV, taxation and registration. This guide is for a Romanian-resident private individual not registered for VAT purposes.

Keep the evidence separate as well: registers and documents show only what is recorded, an inspection describes the accessible condition at the date and place of the check, and RAR, the tax authority and SPCRPCIV decide the Romanian formalities. No layer replaces another. 1 2 3

Before money changes hands: identity, VIN, debts and Swedish documents

Compare the stamped VIN and vehicle labels with the registreringsbevis and the contract or invoice. Check the seller's identity, their right to dispose of the vehicle and continuity of ownership. Request the originals of the registration documents and purchase document, plus relevant technical documentation; a copy does not automatically replace an original later required by RAR or SPCRPCIV. Stop payment if the VIN, seller or documents do not match. 4 1 9 5

The Swedish certificate has two parts. Compare both parts of the most recently issued one: issuing a duplicate invalidates the previous document, even if the seller still holds an older original. 10

Together, immediately before payment, check the Fordonets skulder service. Data may appear with a delay. Although the former owner remains personally liable for the debt, the vehicle may separately be affected by a prohibition on use, plate seizure or enforcement. The seller's personal liability therefore does not remove the buyer's risk relating to the car. 6

Swedish registration and inspection history do not guarantee maintenance or current condition. During inspection, pay particular attention to the chassis, brakes, heating, battery and tyres in light of actual use and climate. An independent physical check reduces unknowns, but its limits must be stated clearly. 6 7

Export from Sweden and transport to Romania

For the sale of a used Swedish vehicle to a person permanently resident abroad, the seller applies for deregistration for export and the buyer applies for temporary registration. The decision, certificate and plates are sent to the buyer at an address in Sweden; settle the address and their practical handover before setting the departure date. 7

Temporary registration for export is valid for one month and cannot be extended. It ends when ownership changes and may end on registration in another country. The application is refused if there is a prohibition on use for non-payment, if the last passed periodic roadworthiness inspection is more than 12 months old, if the vehicle is subject to a driving ban, or if it is subject to a mandatory order to undergo a periodic roadworthiness inspection. 7

The application requires temporary Swedish insurance or, for export to the EEA, an insurance certificate from the destination country for 30 days. Thirty days can end before one calendar month; check cover for every day of driving. 7

If you do not use temporary registration, deregistration for export requires notification, the plates and proof that the vehicle has permanently left Sweden. The invoice, receipt or contract alone do not prove physical export; accepted examples include registration at the destination, confirmation from an authority, a customs document or the carrier's certificate. Until deregistration is complete, the seller remains recorded and responsible for Swedish vehicle tax and compulsory insurance if the car is not taken out of traffic. 8

After arrival: RAR, VAT and local taxation

For a used car last registered in an EU state, RAR issues the CIV directly only if the vehicle has EU type approval and the approved configuration has not been changed; in other cases it may require individual approval. RAR carries out the technical inspection and authenticity certification. The CoC is mandatory in the WLTP branch indicated by RAR, generally for vehicles manufactured after 31 August 2018, but the year alone is not the legal test. Confirm the exact activity and file with RAR for the particular VIN. 1 9 12

Authenticity certification checks identification elements and the authenticity of the previous registration document. The certificate serves one registration only and for no more than 60 calendar days; it does not by itself prove technical condition, civil ownership, absence of finance or complete history. 2 12

For VAT purposes, “new” has a separate meaning from “second-hand”: the car is new if it has no more than 6,000 km or is delivered no more than six months after first registration. It is used only if it has more than 6,000 km and is delivered more than six months later. Equality at either threshold keeps it in the new-vehicle branch. 13 14

For the buyer in this guide, the intra-Community acquisition of a new vehicle for VAT purposes is taxable in Romania at the standard rate of 21%. D301 and payment must be dealt with before registration, no later than the applicable tax deadline. For a used vehicle exceeding both thresholds, additional acquisition VAT in Romania does not generally arise, but the invoice and price depend on the seller and the normal or margin scheme; do not assume a net price, deduction or automatic refund. 13 14 15

If the registration applicant is the person not registered for VAT purposes who made the intra-Community acquisition, the file requires the ANAF VAT certificate confirming that VAT has been paid or is not due. Foreign documents submitted to ANAF must be accompanied by Romanian authorised translations. The ANAF certificate is not the local tax clearance certificate; the EU procedure is not a Swiss customs-import procedure. 4 16 17 14

From 25 February 2026, Article 159(5²) requires the buyer of a means of transport to hold the certificate concerning obligations to the local budget of their domicile, which may be replaced by electronic verification. Paragraph (6) provides for nullity of acts concluded in breach of paragraphs (5) and (5²), but the primary texts do not expressly explain territorial application or the mechanism for a direct contract with a foreign seller. Before signing in Sweden, ask the competent local tax authority for written confirmation of the certificate or verification applicable to your case; do not treat this Article as categorical proof of validity, nullity or exemption of the foreign contract. 18 19 4

After RAR issues the CIV, declare the vehicle acquired abroad to the competent local tax authority within 30 days. The deadline runs from the CIV, not the contract. For registration, the document of ownership must appear in the local tax records. 20 4

Registration, deadlines and budget

At the SPCRPCIV competent for your domicile, prepare as applicable the tax-recorded ownership document, identity document, CIV, valid RCA in the owner's name or that of the authorised holder, valid ITP, still-valid authenticity certification, fees and originals of the foreign documents and plates. The ANAF certificate applies only in the applicable intra-Community branch; some checks may be electronic. All three — RCA, ITP and authenticity certification — must be valid at registration. 4 16 17 21

Romanian provisional plates are issued in the owner's name and permit driving only in Romania. The normal period is a maximum of 90 days, including accumulated shorter periods; without the foreign registration documents, the special branch for a car previously registered in another state is a maximum of five days. RCA in the required person's name is mandatory here too. 16

Separately, a Romanian resident may drive a vehicle with foreign plates in Romania for a maximum of 90 days from entry into the country only while the vehicle is insured. The limit does not run from the contract, does not validate international transit and does not extend a registration, plate, ITP or insurance that expires earlier. 22

Frequently asked questions

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

No. It is new for VAT purposes if it has no more than 6,000 km or is delivered no more than six months after first registration. It becomes used only above 6,000 km and after more than six months; equality at either threshold still means a new vehicle. 13, 14

What is the ANAF certificate for?

For the buyer not registered for VAT purposes who seeks registration after an intra-Community acquisition, it confirms that VAT has been paid or is not due. It does not replace the local tax clearance certificate and is not a customs procedure for Switzerland. 16, 17, 14

When do the 30 days for the local tax declaration start?

For a vehicle acquired abroad, the 30 days run from RAR's issue of the CIV, not from signing the contract. The document of ownership must then be recorded in the local tax records for registration. 20, 4

Can I return from Sweden on Romanian provisional plates?

No. Romanian provisional authorisation permits driving only in Romania. For the journey from Sweden you need a Swedish solution recognised and insured for every segment, or carriage on a vehicle transporter. 16, 5

Does an RAR Auto-Pass document with no data prove that the car has no problems?

No. Auto-Pass reflects only data in the RAR register; if data exist it costs 42.00 lei and is valid for 60 days, and if no data exist a no-data document is issued free of charge. The no-data document does not prove a clean or complete foreign history. The legal obligation to provide the document concerns vehicles registered, recorded or placed on the market in Romania and does not automatically fall on the Swedish seller at the first direct import. 25, 28

Does Swedish temporary registration safely cover the whole journey?

No. The one-month validity cannot be extended, and 30-day insurance may expire earlier. Registration ends on change of ownership and may end on foreign registration. Acceptance of the plates and insurance must be checked for the actual driver, owner, dates and countries. 7, 11

Are the contract or invoice enough for Swedish deregistration?

No, if deregistration is completed without temporary registration. Proof of permanent departure is also needed, such as registration in Romania, official confirmation, a customs document or the carrier's certificate, together with the notification and plates. The seller remains responsible in the Swedish register until deregistration is completed. 8

What can a CarAudit inspection in Sweden confirm?

Sweden is within the published coverage, but location, date and scope must be confirmed. The public price is EUR 239 including VAT and travel, and the report arrives within 48 hours after the inspection, excluding weekends and public holidays; battery diagnosis costs an additional EUR 179. The inspection covers up to 270 points depending on access, a lift and the legal possibility of a test drive, without dismantling. It does not guarantee complete history, every test, transport, RAR, taxes, registration or the absence of future faults; faults arising after the inspection are excluded, and the certificate is not a guarantee under the Civil Code. 26, 27, 3

Have you chosen a car from Sweden? You can request an inspection before the deposit. First confirm the location, date and actual access to the vehicle; availability and the effective scope depend on these conditions. The inspection has the limits described above and does not promise a fault-free vehicle. 26, 27, 3

Sources

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