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Importing a Vehicle

Would you like to bring your car with you to Austria? There are a few steps you need to take when importing a vehicle. We explain here what you need to consider and which documents are required.

The 3 Essential Steps:

  1. 01

    Typification of Your Vehicle

    Your vehicle’s data has to be entered in the European database. The general import car dealer/company of your car brand will do that for you.

  2. 02

    Paying Tax (NOVA) on Your Vehicle

    The standardized consumption tax (NoVA) is a one-off tax in Austria that is payable upon the delivery or first registration (→ Kfz)registration (→ Kfz) () (import, move) of passenger cars (class M1) as well as motorcycles and quad bikes (class L cubic capacity above 125 cm³). Light commercial (class N1) vehicles are not subject to the NoVA until 30 June 2021. They will be subject to taxation starting 1 July 2021.

    You are required to submit a form to the financial authorities and pay the relevant tax amount. The amount depends on the vehicle type (hybrid, electric, etc.) the horsepower, the production year and the CO2 emissions.

  1. 03

    Registering Your Vehicle in Austria

    After paying the NOVA tax, you can go ahead and register your car to receive your license plate. This link will help you to calculate the approximate amount of NOVA taxNOVA tax () you will have to pay.

Additional Information

oesterreich.gv.at

Please find more details here.

oeamtc.at

Website of the Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club (ÖAMTC) in German.

onlinerechner.haude.at

Find more information about BMF - NoVa calculator here (in German).

Importing Your Car When Moving Home

If your car is already in your possession and is declared as a relocation item (Übersiedlungsgut) you do not have to pay VAT or import tax. You only have to pay NOVA tax.

NOVA

More information on the NOVA tax.

bmf.gv.at

You can read the exact regulations here.

Necessary Documents

  • Purchasing contract and the invoice. It is important that VAT is shown on the invoice as the Austrian tax authorities use the net purchase price to calculate the NoVa tax.
  • You need the COC papers (for entry in the EU vehicle database). These can be applied for either online or at the general importerimporter () in Austria.

 

If you import your car from the US or UK it is recommended to contact the Landesprüfstelle Landesprüfstelle ()in your federal state to make sure that your car meets the necessary EU criteria otherwise you may need a special permit or have to adapt certain features of your car.

Basic Notification

  • In Which Cases Is a Basic Notification Required?

    In the following cases, you must apply to your customs office for duty exemption using form ZBefr 2a ZBefr 2a () before the planned import:

    • There is a motor vehicle among your relocation goods.
    • You already had a place of residence in the EU before the relocation, or you are retaining a place of residence outside the EU after the relocation. If, however, you have already registered at your new place of residence in Austria in the process of your upcoming relocation and you have two places of residence for this reason only then this does not apply and you can use ZBefr 2 (without basic notification).
    • The relocation goods are to be imported into Austria before you establish your main place of residence in the EU (see special conditions).
    • Your customs office will issue a basic notification after checking the requirements for tax exemption.

    You can obtain the basic notification from the customs office in whose area you have your usual place of residence. If you do not yet have an Austrian place of residence, you can contact any customs office.

  • Criteria

    But the following criteria has to be fulfilled:

    • the last place of residence was outside the customs territory of the European Community for at least 12 months
    • the vehicle must have been used by the owner for at least 6 months in the third country
    • the vehicle must be used for the same purposes after import within the EU as in the third country
    • the vehicle may not be lent, hired out, sold or transferred to another person within one year of acceptance of the application for exemption without the competent authorities being informed.

    As evidence for the habitual residence in Austria, for the preceding twelve-month habitual residence abroad as well as for the observance of the twelve-month period for customs clearance, all suitable means of evidence may be considered:

    • registration or de-registration of residence from abroad (possibly also via electricity/gas bills from abroad)
    • registration of residence in Austria
    • employment contract from abroad and Austria
    • rental agreement from abroad and Austria
    • school enrolment of children
       

Additional Information

If you import your car from the US or the UK, it is recommended to contact the Landesprüfstelle in your federal state to make sure that your vehicle meets the necessary EU criteria otherwise you may need a special permit, or to adapt certain features on your vehicle.

bmimi.gv.at

Please find a list of all accredited application centres (in German) here.

bmimi.gv.at

You can find more information about importing cars here.

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