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Car Import

Do you want to bring your car to Austria from abroad? There are a few steps you need to take when importing a vehicle and we explain here what you need to consider and which documents are required.

The 3 essential steps:

  1. 01

    Typification of the car

    The data of your car 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

    Tax payment at the financial authorities (NOVA)

    The standardized consumption tax (NoVA) is a one-off tax in Austria that is payable ;a.o. upon the delivery or first registration (→ oesterreich.gv.at) (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 can file a document at the financial authorities and pay the tax amount. The amount depends on the type of your car (hybrid, electro, etc.) PS, the production year and the amount of CO2 emission.

  1. 03

    Car registration in Austria

    After your tax payment, you can go ahead and register your car to receive your license plate. With this link you can calculate the approximate NOVA amount

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

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

Car import as moving item

If your car is already in your possession and is declared as moving 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.

bmf.gv.at

You can read the exact regulations here.

Necessary documents

  • Purchasing contract and the invoice. It is important that the VAT is shown on the invoice. This is the only way that the net purchase price paid can be used for the NoVA calculation at the Austrian tax office.
  • You need the so-called COC papers (for entry in the EU vehicle database). These can be applied for either online or at the general importer in Austria.

 

If you import your car from the US or UK it is recommended to contact the Landesprüfstelle in your federal state to make sure that your cars are meeting the necessary EU criteria otherwise you need a special allowance and adapt certain features at your cars.

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 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 retain a place of residence outside the EU after the relocation. However, the latter case does not apply and you can use form ZBefr 2 (without basic notification). If, for example, you have already registered at your new place of residence in the course of your forthcoming relocation to Austria and you have two places of residence for this reason only.
    • The relocation goods are to be imported into Austria before you establish your habitual residence (but see special case) in the EU.
    • Your customs office will issue a basic notification after checking the requirements for tax exemption.

    You can obtain the basic assessment notice from the customs office in whose area you have your habitual 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 half a year 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 UK it is recommended to contact the Landesprüfstelle in your federal state to make sure that your cars are meeting the necessary EU criteria otherwise you need a special allowance and adapt certain features at your cars.

bmk.gv.at

Please find a list of all accredited application centers in German here.

bmk.gv.at/

You can find more information about importing cars here.

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