Motor vehicles as removal goods

Customs clearance of vehicles imported as removal goods depends on the country from where a vehicle is imported. Select the territory from where you are moving to Finland, and follow the instructions.

Moving to Finland from the customs and fiscal territory of the EU, for example from Germany

  1. Finnish Customs does not require an import declaration on your vehicle. Customs duty or value added tax is not required.
    If your vehicle is new, check the Tax Administration website if you should value added tax levied on new vehicles.
  2. Submit a declaration of use and car tax to the Tax Administration.
  3. Be prepared to pay car tax on your vehicle.
    The Tax Administration provides instructions on car taxation.
  4. Register you vehicle and take it to vehicle inspection. See instructions on the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) website.

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Moving to Finland from the EU customs territory but from outside the fiscal territory, for example from the Canary Islands

  1. The car must be declared immediately the first time you bring it in as removal goods to Finland. Be prepared to pay value added tax if the prerequisites for duty-exempt importation of removal goods are not met. More information: Moving to Finland from elsewhere in the EU
  2. Submit a declaration of use and car tax to the Tax Administration.
  3. Be prepared to pay car tax on your vehicle.
    The Tax Administration provides instructions on car taxation.
  4. Register you vehicle and take it to vehicle inspection. See instructions on the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) website.
  5. If you decide to give up a vehicle that you imported as removal goods prior to end of the 12-month prohibition of transfer, you should contact the Customs Information Service regarding the payment of the import duties and taxes.

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Moving to Finland from outside the fiscal territory, for example from Switzerland

  1. The car must be declared immediately the first time you bring it in as removal goods to Finland. Be prepared to pay customs duty and value added tax if the prerequisites for duty-exempt importation of removal goods are not met. More information: Moving to Finland from a non-EU country.
  2. Submit a declaration of use and car tax to the Tax Administration.
  3. Be prepared to pay car tax on your vehicle.
    The Tax Administration provides instructions on car taxation.
  4. Register you vehicle and take it to vehicle inspection. See instructions on the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) website.
  5. If you decide to give up a vehicle that you imported as removal goods prior to end of the 12-month prohibition of transfer, you should contact the Customs Information Service regarding the payment of the import duties and taxes.

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Restrictions on the entry in Finland of Russian citizens and on the import of cars registered in Russia

Read more about the restrictions on the entry of Russian citizens on the website of the Finnish Border Guard.

There are restrictions on the import of cars registered in Russia as of 16 September 2023. Read more on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and in the press release by Finnish Customs.

Using your car in Finland

You must submit a declaration of use on your car before you start using it in Finland. You can start using your car in Finland when it is under valid registration in an EU or EEA member state or when you have a transfer permit issued by a vehicle inspection office, and a traffic insurance policy effective in Finland.

If the vehicle does not have a valid registration or a transfer permit, the only legal way to transfer the vehicle is by trailer. You are not allowed to even tow the vehicle.

If you need a transfer permit, get it in advance from the vehicle inspection station. To acquire the permit, you need to know the specifications of the vehicle (serial number).

Transfer permits can also be bought from certain customs offices, for example from offices on the Finnish-Russian border. Please observe that transfer permits cannot be bought from all customs offices, for example Turku Customs does not carry them.

Any questions?

Contact Customs Information Mon–Fri 8 am–4.15 pm

Please have a look at the frequently asked questions.

If you have a question about the arrival of parcels, its contents or the handling fee, please contact Posti.

Customs Information Service

FAQ

Contact information and customs offices