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I’m buying a car from an EU country
If you’re buying a car from an EU country, you don’t have to declare it to Customs when you arrive in Finland.
However, remember to do the following:
- make a declaration of use and a car tax declaration for the car
- pay any car tax due
- register the car.
You can find more specific guidance on the Tax Administration’s website and the Finnish Transport and Communication Agency Traficom’s website.
When you’re buying a vehicle from Åland or bringing a vehicle to Åland, read the separate guidance.
If you’re buying a vehicle from the Canary Islands or some other area within the EU but outside the EU’s fiscal territory, you must declare the vehicle to Customs and pay VAT for it. Declare the car in the Import Declaration Service for private persons. You can ask the Customs Information Service for more information about the customs clearance and about alternative ways of declaring the car.
I’m buying a car from outside the EU
If you’re buying a car from outside the EU, you must declare the car when bringing it to Finland. You must pay VAT and customs duty for the car.
Declare the car in the Import Declaration Service for private persons. You can ask the Customs Information Service for more information about the customs clearance and about alternative ways of declaring the car.
In addition to the customs clearance and paying the taxes and duties, you should also
- make a declaration of use and a car tax declaration for the car
- pay any car tax due
- register the car.
You can find more specific guidance on the Tax Administration’s website and the Finnish Transport and Communication Agency Traficom’s website.
The VAT rate is usually 25.5% and the customs duty rate 10%.
- VAT is paid on both the price of the car and on any costs incurred for transport, loading, unloading and insurance, as well as on other import costs incurred up to the destination in Finland.
- Customs duty is paid on the price of the car and on the transport costs incurred up to the EU border. In addition, VAT is paid on the customs duty
Using the car after its entry into Finland
Note that, in order to use a car bought abroad in Finland, the car must be registered in an EU or EEA country, or you must obtain a transfer permit (so-called transfer badges) for the car. Without a registration or a transfer permit, you cannot move the car in Finland other than on a trailer.
You should apply for the transfer permit in advance from a vehicle inspection station. The transfer permit is subject to a charge. Read more about transfer permits on Traficom’s website.
The first option is to apply for the transfer permit from a vehicle inspection station, but permits can also be obtained from our customs offices with customer service. Always check with the customs office beforehand to ensure you can get transfer permits from that office.
Read more
- Steps to take when importing or buying a car not earlier registered in Finland (Tax Administration)
- Amount of car tax and car tax calculator (Tax Administration)
- Importing a new motor vehicle (Tax Administration)
- Importing a vehicle (Traficom)
- Registration inspection (Traficom)
- How to insure an imported vehicle (Finnish Motor Insurers’ Centre)