In EU countries, strict technical and environmental standards apply, and not every car — especially those brought from outside the European Union — can be registered. For Ukrainians planning to buy a car abroad or import their own, non-compliance with standards may mean refusal of registration and usage restrictions. This writes Visit Ukraine.
Which cars will not pass registration in the EU
European rules stipulate that only vehicles that meet safety, environmental, and design requirements are allowed on the roads. Most often, problems arise with cars manufactured for the markets of the USA, Canada, Korea, or the UAE — they may not meet the European Union requirements even if they are in proper technical condition.
One of the main reasons for refusal is the absence of a CoC compliance certificate. If the manufacturer has not issued a CoC for this particular model, it is virtually impossible to register the car in any EU country.
Main reasons for car registration refusal
The most common grounds for refusal are as follows:
- absence of CoC and non-compliance with EU safety standards
- different headlight, turn signal, and bumper standards for “Americans”
- speedometer in miles and non-compliance with EPA eco-standards Euro 6/7
- high emissions that cannot be adapted to European requirements
- “eco-zone” restrictions for older diesel cars.
For diesel models with a class lower than Euro 5, there are bans on entering the centers of many cities in Germany, France, or Belgium. In some regions, movement of diesels manufactured before 2009-2011 is completely restricted. Even if a car can be registered, movement within cities may be significantly limited.
When planning to travel Europe by car, one must also remember about road vignettes — in many countries, fines for their absence can reach 80-300 euros.
Earlier, we wrote about new car registration rules in Ukraine.