New Rules for Clearing Imported Used Vehicles
Starting June 8, a fresh customs clearance procedure for second-hand cars brought in from abroad will take effect. Under the updated regulations, every other declaration—exactly 50%—will automatically be flagged for additional review in Kyiv. This pilot initiative is set to run through the end of 2026 and will apply to half of all used car imports.
The key change is that border inspectors will no longer have sole authority over clearance decisions. Instead, a specialized unit within the Coordination and Monitoring Customs Office in the capital will handle a portion of those rulings. The automated risk management system (ARMS), operating fully without human intervention, will select which declarations undergo deeper analysis, thereby reducing the chance of biased choices.
Why These Changes Are Happening and What They Mean
Customs authorities say this move targets one of the most problematic import sectors. The used car market has long been vulnerable to undervalued customs prices, forged origin documents, and improper use of preferential regimes. Vehicles brought in under such benefits will receive particular attention. For importers operating legitimately, the process remains feasible, but the bar for accurate paperwork has been raised.
Inspectors will verify vehicle origin—EUR.1 certificates and origin declarations must be flawless. They will also closely check the actual market value of each car:
- purchase contracts,
- bank payment records and export documents from the country of departure.
Any discrepancy with market prices could trigger additional review. Technical specs are also under the microscope—HS codes, model year, engine size, and fuel type. Even minor errors might lead to a reassessment of the customs duty rate.
Since half of all declarations will now be sent for extra checks, processing times will lengthen, and delays during document verification will become routine. Clean paperwork carries minimal risk, but overall speed will slow down. The pilot project runs from June 8 to December 31, 2026. Concurrently, customs is also inspecting imports of fertilizers and plant protection products—a separate experiment wrapping up on June 30.
This new customs clearance procedure for used cars aims to boost transparency and curb abuses in the sector. Given past issues with fraudulent documentation, these measures could encourage greater accountability among importers. The revised inspection approach may also reshape the used car market by tightening documentation requirements and lowering risks for honest players.
As the used car market in Ukraine faces increased scrutiny, it’s important to understand the broader implications of these changes. Over the past 15 years, the country's car market has shifted dramatically, transitioning into a resale hub. This transformation has seen the share of new vehicles plummet from 61.5% to just 7%. To explore how these dynamics have influenced the current landscape of vehicle imports, read more about the evolution of Ukraine’s car market here.