Environment Ministry: Car Tax Charged To Buyer On First Sale

Update 05.31.2011 By Bostan Radu

Romania's car tax, in its future form, will be paid by the buyer upon the first sale of any car for which the tax has not already been paid, said an Environment Ministry press release on Tuesday, following a press conference held by minister Lazlo Borbely.

The minister did not provide any details, but said a final decision would be made in the Government's meeting on Wednesday.

Romania's ruling coalition decided to allow the Government to apply a pollution tax upon the first sale of cars brought to Romania before the enforcement of this new car tax system, people familiar with the matter told MEDIAFAX Monday.

The current car tax system will be changed, following a judgment by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which found the tax in violation of community legislation, as it discourages the sale of used cars from other states to Romania.

The judgment was issued in response to a question by a Romanian court hearing the case of a Romanian national who bought a used car from Germany in July 2008. He paid the pollution tax when registering the car in Romania and complained that it is charged only on imported used cars and not other used cars already registered in the country and then resold.