Can I drive an imported car straight away?
No — registration comes first. A vehicle imported from abroad and used in Latvian road traffic must be registered within five days of being brought in. Before registration it must undergo identification-number and numbered-component comparison, which costs €19.25 at CSDD. First registration, with a registration certificate and two number plates for a passenger car, costs €41.88. Then comes tax: first permanent Latvian registration of an M1 passenger car or N1 goods vehicle generally attracts a natural-resources tax of €110. And if the car was bought outside the EU, the revenue service states that customs duty may be 10% of the customs value, with VAT at 21% of the customs value plus the import duty.
📋 The rules
- A car used in traffic must be registered within 5 days
- First, the number comparison — €19.25
- First registration with plates: €41.88
- Natural-resources tax for M1/N1: €110
- From third countries: duty 10%, VAT 21%
🔓 Exceptions
- If the car will not be used in traffic, registration can wait — but the number comparison still must happen within five days
- A valid EU, EEA or Swiss inspection can be recognised without a full new test
- CSDD registration and ordinary plates for a pure electric vehicle are listed as free
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Using an unregistered vehicle in traffic costs €55–140 — and that is only the beginning. The serious consequences are at customs: a car from a third country cannot be registered until the customs declaration is dealt with and the import charges paid. That means storage costs, delay and a possible tax debt far exceeding any traffic fine. Beware the "10% customs" myth: that procedure applies to cars imported from outside the EU customs territory. A car acquired within the EU does not go through the third-country import-duty procedure at all. And one recent change: since 18 March 2025, a valid foreign inspection for an EU, EEA or Swiss vehicle can be recognised where it is electronically verifiable and falls within Latvia's inspection interval.
📎 Official sources
- likumi.lv · Road Traffic Law →
- CSDD · First registration in Latvia →
- VID · Importing a vehicle into Latvia →
❓ Frequently asked
How long do I have to register an imported car?
Five days after import, where the car will be used in Latvian road traffic. If it will not be used in traffic, registration can wait — but the identification-number comparison must still happen within five days.
What does registration cost?
The identification-number comparison costs €19.25, and first registration with a certificate and two plates for a passenger car costs €41.88. On top comes the €110 natural-resources tax.
Is every imported car charged 10% customs duty?
No, and it is a common myth. The 10% customs procedure applies to cars imported from outside the EU customs territory. A car bought within the EU does not go through that procedure at all.
Do I need a fresh roadworthiness test?
Not always. Since 18 March 2025, a valid foreign inspection for an EU, EEA or Swiss vehicle can be recognised without a complete new test, where it is electronically verifiable and within Latvia's interval.
What if I drive before registering?
Using an unregistered vehicle in traffic costs €55–140. A car from a third country cannot be registered at all until the customs declaration is completed and the import charges are paid.
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