🏎️ Registering a Car in Serbia: A Step-by-Step Guide
Key Requirement: A Residence Permit
You can buy a car in Serbia even without a residence permit, but you won't be able to register it. Therefore, the key step before purchasing is obtaining a residence permit. It's important that the permit is issued for at least six months and is valid at the time of vehicle registration. A Serbian driver's license is not required for the registration process.
This guide focuses on the process of buying and registering used cars. If you plan to buy a new car from a dealership or use the services of a car selection specialist, in most cases, the managers or agents will handle all the bureaucratic procedures.
Buying a Used Car
The main platform for finding used cars in Serbia is the website Polovni Automobili. It is the largest resource with a huge number of listings, but you should be cautious when searching. There are cases of fraud in the market, such as rolled-back odometers, altered VIN numbers, or poor-quality repairs after serious accidents.
If you are buying a car in a different city, there are two main scenarios. The first is you sign the purchase and sale agreement at a notary in the seller's city and then travel with them to your city to complete the process at an agency. The second option is the seller de-registers the car in their city, after which you can get temporary transit plates to drive it or use a tow truck service.
Documents from the Seller
When making a deal with a private individual, make sure you receive the complete set of documents from the previous owner. This will ensure a smooth registration process. Check that all data matches and that the VIN number is legible on both the car and in the documents.
- Purchase and sale agreement (or another document confirming ownership), certified by a notary.
- The vehicle's registration certificate (Saobraćajna dozvola).
- A copy of the owner's ID card (očitana lična karta).
- Mandatory insurance policy (if it is still valid).
- Your foreign passport.
Registration Options: Agency or DIY
After buying the car, you have two ways to register it. The first and easiest way is to contact a specialized vehicle registration agency (agenciju za registraciju vozila). You go there with the seller, and the agency staff handles all the paperwork: they prepare documents, calculate taxes and fees, and deal with the traffic police, tax office, and municipality (opština). All you have to do is pay the bills and receive your new license plates.
The second option is to go through all the steps yourself. This path requires more time and attention, as you will have to personally collect the full set of documents, pay the fees, and submit applications to the relevant authorities.
Complete Set of Documents for Registration
To register the car yourself, you will need to prepare an extensive set of documents. The main document is the application form, which is filled out at the technical inspection station. You can also arrange for mandatory insurance there.
- Registration application form ("Registracioni list za motorno-priključno voziло").
- Notarized purchase and sale agreement.
- Certificate of technical inspection (valid for 30 days).
- Mandatory insurance policy (local third-party liability).
- Copies of your passport pages (with photo and with residence permit/foreigner's ID card).
- Certificate of residence registration (Uverenje o boravku), if you do not have an ID card.
- Receipts for payment of all necessary duties and fees.
- Customs clearance documents (if you are the first owner of the car in Serbia).
All duties and fees are paid at a bank or post office. Their amount depends on the car's characteristics.
Changing the Address in the Registration Certificate (Saobraćajna dozvola)
If you have changed your residential address, you must also update this information in the car's registration certificate. It is recommended to do this a few days after changing your address on your residence permit to avoid problems with database synchronization.
The procedure takes place at the police station (MUP) and includes the following steps:
- Go to Window No. 1 (Šalter 1) and request a payment slip (taksa) for the address change, presenting your registration certificate and ID card.
- Pay the received slip at the bank counter located in the same station.
- With the paid slip, go to Window No. 6 (Šalter 6) and submit the application for the address change.
- The officer will take your old registration certificate and issue a temporary certificate.
- Return to the police station in about 7 days to exchange the temporary certificate for a new registration certificate with the updated address.
