How to clear a car under the new law and what fines await?

The information specified in the material has lost its relevance since January 1, 2020 due to the loss of validity of the simplified procedure for customs clearance of the so-called "euroblyah". Actual material at the link .

With the release of the new laws on customs clearance 8487 and 8488, only one question remained open: how to clear customs for those who are already in Ukraine with a car in the mode of transit and temporary importation? Is it necessary to leave the country again? And finally, the situation became clear: a simplified customs clearance scheme was introduced for such car owners. Let's figure out how it works.

How has the car customs clearance scheme changed?

Previously, for customs clearance of a car, you needed:

• collect all the documents,
• prepare VAT and pay the cost of customs clearance,
• cross the border by car,
• to deliver the car to the customs control zone, where to go through the entire customs clearance procedure.

In addition, it was necessary to pass Euro-5 certification, because the car can only be cleared through customs if it meets these standards. However, the adoption of laws No. 8487 and No. 8488 obliged car owners to clear customs even those vehicles that are already on the territory of Ukraine. In order to simplify this scheme and not oblige car owners to exit and enter across the border, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine issued a resolution simplifying customs clearance for those already in the country.

Now owners of cars with Euro plates need:

• collect a package of documents,
• write an application to change the customs regime "transit/temporary importation" to the customs regime "import",
• deliver the car to the nearest customs control zone,
• carry out customs clearance of the car.

What documents are required for customs clearance under the new laws?

The most painful issue for car owners can be the preparation and collection of documents for customs clearance. Not everyone has a full package of documents confirming car ownership. The current situation is complicated by the fact that customs clearance is possible only for a car that has already been deregistered in the country where you purchased it. However, not everything is so complicated.

It should be noted that in many European countries it is not necessary to cross the border by car to deregister a car. That is, you take the currently available documents, go to the owner in the country where you bought the car and deregister it. After that, you start the customs clearance of the car in Ukraine.

For customs clearance, you need to provide:

• documents confirming the deregistration of the car abroad (mark in the technical passport or other),
• documents confirming ownership (bill of sale, invoice, invoice, etc.),
• passport,
• identification code,
• technical license for the car,
• application number for the head of the local SFS department   on changing the customs regime "transit/temporary importation" to the customs regime "import".

Is the Euro-5 certificate no longer needed?

According to the Law, any vehicles that meet the certification standards of Ukraine can be cleared through customs. These norms should be no lower than Euro-2, and this is approximately a car after the 1995 year of production. However, please note that for state registration of a car that has already cleared customs, you will still need to undergo certification: a certificate of compliance with the norms is mandatory.

What about the discount on customs clearance?

The new law defines a grace period during which a "discount" for customs clearance will apply, namely, during the first 3 months of the law, car owners will pay 50% of the excise tax.

Important point:   if your car was imported by consignment, then you and the person for whom it was issued lose the right to a 50% discount on the second car that you may want to import during the grace period.

What about the fine for overstaying the "transit" regime?

The customs regime "transit" has its own term. For its extension, the car owner must pay a fine of UAH 8,500.   However, we note:   if you have already paid this amount and plan to clear customs, the fine will not be charged again at customs! On the other hand, if you have already been fined for overstaying the "transit" customs regime, you just need to pay this fine.

If the car owner does not have time to clear customs before the end of the transit period? Need to pay a fine?

If you have too little time left to prepare documents and clear the car through customs, or time is running out, and you do not have a sufficient amount of funds for customs clearance, then you can place the car in the customs warehouse in the "customs warehouse" mode, which is, for example, on the territory of the complex WEST AUTO HUB. This will stop the transit time and give additional days to prepare the documents.

It is no longer possible to cross the border without paying tolls?

The law establishes: if you cross the border in a foreign car, you must make a deposit in the amount of customs payments for your car. In case of departure in the same car, the deposit is returned to the car owner.