Under Art. 82(4) of OUG 195/2002, a car registered abroad and held by someone domiciled in Romania may be driven for at most 90 days from entry.
Since 15 September 2026 the certificate costs 76 lei and a standard plate 26 lei, per DGPCI. RAR checks and insurance are extra.
In 2026 a residential parking space in Bucharest costs 397 to 796 lei a year by zone (General Council Decision 514/2025).
Car ownership in Bucharest: the short answer
If you live in Romania, the car you drive here should be registered here. Under Romania's road traffic law (Emergency Ordinance 195/2002), a car registered abroad and held by someone whose domicile is in Romania may be driven for at most 90 days from the date it entered the country. People who have their domicile or residence in Romania register their cars with the registration office for the area where they live. In Bucharest and Ilfov, that means the local public registration service, under the national directorate DGPCI.
The state fees are small: since 15 September 2026, the registration certificate costs 76 lei and a standard plate 26 lei. The work is the paperwork before it: the local tax office, the Romanian Automotive Register (RAR) and, for a car from another EU country, the tax authority (ANAF). In the city itself, a residential parking space near a block of flats is rented from your sector's city hall for 397 to 796 lei a year in 2026, depending on the zone.
In plain words: register the car where you live, start with the tax office, and in Bucharest treat a parking space as something you apply for, not something you get with the flat.
How to exchange your driving licence is covered in our guide to an Israeli driving licence in Romania. This article is about the car and where it sleeps.
Who can register a car, and where
| Situation | What the law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| You live in Romania (domicile or residence) | You register the car with the authority for the area where you have your domicile or residence | OUG 195/2002, Art. 82(5) |
| A car registered abroad, held by someone domiciled in Romania | May be driven on public roads for at most 90 days from entry, if insured | OUG 195/2002, Art. 82(4) |
| You buy a car already registered in Romania | The new owner must ask for the transfer (transcriere) within 90 days of acquiring it | OUG 195/2002, Art. 11(4) |
| Any car on public roads | Must be registered before it is put into circulation | OUG 195/2002, Art. 11(1) |
Article 82(4) speaks of people with their domicile in Romania. A foreigner with a residence permit usually has a residence (reședință) rather than a domicile. How the 90-day rule applies to your case is a question for the traffic police or your lawyer. In practice, if Romania is where you live, plan to register the car.
The documents: a car previously registered abroad
According to DGPCI's published list for a vehicle previously registered outside Romania, you need:
- The application form.
- Proof of ownership, original and copy, already registered with the local tax office where you live. On the document there must be its number in the local tax register of vehicles.
- Your identity document, valid, in original. As a foreign resident, confirm with the office which document it accepts alongside your residence permit.
- The vehicle identity card (CIV) issued by RAR, the Romanian Automotive Register.
- Proof of payment for the registration certificate: 76 lei.
- Proof of payment for the number plates, and for a preferred number if you want one.
- A valid RCA policy (compulsory third-party insurance) in the owner's name.
- An ANAF certificate on VAT, if the car comes from another EU member state and you are not registered for VAT. Not needed for a car bought in Romania or imported from outside the EU.
- The foreign registration documents and the foreign plates, in original.
- A notarised power of attorney if someone else files for you.
DGPCI also states that the car must have a valid vehicle identity card, a valid certificate of authenticity and a valid periodic technical inspection. These come from RAR, before the registration office.
A car from outside the EU, for example from Israel, first goes through customs. Our guide to moving to Romania with your belongings explains when a personal car can enter free of duty and VAT.
The fees, as published by DGPCI
| Item | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Registration certificate | 76 lei | DGPCI, from 15.09.2026 |
| Provisional driving authorisation | 25 lei | DGPCI, from 15.09.2026 |
| Number plate, standard type A (110 × 520 mm) | 26 lei per plate | DGPCI |
| Keeping your number when you sell the car | 60 lei | DGPCI |
Fees can be paid online through ghiseul.ro, by bank transfer or at SelfPay terminals, according to DGPCI. RAR's fees for the authenticity check and the vehicle identity card are separate, as are the RCA premium and any customs or VAT due on an import. Check them on the RAR and ANAF sites for your car.
Two annual costs follow the registration. The local car tax goes to the tax office of your commune or sector. From 2026, under Article 470 of the Fiscal Code, it depends on engine size and the car's Euro emission standard, and local councils can add to it. And the road vignette (rovinietă) is needed outside city limits; see our article on driving in Romania.
In Bucharest, treat a parking space as something you apply for, not something you get with the flat.
Step by step: registering a car as a new resident
- Get your residence document first. Everything else is filed in your name and at your address.
- Declare the car at the local tax office of your commune or sector, with the ownership document. Ask for the registration number they enter on it.
- Take the car to RAR for the authenticity check and the vehicle identity card, with a valid technical inspection.
- For a car from another EU country, obtain the ANAF VAT certificate if it applies to you.
- Buy RCA insurance in your name.
- Pay the certificate and plate fees online, ideally at least a day before the appointment.
- Book an appointment with the registration service online and bring the originals.
Residential parking in Bucharest: how it works
Most Bucharest blocks of flats do not come with a private space. The spaces in front of the block are public land, and each sector's city hall rents them to residents as residential parking (parcare de reședință). The annual rate is set by the General Council of Bucharest by zone. For 2026 it was set by Decision 514/2025:
| Zone | 2025 (HCGMB 356/2024) | 2026 (HCGMB 514/2025) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 754 lei | 796 lei |
| B | 628 lei | 663 lei |
| C | 502 lei | 530 lei |
| D | 365 lei | 397 lei |
Sources: Știrile ProTV for 2025; BZI, citing Sector 1 city hall, for 2026.
The rules for getting and keeping a space are set by each sector. Some examples:
- Sector 1: under its regulation, Local Council Decision 139/2025, existing contracts were renewed automatically in 2026 if the fee was paid by 31 March 2026. The sector's online platform shows active contracts and the waiting list.
- Sector 3: according to a 2025 Digi24 report, spaces are split into nominal (yours alone) and non-nominal (shared) spaces, where other drivers can park for an hourly fee.
- Sector 4: according to the same report, in 2025 the sector charged 540 lei a year to car owners in the sector who did not hold a residential space.
For Sectors 2, 5 and 6, ask the sector city hall directly, and expect a waiting list in older neighbourhoods. Bucharest had 1,691,056 registered vehicles at the end of 2025, according to DGPCI.
And in Ilfov
North of the city, the question is different. A villa or a house usually has parking on its own plot, and gated communities assign spaces in the project. Before you buy, check in the documents how many spaces belong to the home, whether they are on your plot or in a shared area, and whether visitors can park. If you plan to drive into central Bucharest, also read about the proposed low emission zone, which would apply to any car entering the zone, wherever it is registered.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I drive a foreign-registered car in Romania?
For a person domiciled in Romania, Article 82(4) of Emergency Ordinance 195/2002 allows at most 90 days from the car's entry into the country, as long as it is insured. Whether this applies to a foreign resident with a residence permit should be checked with the traffic police or a lawyer.
What does it cost to register a car in Bucharest?
The state fees published by DGPCI are 76 lei for the registration certificate and 26 lei for each standard plate, since 15 September 2026. RAR checks, RCA insurance and any import taxes are extra.
Where do I register a car if I live in Ilfov?
With the registration service for Ilfov, because the law ties registration to the area of your domicile or residence. The ownership document must first be registered with your commune's tax office.
How much is a residential parking space in Bucharest?
In 2026, between 397 lei and 796 lei a year, depending on the zone, under General Council Decision 514/2025. Each sector allocates the spaces under its own rules.
Do I have 90 days to transfer a used car into my name?
Yes. Under Article 11(4) of the road traffic law, the new owner must request the transfer within 90 days of acquiring the car.
The bottom line
Owning a car in Romania is mostly paperwork in the right order: residence first, then the tax office, RAR, insurance and the registration office. The state fees are modest. In Bucharest, the harder part is the parking space, which you rent from your sector and may have to wait for. In Ilfov, check the spaces in the property documents before you sign.
If you are planning a move to a house north of Bucharest and want to think through daily life with or without a car, book a 30-minute call with me.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: Emergency Ordinance 195/2002 on road traffic, consolidated (legislatie.just.ro, archived June 2026), Art. 11 and 82 · DGPCI, documents for registering a vehicle previously registered abroad · DGPCI, fees and FAQ · DGPCI, fee update from 15.09.2026 and 2025 statistics · Romanian Automotive Register (RAR) · ANAF · Știrile ProTV, residential parking rates 2025–2026 · BZI, Sector 1 residential parking 2026 · Digi24, sector rules 2025 · Europa Liberă, the 2026 car tax
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees are correct as of 22 October 2026. Requirements can differ by case and by sector; confirm with the registration service, your sector or commune, and an independent lawyer.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
