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478 Comments

  1. Sarah Astbury
    08/10/2021 @ 4:32 pm

    Hi there I went to Kat to re register a car from Sofian plates to Burgas plates. Unfortunately the engine number did not match the car talon. I don’t have a purchase document for the engine that is currently in the vehicle as it was from a private individual. Can you please advise what I need to do to get through Kat registration? Thanks Sarah

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      09/10/2021 @ 9:38 am

      Hi there! This is a big problem. You need documents for the new engine installation – a copy of the registration certificate of the car, which the engine was taken out of, an invoice or a contract for the sale and a declaration from the seller for the import of the car with the donor engine. If you don’t have them, you have to buy another engine with documents, install it and then go to KAT for registration. The Second option is very clumsy of course and I would not recommend it. The seller should have declared that the engine was replaced and sell the car only to somebody in the same district, so that the car does not have to go to KAT for inspection.
      BR
      G

      Reply

  2. Jarno
    17/08/2021 @ 11:08 pm

    hello, i want to buy a car registered in sofia with the CB numbers ……. i want it registered in the name of my bulgarian company which is located in bourgas. what should I do ? is it necessary to change the numbers (A)?

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      19/08/2021 @ 9:29 pm

      Hello! It is not necessary to change the plates to (A), but you have to go to KAT Burgas and change the papers. The car has to pass technical inspection as well.

      Reply

  3. DEREK
    09/08/2021 @ 10:03 pm

    How to enquire if a car is on finance before purchase

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      10/08/2021 @ 8:04 pm

      Check the papers of the car.

      Reply

  4. Dov Yardeni
    08/08/2021 @ 8:54 am

    Do you know within what period of time do I need to take the car out of Germany?

    Can I drive the car in EU countries after purchase.

    I am not a eU citizen

    Thanks

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      08/08/2021 @ 11:15 am

      What kind of plates do you have?

      Reply

  5. Borovoje
    07/07/2021 @ 11:22 am

    Hi Georgi
    Question ! How much earlier can I do technical inspection before expiry ? For example my technical expires in 9th September, is it possible to do end of july before I leave Bulgaria ?

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      10/07/2021 @ 11:11 pm

      Hi, Borovoje! Yes, you can do it. There is no limitation how much times and when you will do technical check. You can do it every day if you like.

      Reply

  6. Zdravka G.
    06/07/2021 @ 5:52 pm

    hi, Georgi,

    My plate number is expired as my one year ID did. Now I have a 5 year ID. How do I get my plate number re registered. What document do I need and can I/do I need to drive the car the K.A.T

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      06/07/2021 @ 9:25 pm

      Hi, Zdravka! I have to see the documents and plates first, in order to tell you.

      Reply

  7. Jeremy
    10/05/2021 @ 1:13 pm

    I bought a car in Bulgaria, I’m trying to get plates and tags. I had my engine cleaned so the KAT in Burgas can read the unique engine number however after the cleaning the paperwork of the car registration is not what the number on the engine block is, its off by 1 number. I need tags for the car and I guess either pay a fine for the “new” engine number or some sort of invoice to show a new engine was placed in the car.

    Do you have any specialty in this?

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      10/05/2021 @ 8:33 pm

      There is no fine. You just don’t get the car registered until you provide the right documents for the new engine. The difference of 1 number is most possible a human mistake by the previous registration.

      Reply

      • Jeremy
        03/06/2021 @ 8:32 pm

        What documents are needed?

        Reply

        • gnikolov
          03/06/2021 @ 10:42 pm

          For doing what?

        • Jeremy
          06/06/2021 @ 4:19 pm

          My car engine checks out as the original engine from the assembly line via Porsche…the kat inspector is hard headed and will not accept that the number is correct, he says he can’t read it 100%…is there anywhere to get the engine number verified with paperwork to get it through the inspector that refuses to acknowledge the number in the vehicle…if not I will have to do an engine swap which is not what I want to do

        • gnikolov
          06/06/2021 @ 7:10 pm

          You have to get an official document from Porsche Bulgaria, stating your engine number and give it to this inspector.

  8. Amy
    08/05/2021 @ 9:44 am

    Hello. We spoke last week, just prior to the holiday. I am the American who needs to register a used car to export it from Bulgaria (Sofia) to Albania (Sarande). I found a car and am ready to buy it, but want to make sure everything is in order for the registration. I tried to call this afternoon, but was not able to reach anyone. Can you please tell me what (specifically) I will need (from the previous owner, notary, etc.) in order to register this car? I do NOT need to register it in Bulgaria, but rather for transit to leave the country with it. Thank you very much.

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      08/05/2021 @ 7:12 pm

      Hello! Do you buy a car with a Bulgarian registration or you buy from car dealer a non-registered car?

      Reply

      • Amy
        09/05/2021 @ 7:41 pm

        The car belongs to a Bulgarian citizen, so is already registered in Bulgaria. We have already taken it to a mechanic for inspection and some routine maintenance is being done prior to the purchase. No need for further inspection. I am ready to buy it. 🙂 I just need to know specifically what I will need from the notary when we go to formally complete the purchase early this week. (I was hoping to clarify that before making the appointment with the notary.) Any additional information to make the registration process smoother is greatly appreciated. 🙂 Ready to get this done! 😀

        Reply

        • gnikolov
          09/05/2021 @ 8:45 pm

          Ok, yes, go to a notary to buy the car and then go with the car and the papers to KAT to apply for export papers and plates. You need to provide a valid 3rd party insurance for minimum 1 month, but I assume that the car will have one since it has been driven in Bulgaria already.
          BR
          Georgi

      • Jeremy
        10/05/2021 @ 1:59 pm

        I bought it from a private seller and not a dealer

        Reply

        • J
          11/05/2021 @ 4:47 am

          It’s a human error nobody has put a new engine in the car. Where can I obtain an invoice for a new engine that was never installed, I just need this to register the car.

        • gnikolov
          11/05/2021 @ 7:54 am

          First go to the official car representative dealer in BG for this brand and ask for a document stating the right engine number from the factory. If it matches with the current one, you have a good chance to get the registration done.

        • Stephen Wright
          11/05/2021 @ 8:23 am

          Hi, I had a similar problem a while back. I fitted a replacement engine to a SAAB 9-3 in the UK but didn’t know you have to inform DVLA now. I then exported the car and registered it in VT. They simply used the old engine number from the UK log book. Every time I took the car to the KAT, I had the same old issue. Fortunately, the police treated me as a genuine owner.

          When I moved to Plovdiv, however, it took a turn for the worst. The agent I used said the police would refuse to register it. The solution was to take it back to the UK, reimport it on the old reg number and get the log book reissued with the right engine number. I had the original invoice from the garage and the credit card statement showing the payment. The HMRC/DVLA process is actually quite good. However, DVLA might have a backlog at the moment given COVID. In that respect, BG is actually doing better than the UK.

          In the end, I didn’t reimport it to BG but I could have done quite easily. That really was the simplest fix for me.

  9. Carolina
    13/04/2021 @ 10:34 am

    Hello. I am looking at various sites online in search of a used car here in Bulgaria in Sofia. They recommended you as a site to help me with this request. The person said you are great. If possible then talk about it. I. I erico a car definitely under 300,000 km, not station wagon and in good condition. It can also be imported is not a problem. As an example I would take the peugeot 207 as a type of car. Thanks in advance. And the mil budget is low, maximum 6000 bgn

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      13/04/2021 @ 9:43 pm

      Hi, Carolina! You’d better call me on the phone during working hours 9-18 to have a discussion. Thanks! 0888 981 781
      BR
      G

      Reply

  10. Sam
    27/03/2021 @ 5:58 pm

    Hi, thank you so much for such a helpful website.
    I am moving to Bulgaria in summer from Istanbul. I bought a van in Turkey in 2018 and I am wondering if I will need to pay tax to import it?

    Thank you so much in advance!

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      28/03/2021 @ 9:13 pm

      Hi, Sam! If the van goes on your name and you will be driving it into Bulgaria and in Bulgaria for a certain time, you don’t have to pay import taxes. You have to specify in your question how long will you stay and if you want to drive the Van with Turkish plates in BG or you will need Bulgarian plates.
      BR
      Georgi

      Reply

      • Sam
        29/03/2021 @ 8:25 am

        Hi thanks again! I will be staying for a minimum of 2 years but hopefully 5 years and I am happy to change the plates to Bulgarian ones – is this difficult or expensive to do?

        Any help greatly appreciated.
        Thanks
        Sam

        Reply

        • gnikolov
          29/03/2021 @ 6:31 pm

          Hi, Sam! I am not sure if it will be possible to register the car in Bulgaria. Please send me photos of the car’s papers. Thanks! 00359 888 981 781 – Viber or WhatsApp.
          BR
          Georgi

        • gnikolov
          29/03/2021 @ 8:51 pm

          Hi, Sam! I saw the papers. There will be a problem. You have to prove an Euronorm for your car and it has to correspond to the European Euro norm for the same car made in the same year. Please speak with some local representative VW office and ask them for a document in English, stating the Euro norm of this car. Then send it to me. Thanks!
          BR
          Georgi

        • Sam
          04/04/2021 @ 5:19 pm

          Thanks again so much. I have contacted VW but they haven’t got back to me yet. I have found out that the van was created jn Germany so Iboresume it meets european standards.
          I also found this website: coceurope.eu
          They say for €200 they can produce a European certificate of conformity for my vehicle. Would that satisfy the ge requirement?
          Thank you again

        • gnikolov
          04/04/2021 @ 8:43 pm

          Hi, Sam! No. It is important what will be written inside the CoC, not the document itself. You need a proof of the Euro norm and in case you don’t have it, you need an official document from VW. It does not matter that your Van produced in the factory in Germany. The production for Europe, Asia, North America meets different standards.
          BR
          Georgi

        • Sam Croft
          04/04/2021 @ 9:08 pm

          Ok great thanks! So just to clarify, I need the information on the COC that the vehicle meets certain European standards. If I get this done, either via VW or by buying a COC document, that should be enough to register it in Bulgaria.
          Also, can you please confirm that if I get this correct information, will I need to pay import tax on the vehicle? I have owned it since November 2018.

          Thanks so much

          Sam

        • gnikolov
          05/04/2021 @ 9:30 pm

          No, this is wrong. I have stated already what kind of a document you need. Right now you are making wrong assumptions. If you have owned it for longer then a year, then you don’t pay Duty+VAT, but you will not be allowed to sell if for minimum 1 year as well.
          BR
          G

        • Sam
          05/04/2021 @ 10:03 pm

          I cant thank you enough for this clarification – you have really helped me get an understanding of what needs to be done.
          Hopefully VW will provide the information soon and I will be in touch.
          Have a great week.
          Sam

        • Sam Croft
          13/04/2021 @ 5:11 pm

          Dear Georgi,

          I have finally received something from VW (in German unfortunately) and I have sent you the document to look at. I have asked for a copy in English so hopefully they will send that too. It says that the van is Euro 6 – does that make it feasible to import?

          Thanks again for your help.

          Sam

        • gnikolov
          13/04/2021 @ 9:42 pm

          Hello, Sam! Yes, if you have an Euro 6 certificate from VW, you have 99% chance of getting your car registered here. Please remind me tomorrow to look at it. Thanks!
          BR
          Georgi

    • Borivoje ivanovic
      14/05/2021 @ 12:56 pm

      Hi
      I have received COC from bmw Germany confirming that it is EU standard. My question the document has duplikat written across it. Is this ok for kat authorities or do I need original hard copy ?

      Reply

      • gnikolov
        15/05/2021 @ 9:22 am

        Hi! In what terms are you writing this? Please describe your case, otherwise I can’t answer.

        Reply

        • Boris Ivanovic
          15/05/2021 @ 3:49 pm

          It is regarding importing my Uk car to Bulgaria. As you mentioned I need a Certificate of conformity Which I have received from BMW (MUNICH) but across the document it is printed DUPLIKAT.
          Will this be ok for Kat or do I need BMW to send me original ?

          Best Regards
          Boris

        • gnikolov
          17/05/2021 @ 9:08 pm

          Hello, Boris! If there is a signature and stamp from BMW, then it shall work out.

  11. Dan Matoc
    22/03/2021 @ 1:35 pm

    Hello! I want to buy a car from UAE, Dubai and register it in Bulgaria with a friend. I would like to know if there are extra costs for customs clearance and all the necessary documents in Bulgaria due to the configuration of the car such as the US specification or GCC Spec. I understand that there are certain EU rules that must be respected and I want to know how much it would cost me ?! Also how much would be your fee to help me after which car arrives in Bulgaria? Thank you in advance! A good day!

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      22/03/2021 @ 3:17 pm

      Hello! Registration of a car coming from UAE is nearly impossible. Don’t try to do that.

      Reply

  12. Hristo
    10/03/2021 @ 4:49 pm

    Hi Georgi,
    I’ve been browsing through mobile.de and autoscout24.de looking for car and I’ve noticed that most of the cars in both sites are different and those in autoscout are quite cheaper (sometimes up to 3 – 4k euros) any idea why is that? I am talking about Mercedes E250 204hp Sedan for 2010.

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      10/03/2021 @ 5:29 pm

      Hi, Hristo! There is a lot of fraud/scam on internet. Everybody has to be extremely careful when buying something online. Yesterday a person called me and explained to me how he lost 10 000 Euro because he has done a transfer to somebody for a motorcycle and lost all the money.

      Reply

  13. Borivoje ivanovic
    15/02/2021 @ 10:46 pm

    Hi Georgi
    Same question, is there any diffrence for me , but being issued 5 year residency in 2018 & bought the car December 2020.

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      16/02/2021 @ 12:49 pm

      Hi Borivoje,
      please write down the full question. I did not quite understand difference about what?

      Reply

      • Borivoje ivanovic
        16/02/2021 @ 1:23 pm

        Basically my residents card was issued in 2018
        I bought the car in 2020 & it has been in the uk.
        Would this change anything regarding being exempt from customs duty & vat due to the fact i did not register in bulgaria before brexit !

        Reply

        • gnikolov
          16/02/2021 @ 10:47 pm

          You will not pay duty and VAT because your car was in your possession for a longer period. I think the requirement was minimum 6 months before the date of import.

  14. dari
    15/02/2021 @ 3:51 pm

    Hello Georgi!
    I just wanted to ask for the registration of the car, i have a friend which he is from EU and he have Bulgarian company but he don’t live in Bulgaria.
    Is there any possibility if he make me a power of attorney from abroad and i can register the car here in his company name ?
    Do i need to be employed to his company or do i need any specific document?
    Thanks in advance

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      15/02/2021 @ 4:38 pm

      Hello, Dari! No, you don’t have to be an employee of the company, but if you do not have a bg id card this may be a problem, because in the Application bg personal details are required.

      Reply

      • Dari
        15/02/2021 @ 4:53 pm

        You mean for application of registration of the car? Because it will be in company name and not in my name. So even with the company i still need bg id?

        Reply

        • gnikolov
          15/02/2021 @ 8:04 pm

          Yes, I mean the application.

  15. Mary E Allan
    15/02/2021 @ 2:53 pm

    I bought my motorhome (left hand drive) in the UK 19 months ago when the UK was still a member of the EU.
    I was granted 5 year residency in Bulgaria from 23 December 2020 and want to know how difficult it will be to register my vehicle in Bulgaria now.

    However, there are two particular issues:

    1. Would I have to pay import tax as the UK is no longer a member of the EU? And if so how much would that be? The value of the camper is around 40,000 euros and was bought second hand in 2019 and first registered in the UK in 2014.

    2. I was due to get the UK technical test MOT by 9 January but was unable to because of covid travel restrictions and am still in Bulgaria with no prospect of returning to the UK for the test in the next few weeks.

    I would like to know how to register the vehicle

    Thank you for any advice you can give me.

    Mary Allan

    Reply

    • gnikolov
      15/02/2021 @ 10:17 pm

      1. No, because there is an exception when you are the owner. You still have to go to bg customs to declare it and only afterthat you can go to KAT for registration.
      2. You will need Euronorm as well from the official representative of the brand.
      BR
      Georgi

      Reply

      • Mary Allan
        18/02/2021 @ 11:38 am

        Thank you for this. I presume that I can then get a Bulgarian technical test so that it is legal to drive?

        Reply

        • gnikolov
          18/02/2021 @ 9:47 pm

          You are welcome. If you don’t have Bulgarian plates, you cannot pass technical check. As you have UK plates, you have to do the technical check in UK.

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If you have a comment or a common question you can use the "Comments" sections in each page or the "Q&A" page.
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