How customs clearance works for a car in Moldova

A car bought abroad can’t legally be driven in Moldova until it clears customs. The process has clear steps — but each one needs the right paperwork, prepared in advance.

What happens at customs

Filing the customs declaration — based on the purchase invoice and shipping documents.
Calculating the duties — customs sets the customs value (price plus shipping) and applies duty, excise and, where it applies, VAT.
Paying the duties — at the exchange rate on the day of clearance.
Releasing the car — with a validated customs declaration confirming the duties were paid.

Documents you’ll need

The invoice or bill of sale for the car.
The title or registration certificate from the country of origin.
Shipping documents (CMR, bill of lading, or equivalent).
The buyer’s ID.

How the duties are calculated

The starting point is the customs value — the car’s price plus shipping. Duty, processing and excise are applied on top, calculated from engine size, fuel type and age; some vehicle categories also add VAT. Customs can set a different value, under its own methodology, if the submitted documents don’t reflect the real market price.

A concrete example

Here’s what the duties look like for a diesel car from 2017, valued at 6,000 € with 650 € in shipping: