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How to Import a Car to Montenegro

How to import a car to Montenegro?

If you’d like to start importing used cars to Montenegro, here’s what you need to know about documents, taxes, and the full import process.

You’d like to start importing cars from abroad into Montenegro? That’s a good decision. There’s steady demand for reliable used vehicles, and bringing in cars from the EU or other countries can help you grow your offer and reach more buyers.

But before you start, it’s important to understand how the process works. Different rules apply depending on where the car comes from, and you’ll need to prepare the right documents, pay the correct taxes, and follow local regulations.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the Montenegrin used car market, import rules, required paperwork, and the full step-by-step process to help you import vehicles smoothly and legally.

Import regulations of Montenegro

Before you start importing to Montenegro, you should be aware of some rules that set it apart from other countries. The most important one refers to the age of the imported vehicles.

Since July 1 2024, it’s no longer allowed to import vehicles older than 15 years, regardless of origin. This rule is easy to follow when using a professional car supplying platform.

For instance, the year of first registration is one of the main filters on eCarsTrade, and you can use it to quickly exclude vehicles that don’t meet Montenegrin import requirements.

Another import requirement states that used vehicles must meet at least Euro 5 emission standards, and new vehicles must comply with Euro 6, so keep that in mind when selecting models to buy.

eCarsTrade also has the filter option called Emission class, so you can easily narrow your search to cars that match the required Euro standard.

Now that you know what to look out for, you can start preparing the documents you’ll need during the import process.

Documentation for importing a vehicle to Montenegro as a business

Here’s a list of documents you’ll need when importing a car into Montenegro.

► Vehicle purchase invoice

This document proves ownership and shows the purchase price. It’s used to calculate customs duties and VAT.

If you’ve bought a car through eCarsTrade, you can easily find the invoice on your Personal page.

► Bill of lading (Bill of entry)

While the purchase invoice lists buyer and seller data, the bill of lading specifies car details (VIN, engine number, model, etc.).

This document is issued by the transport company and it confirms that the car was shipped. You’ll need it to clear customs.

► EUR.1 certificate (the Movement certificate) or origin statement

You may also need the EUR1 movement certificate, which shows the car’s origin. If the car you’re importing comes from a country that has a trade agreement with Montenegro (like the EU or CEFTA countries), you may qualify for reduced customs duties based on that document.

So, you need the EUR.1 certificate if the car is worth more than €6,000 or the seller is a private person.

But in some cases, you won’t need the EUR.1 certificate.

If the car is worth €6,000 or less and was made in the EU, things are easier. In most cases, it’s enough to have a short origin statement written on the invoice.

According to the Montenegrin freight company Gostrade doo, the statement should read:

“The exporter of the products covered by this document declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of EU preferential origin.”

The statement must be clearly separated from the rest of the invoice text and individually signed. With that, you can still avoid the 5% customs duty, even without the full EUR.1 form.

► Foreign registration papers

These documents show where the car has previously been registered. They are used to prove the car’s age, origin, and ownership history.

► Customs declaration

You’ll need to fill out a customs declaration form when the car arrives in Montenegro. This includes details like the VIN, vehicle type, engine size, and customs value.

► Proof of emission compliance (like COC)

Montenegro requires used cars to meet at least Euro 5 standards and new cars to meet Euro 6. To prove that your vehicle meets these requirements, you may be asked to provide a Certificate of Conformity (COC).

The certificate of conformity is a document, issued by the car manufacturer, that confirms the vehicle complies with EU safety and environmental standards, including emissions.

If the car you’ve bought doesn’t come with the original COC, you can buy a copy from COC providers such as EUROCOC or COC Europe.

Business identification (& EORI number)

As a trading business, you must be registered with Montenegro Customs and have an EORI number (linked to your VAT number).

Taxes when importing a car to Montenegro

When bringing a vehicle into Montenegro, you’ll need to cover several taxes and fees. Here’s a breakdown.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

A standard VAT rate of 21% applies to all imported vehicles.

VAT is calculated based on the customs value of the car, which includes:

The purchase price
Transport costs
Any customs duties

Customs duties

Customs duties range from 0 to 15%, and for motor vehicles, they’re typically 5%.

If the vehicle comes from a country that has a trade agreement with Montenegro, like the EU or CEFTA members, you might not have to pay customs duty. To get that exemption, you’ll need to provide a valid EUR.1 certificate or an origin statement written on the invoice.

Transfer tax on used vehicles

Montenegro applies a 5% flat transfer tax when registering a used vehicle. This is calculated on its market value at the time of transfer and is separate from VAT and customs duties.

As a trader, you usually don’t pay this tax yourself. The buyer pays it when they register the vehicle in their name.

Step-by-step process - from purchasing a car to importing it to Montenegro

Now that you know the rules, documents, and taxes, here’s a step-by-step look at how to actually import a car to Montenegro.

1. Research and buy the car

Let’s say that you’ve researched your local market and found that used Volkswagen cars were in demand. In that case, you could simply go to eCarsTrade, filter by brand, and filter by Emission class.

That would allow you to quickly find vehicles that meet Montenegro’s import rules and continue with the supply process.

Once you’ve won a car at an auction, or bought one at a fixed price, you can make the payment within the platform.

There, you’ll also receive the purchase invoice so that you can prepare your customs documents.

2. Arrange transportation

The easiest way to transport a car to your dealership is by hiring a transport truck. Find a reputable logistics partner because they’ll take care of the paperwork, load the car properly, and get it to you on time.

3. Get a Certificate of Conformity

You’ve bought a car that meets the Montenegrin import rules, but you still need to prove it. You can do this with the COC certificate. If the car doesn’t come with one, you can order a copy from a COC provider.

4. Prepare your customs documents

Before the car arrives, you’ll need to gather all required documents:

Purchase invoice
Bill of lading
Foreign registration papers
EUR.1 certificate or origin statement
Proof of emission compliance (COC)
Business registration documents (like VAT ID)

5. Submit the documents at the border

As soon as the vehicle arrives at the Montenegrin border, you need to submit the import documents and report to a customs terminal within 24 hours.

6. Do a technical inspection

The car must pass a technical inspection and a homologation check. This step is mandatory for customs clearance.

7. Submit customs declaration

After the inspection, you’ll submit the full customs declaration. This includes the invoice, bill of lading, foreign registration, COC or homologation certificate, and EUR.1 or origin statement.

8. Pay customs duties and VAT

Customs will assess your declaration and determine the amount of customs duty (usually 5%) and VAT (21%) you must pay. Once you pay that, the vehicle is cleared.

Get to know the Montenegrin used car market

Montenegro’s car market may be smaller in scale, but it’s active. In 2024, there were around 4,500 new car sales, which is a solid figure for a country of its size.

As of 2025, the currently popular brands in new-car sales include:

Dacia Sandero
Hyundai Tucson
Dacia Duster
Škoda Fabia
Renault Captur
Škoda Kamiq
VW Golf
Suzuki Swift
Fiat 600
Citroën C3
Audi Q3

Essentially, local buyers tend to choose small, affordable hatchbacks and SUVs that are practical and come from brands they know and trust.

On the used car side, a detailed LinkedIn analysis from mid‑2023 looked at nearly 9,000 vehicle listings in Montenegro. It found that German and French brands dominate the market, with Volkswagen Passat as a clear leader.

According to the analysis, the most commonly listed brands in the used car market include:

Volkswagen
Audi
Mercedes Benz
BMW
Renault
Peugeot
Citroën
Opel
Škoda
Ford
Nissan
Fiat
Seat
Toyota
Land Rover

Once again, you can see the prevalence of well-known European brands. So, Chinese and Korean EVs may not be the first choice for local buyers yet, but there’s clear demand for familiar, proven models, and you can use that data to your dealership’s advantage.

Importing a car to Montenegro - FAQ

► What emission standard does an imported car need to meet?

Used vehicles must meet at least Euro 5, and new vehicles must meet Euro 6 emission standards.

► Do I always need a EUR.1 certificate?

Not always. If the car is worth more than €6,000 or comes from a private seller, you’ll need the EUR.1 certificate. But for EU-made cars worth €6,000 or less, a signed origin statement on the invoice is usually enough.

► Do I need to pay customs duties if the car is from the EU?

If the car qualifies under a trade agreement (like the EU or CEFTA), you may be able to skip the 5% customs duty, but only if you have a valid EUR.1 certificate or an origin statement.