Buying a new vehicle

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Before driving a new motor vehicle on the public highway for the first time, buyers must register the vehicle in their own name and obtain a registration certificate from the National Society of Automotive Traffic (Société nationale de circulation automobile - SNCA).

There are a number of administrative procedures to be carried out with various organisations. These must take place in a specific order:

  • application for a registration number;
  • taking out a civil liability insurance policy;
  • payment of the tax stamp;
  • clearing customs and paying Luxembourg VAT;
  • filing of the administrative papers with the SNCA.

When a private individual purchases a vehicle from a trader (dealer, garage forecourt, etc.), the related procedures are generally performed by professional sales people.

Who is concerned?

Any person:

  • buying a new vehicle from a professional car dealership;
  • wishing to register their vehicle under their name in Luxembourg

The vehicles to which this procedure relates are cars, motorbikes, mopeds, tricycles, quad bikes, motor homes, vans, tractors and machinery (with a maximum design speed of 6 km/h and weighing over 600 kg), trailers (including farm trailers pulled at a speed of over 40 km/h), buses, lorries and semi-trailers.

Prerequisites

Buyers must be listed in the National Register of Natural Persons with a Luxembourg address and a valid identity document.

During the various administrative procedures involved in purchasing a vehicle in a foreign country, buyers will be required to state their identity on several different occasions.

Bill of sale

When purchasing a vehicle, buyers must obtain a bill of sale from the retailer which acts as the purchaser's proof of ownership, identifying both the vehicle and its legal owner. This is, essentially, a sales invoice on the firm's headed paper.

A number of details must appear on a bill of sale:

  • date of transaction;
  • details of the seller;
  • details of the vehicle: the chassis number, the make (manufacturer) and model (commercial name);
  • details of the buyer:
    • for private individuals: surname, first name, address, signature;
    • for businesses and companies: business name, address (+ identification number);
  • the sale price, and whether or not VAT is included;
  • VAT-related data: the VAT on a vehicle must always be paid in the country of destination – i.e. the country where the vehicle is registered.

Luxembourg registration number and number-plates

Before starting the process, future owners must apply for a registration number for the vehicle that they wish to purchase.

Applicants can choose either a standard-series number or a personalised number.

Unlike many foreign registration systems, the allocation of a registration number does not mean that the vehicle is registered, nor that it has automatically been accepted for registration.

Once confirmation has been received that a registration number has been reserved, the licence plate must be printed by a licence plate manufacturer.

Vehicles purchased abroad can be moved to Luxembourg on a trailer or semi-trailer. This avoids temporary registration procedures which, depending on the country, may be rather complicated, to varying degrees. In fact, no registration at all is required for a vehicle that is being transported on a trailer. In addition, each country has its own laws and procedures that may be more or less costly and complex for temporary registration with a view to selling vehicles abroad.

Road vehicles that need to be registered and are covered by insurance can be driven on a public highway in Luxembourg without being registered if they have red plates or licence plates bearing the number that will be used when the vehicle is registered. This applies for the direct journey between the point of sale and the place of registration, as well as for direct transfer to a garage or repair shop for repair, technical modification, conversion or inspection.

Third-party insurance

Driving a road vehicle on a public highway requires a civil liability-type insurance policy (RC Autos) to be taken out with an approved insurance company in Luxembourg.

As soon as future owners are able to inform their insurers of the vehicle chassis number and Luxembourg registration number, they can ask them to issue an international insurance card and proof of insurance (in the form of a sticker) attesting that the owner has taken out liability insurance for the vehicle.

Proof of a valid insurance policy is required in order to register the vehicle in the future owner's name.

Clearing customs and, where necessary, paying Luxembourg VAT

When someone buys a new vehicle, they then have to pay customs duty on the vehicle in Luxembourg so that they can be issued with the road tax disc (vignette 705) needed for final registration in the Grand Duchy.

Tax stamp

For a vehicle to be registered, the future owner must buy a tax stamp (droit de chancellerie or timbre de chancellerie) of EUR 50.

When a vehicle is registered with a personalised registration number, an additional EUR 200 is payable on top of the standard tax stamp. In the event of the transfer of a personalised number from one vehicle to another vehicle that is to be registered, the duty payable is EUR 24.

The stamp may be purchased from one of the competent offices of the Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority (Administration de l'enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA - AED), or the tax can be paid by bank transfer to the following account: LU76 0019 5955 4404 7000 (BIC: BCEELULL).

Stamps are not sent by post.

If paying by bank transfer, the future owner must submit proof of transfer (debit notice) at the time of registration. The following information must appear on the proof of payment:

  • surname, first name;
  • specific reason for the transfer;
  • vehicle registration and chassis numbers.

Tax stamps are also available from the SNCA Registration department. An additional EUR 3 is payable on top of the standard tax stamp.

Costs

In addition to the cost of the vehicle itself and the insurance fees, the following, in particular, are payable:

  • VAT in Luxembourg for any new vehicle purchased, payable to the Customs and Excise Agency;
  • EUR 50 tax stamps in order to register the vehicle, as well as:
    • EUR 200 for a personalised number; or
    • EUR 24 if the personalised number is being transferred;
  • licence plates;
  • additional registration and acceptance testing fees for any new vehicles purchased outside the EU, or for vehicles that have been converted/modified;
  • a conformity sticker for vehicles not subject to periodic roadworthiness inspections.

How to proceed

Motor vehicle registration

In Luxembourg, notice of registration of a vehicle that has been purchased must be given to the SNCA using the following documents:

The customer can choose to carry out this procedure at any one of 3 SNCA sites:

The Sandweiler, Esch-sur-Alzette and Fridhaff sites invite applicants to make an appointment to submit the administrative documents, either online or by phone on (+352) 26626 - 400.

Original copies of all required documents must be produced.

If the vehicle is not covered by a European certificate of conformity—for example, the vehicle originating outside the European Union—or if the documents attesting to the vehicle's conformity are incomplete or show inconsistencies, a vehicle conformity check will be required.

By submitting the administrative documents, owners can register vehicles with the Luxembourg authorities and obtain a vehicle registration certificate in their own name.

Vehicle owners must inform the SNCA of any change of home address within one month.

The person submitting the registration documents to the SNCA must have an identity card. If the documents are submitted by a third party (a person other than the new future owner of the vehicle), a mandate (French, Pdf, 300 Kb) and a copy of the future owner's ID document must be presented at the time of registration. In this event, it is important to ensure that all the documents state the name of the owner and not that of the representative.

Validity of the registration certificate and the conformity sticker

The validity of the registration certificate or the conformity sticker expires when:

  • the end of the period of validity is reached;
  • the document has been lost;
  • the vehicle has been lost or stolen;
  • the vehicle has been declared as scrapped or as being off the road;
  • the vehicle has been sold or transferred to a new owner;
  • the vehicle has been modified or converted;
  • vehicles subject to periodic roadworthiness inspections are no longer covered by a valid technical inspection certificate for more than 2 years.

When a vehicle's registration certificate expires, the vehicle's owner must have a new certificate issued in order to get the vehicle in question back on the road.

Road tax

When registering the vehicle at the SNCA, the owner is issued a temporary road tax disc which is valid for 30 days.

Apart from some exceptions, all vehicles registered in Luxembourg, and used on public roads , are subject to road tax.

The Customs and Excise Agency determines the tax due on the basis of the data registered by the registration authorities in accordance with the rates in force. The decision of the final tax is sent to the debtor of the tax.

If the road tax for the vehicle in question remains unpaid for more than 60 days, the Grand-Ducal Police and customs and excise officers may issue a EUR 74 fine.

If the road tax for the vehicle in question remains unpaid for more than 60 days, the Grand-Ducal Police and customs and excise officers may immobilise the vehicle on public highways.

The Customs and Excise Agency (ADA) now offers the activation of the eDelivery function for road tax invoices. All invoices relating to road tax (Autosteier) can now be issued in electronic format (PDF) in the private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu.

To benefit from this service, interested parties must subscribe to the eDelivery function. The subscription can be made via the MyGuichet.lu private eSpace under 'My data'" in the 'Transport' section, under 'Road tax' (Autosteier). This step is necessary to receive the ADA invoice in the electronic mailbox of the private eSpace.

Moreover, it is now also possible to receive the road tax disc by electronic means. You will need to activate the specific eDelivery function for this. Once the invoice has been paid, the road tax disc will be sent and you can print it out and keep it in your vehicle.

When you receive the new message and the road tax disc in your private eSpace, you will be notified by email.

Parking permit

Many communes now require motor vehicle owners to obtain a permit to park in the neighbourhood where they live. Residents' parking permits are distributed by the commune in question upon submission of a registration certificate.

Good to know

It is now possible to use MyGuichet.lu without a LuxTrust product in order to make an appointment with the reception desk of the Customs and Excise Agency (Administration des douanes et accises - ADA).

The applicant selects:

  • the reason for the application, i.e.:
    • a request for a vignette 705; or
    • other: applicants who choose 'Autre' must give the reason for requesting an appointment;
  • the customs office to which they wish to go for the appointment :
    • Centre (Howald);
    • North (Diekirch);
  • the date and time of their appointment among the proposed time slots.

Please note: Depending on the time slots available, it is possible to select an appointment for the same day.

Online services and forms

Online services

Activate the eDelivery function for the road tax (Autosteier) invoices and/or certificates

Other language(s)

Appointment booking

Prise de rendez-vous auprès de l'Administration des douanes et accises

Downloadable forms

Note: view tips for using PDF forms.

Demande en obtention d'un certificat d'immatriculation

Last update 20.12.2023

PDF308 Kb

Mandat pour toute démarche nécessaire auprès de la Société nationale de circulation automobile

Last update 20.12.2023

PDF302 Kb

My data

Your vehicles and license plates

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Who to contact

Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority

2 of 14 bodies shown

Customs and Excise Agency

2 of 11 bodies shown

Automobile Club du Luxembourg

National Society of Automotive Traffic

2 of 6 bodies shown

SNCT

2 of 7 bodies shown

Related procedures and links

Procedures

Paying VAT for a new or used vehicle purchased in an EU Member State

Links

Further information

Download

Legal references

Code de la route

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