Importing A Car From UK To Malta After Brexit : Simple Steps

 The UK’s exit from the European Union has resulted in certain changes regarding the importation and exportation of vehicles into Malta. The importation regulations can be challenging to grasp if you are not properly informed.

For instance, the entire examination and vehicle registration process must be completed within 30 days of your car’s arrival in Malta, or else you risk being heavily fined for each day the vehicle remains unregistered.

By following the simple steps listed and explained in the write-up below, you can avoid certain common mistakes first-timers make when importing a car from UK to Malta after Brexit.

Bringing In A Vehicle From UK To Malta: The Importation Process

The process of importing a car from UK to Malta in 2022 begins with moving the vehicle between both countries. A trusted transport company, such as Clicktrans should be able to help you successfully bring the vehicle into Malta, after which you must make an appointment for the vehicle to be inspected.

As explained, it is critical to settle the inspection and registration process within 30 days of the vehicle’s arrival in Malta. Whether you are moving to Malta after Brexit permanently or simply bringing in your car for a brief period, the Authority for Transport in Malta must be informed.

Import costs from UK to Malta would vary, depending on the chosen transport company and the vehicle type. However, note that official importation fees must be paid to the Maltese transport department during the vehicle registration, whether the imported vehicle is used or new. 

Registration Process For Cars Imported From The UK To Malta

To successfully register your imported used or new UK car, you will need to sign in with your e-ID on the vehicle registration portal. The Identity Card Unit (ICU) is responsible for both completing virtual registrations and providing electronic cards in Malta. You can confirm the rules for applying for an e-ID card here.

What follows after successfully signing into your account on the portal is a vehicle registration prompt which you should follow to fill in the relevant fields.

You will spend about 20 minutes filling out the online form, so choose a period when you have that much time to spare.

All new vehicles require an original Certificate of Conformity (COC) to go through the online registration. A European Certificate of Conformity is a document that shows that your vehicle meets the required European standards. You should ordinarily still have the COC issued by your vehicle’s manufacturer, but if not, process your authentic EU COC here.

All vehicles that have previously been registered elsewhere are considered used. So unless your imported UK car is less than 6 months from its initial registration date, it counts as a used car and would follow the applicable registration guidelines. Vehicles that have travelled less than 6000km fall under the “new vehicle” category and will be charged differently.

Here are the required documents for registering used cars brought in from the UK to Malta:

• Original vehicle registration certificate carrying your signature or that of the previous owner and yours. If your logbook does not contain fields for both signatures, an invoice from the last owner will suffice.
• Customs and police inspection form (VEH 005), duly signed and stamped.
• Original copy of vehicle insurance document containing your name.
• Signed and stamped application form (VEH 001) and  VEH 002.
• Current UK license plates.
• Mileage verification certificate if your vehicle falls under the M1 category. A CAP certificate is also valid and you can obtain yours here.
• Vehicle inspection document issued by Transport Malta’s Technical Unit.
• Original copy of the notice of arrival bearing your name and referencing your car.
• If your car was registered from January 2021, provide the single vehicle approval test certificate. This document confirms that your car can be registered in the European Union and specifies the vehicle’s C02 emissions.
• Vehicle registration tax certificate if your car is above 4 years old, or 1 year with a mileage of over 160,000km.

Customs charges apply for all vehicles imported from non-EU countries so confirm the necessary fees with the customs. Here is a breakdown of what to expect: 

• Registration tax as determined by Technical Unit. You can calculate yours here.
• €15 administration fee.
• €55 inspection fee.

€70 for standard license plates, €200 for personalized plates, and €1500 for customised plates.