Registering or transferring ownership of a car in Romania

You have bought a car — from a private individual in Romania, from a dealer, or brought in from abroad — and want to put it in your name. This is one of the most common interactions with the Romanian administration, yet it stays confusing because it involves three different institutions: the local tax office, the RCA insurer and the vehicle registration service (plus RAR, for imported vehicles).

The guide below shows you exactly what to do, in the right order, which documents to prepare and what costs to expect.

Registration or ownership transfer: what is the difference?

Ownership transfer (transcriere) applies to vehicles already registered in Romania: the car changes owner and the registration certificate is issued in your name. This is the typical case when buying a second-hand car locally.
First registration (înmatriculare) applies to vehicles never registered in Romania: new cars or cars brought from abroad. In this case you additionally need the vehicle identity card (CIV) from RAR.

The documents and steps are largely the same; the main difference is the RAR step for imported vehicles.

Where you submit the file

The file goes to the public community service for driving licences and vehicle registration in your county of residence (in Bucharest, the municipal service). These services operate under the prefect’s institutions and are coordinated by DGPCI (the former DRPCIV).

You have two options:

At the counter, with an online appointment — find your county’s booking platform on dgpci.mai.gov.ro;
Fully online: since July 2025, DGPCI runs a platform where the transfer application is filed electronically, with document upload and online payment. At launch it covered residents of Bucharest, with national roll-out announced — check the DGPCI website for your county.

Do not forget the RCA

An RCA policy in your name is mandatory when submitting the file. You can buy one online in minutes by comparing several insurers — see our guide to buying RCA online.

Steps to follow

Sign the sale-purchase contract and collect the car's documents. Purchases use the standard 'contract de înstrăinare-dobândire' form (available on the DGPCI website and at local tax offices). The seller hands over the vehicle identity card (CIV), the registration certificate and, ideally, proof of the last periodic technical inspection (ITP). Check on the spot that the chassis number in the documents matches the one on the vehicle.
Sort out the vehicle's tax records. The seller removes the vehicle from the tax records of their local tax office, and you declare the acquisition at your own local tax office within 30 days (art. 471 of the Fiscal Code). The standard contract endorsed by the tax office (or accompanied by the tax attestation certificate) serves as proof when you submit the registration file; the old paper 'registration sheet' is no longer required — institutions exchange data electronically.
Take out an RCA insurance policy in your name. Without valid RCA (mandatory third-party liability insurance) in the new owner's name, the transfer file is not accepted. The policy can be bought online in minutes — see our guide on buying RCA online.
Check the ITP (and RAR, for imported vehicles). The vehicle must have a valid periodic technical inspection. If you are bringing a car from abroad that has never been registered in Romania, you first need the vehicle identity card issued by the Romanian Automotive Register (RAR) after its technical verification.
Submit the file to the registration service (in person or online). The file is submitted to the public community service for driving licences and vehicle registration in your county of residence (or Bucharest), usually with an online appointment. Since July 2025 DGPCI also offers a fully online transfer service, with document upload and electronic payment — initially for Bucharest, being extended nationally.
Receive the new registration certificate. Once the file is approved, the registration certificate in your name is sent by post to the holder's address; in Bucharest and Ilfov it is collected in person. If you requested new plates, you receive those as well.

Required documents

Application form (standard form, at the counter or on dgpci.mai.gov.ro)
The new owner's identity document (original and copy)
Proof of ownership: the standard sale-purchase contract endorsed by the tax office, an invoice or a certificate of inheritance (original and copy)
The vehicle identity card (CIV), in original
The previous registration certificate (for ownership transfers)
A valid RCA insurance policy in the new owner's name
Proof of a valid periodic technical inspection (ITP)
Proof of payment for the registration certificate — 49 lei (plus plates, if you request a new number)
A special notarised power of attorney — only if someone else submits the file on your behalf

Costs

What you pay	Cost	Notes
Registration certificate	49 lei	Payable online on dgpci.mai.gov.ro or ghiseul.ro, or at the counter
Standard number plates (if you request a new number)	40 lei (20 lei per plate)	On ownership transfer you can usually keep the vehicle's existing number
Keeping a specific number combination	30 lei	On request
Personalised number plates	85 lei	Optional, on request
Temporary circulation authorisation (red plates)	13 lei + 20 lei per plate	Valid at most 90 days; typically needed for imported vehicles until registration

Fees change over time. Always check the current amounts on the official websites listed under “Official sources”.

How long it takes

Getting an online appointment takes from a few days to a few weeks depending on the county and season. After the complete file is submitted, the registration certificate is issued on average within 5 working days (at most 20 calendar days) and sent by post; in Bucharest and Ilfov it is collected at the counter.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to transfer the car into my name after buying it?

90 days from the date of acquisition, under art. 11 of Government Ordinance 195/2002. If the deadline passes, the vehicle's registration is suspended by law until the transfer is completed. Separately, you have 30 days to declare the acquisition at your local tax office (art. 471 of the Fiscal Code).

Can I drive the car right after buying it?

Yes. The vehicle remains registered, and under Law 132/2017 the existing RCA policy remains in force until you become the holder of the registration certificate. Be careful though: the seller can notify the insurer and recover the premium for the remaining period, in which case the policy ends — take out your own RCA policy as soon as possible. After 90 days without the transfer, the registration is suspended by law.

Can I keep the vehicle's existing number plates?

Yes. On transfer you can keep the vehicle's current number, and the previous owner can in turn ask to reserve the combination for another vehicle — the fee for keeping a combination is 30 lei.

Can someone else submit the file for me?

Yes, with a special power of attorney authenticated by a public notary. For companies, the file is submitted by a delegate with a company authorisation.

What happens if I never transfer the car into my name?

After 90 days the registration is suspended by law, so the car can no longer be driven legally until the transfer is done. You also remain unregistered as owner: fines and taxes go to the previous owner, and the tax and insurance situation becomes complicated for both parties.