Import a car from Switzerland to Bulgaria

Why buy a car in Switzerland?

Switzerland can be worth considering when you want a well-kept car, useful equipment and a documented service history. These are reasons to inspect an individual vehicle, not a guarantee about every listing. Compare the car itself and its paperwork rather than relying on where it is advertised.

Before agreeing a purchase, ask for the VIN, the registration document and the available service records. Check that the seller’s details match the contract or invoice. A clear description of the car and its location also helps us plan collection from a private address or a dealership.

The purchase price is only part of the decision. Include transport, customs duty, import VAT and the steps needed for registration. Send us the listing before transferring money so we can explain which documents to request and which parts of the budget still need confirmation.

Customs duty 10% and VAT 20%

For passenger cars imported from Switzerland, our practice is to apply 10% customs duty on the customs value and 20% Bulgarian import VAT. The customs value includes the actual purchase price and transport to the EU border. The VAT base is the customs value, plus customs duty, plus transport to the destination in Bulgaria where that transport has not already been included.

These are separate parts of the import calculation. The purchase price alone is not the VAT base, and the transport cost must not be added twice. Use the actual documents and route to establish which transport costs are already included. We can discuss the calculation using the car link and the available purchase papers before you book.

Customs may check the declared purchase price against market information. Declare the real price and keep the contract, invoice and supporting payment information consistent. A general guide cannot fix the final amount for an unseen vehicle. The applicable vehicle classification and current tariff information can be checked with Bulgarian Customs and TARIC.

Registration in Bulgaria: documents and product fee

Registration is completed with KAT / Traffic Police. Prepare the customs release declaration, the original cancelled Fahrzeugausweis, the purchase contract or invoice with the required translation, a technical inspection where required and civil liability insurance. The product fee must be paid before first registration. State registration charges follow the applicable Ministry of Interior tariff; the annual vehicle tax depends on the municipality.

For M1/N1 petrol and diesel vehicles, the owner-supplied 2026 product-fee table is: new BGN 150 (€76.69); up to 5 years BGN 240 (€122.71); 5–10 years BGN 360 (€184.07); over 10 years BGN 385 (€196.85). These are statutory product-fee reference figures, not our transport or clearance prices. Check the current official table before payment.

For hybrids, the same age bands are BGN 105 / 195 / 290 / 310; for fully electric vehicles, BGN 102 / 180 / 270 / 290. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 at the fixed rate of BGN 1.95583 per euro. Lev amounts here identify the supplied regulatory table; confirm the payable euro amount and your vehicle’s category with the responsible authority.

Keep the purchase, customs and registration stages distinct. A released customs declaration does not itself issue Bulgarian plates, and a product-fee payment does not replace the other registration documents. Confirm the file for your particular vehicle before going to Traffic Police.

From choosing the car to registration

1. Send us the listing, VIN and collection address before paying.
2. Check the seller, purchase document and cancelled Swiss registration certificate.
3. Confirm transport, the import budget and the collection window.
4. Prepare the Swiss export declaration and the transit document.
5. We collect and transport the car to the Port of Lom for customs clearance in Bulgaria.
6. Duty and VAT are settled and the car is released for free circulation.
7. Complete the Bulgarian registration file and register with Traffic Police.