A complete guide to buying, registering, and owning a car in Serbia — from purchasing a vehicle to obtaining license plates and annual renewal.
The information in this guide may be incomplete or outdated. Laws and regulations in Serbia may change. Before making important decisions, be sure to consult official sources or professionals.
You can buy a car in Serbia from a private seller or from a dealership. When purchasing from a private individual, a purchase agreement (ugovor o kupoprodaji) must be drawn up and notarized. Check the vehicle's history, outstanding fines, and any liens. Popular platforms for finding cars include Polovni Automobili and Car Go.
When buying from a dealership, the dealer typically handles part of the paperwork.
To register a car in Serbia, you will need:
Before registration, every vehicle must pass a technical inspection. Inspections are carried out at authorized testing stations, a list of which is available on the Agency for Traffic Safety website.
The inspection covers:
The cost of an inspection is approximately 4,000 to 6,000 dinars. If the vehicle fails, you will receive a list of issues that must be resolved before retesting.
Vehicle registration is handled at a Ministry of Interior (MUP) office. The process is as follows:
Upon first registration, you will be issued license plates. Plates are tied to the region — for example, BG for Belgrade, NS for Novi Sad. The cost of plates is approximately 3,500 dinars. When a vehicle changes ownership, the plates are typically reissued.
Vehicle registration must be renewed every year. For renewal, you need to:
Make sure to renew on time — driving with an expired registration carries fines.
If you are importing a vehicle into Serbia:
Customs duty depends on the engine size and the age of the vehicle. Cars older than 10 years may be subject to higher environmental fees. Detailed information is available on the Customs Administration website.