½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Hello spotongeorge,

Welcome to ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Certainly, that's quite a challenging situation.

This forum is typically very active, so hopefully, someone will be able to share their personal experiences and advice on the best thing to do in such a scenario.

All the best,

Cheryl

½ûÂþÌìÌà team

@spotongeorge

Hi spotongeorge,

Can you tell me where you heard about this RH rule? I find it hard to believe.

@SimCityAT its common knowledge, made law after 2018 I think? Ask any Policeman, Solicitor, advisor or simply Google it? No vehicle inspector will approve a RHD vehicle in Romania, so it cannot be registered there. Some used to go to Bulgaria to register their cars (legal there) nuy the Police are wise and you have to be a Bulgarian resident.

    @spotongeorgeHi spotongeorge,Can you tell me where you heard about this RH rule? I find it hard to believe.         -@SimCityAT

It's true Sim, since a few years ago.

My suggestion to George might be to find a local that's heading to UK (or other country that allows RHD cars) to buy it from you.  Try olx.ro and similar sites.  You definitely should have researched this before driving the car to Romania, but it is what it is now...

Romaniac

    @SimCityAT its common knowledge, made law after 2018 I think? Ask any Policeman, Solicitor, advisor or simply Google it? No vehicle inspector will approve a RHD vehicle in Romania, so it cannot be registered there. Some used to go to Bulgaria to register their cars (legal there) nuy the Police are wise and you have to be a Bulgarian resident.
   

    -@spotongeorge

It's legal everywhere else in the EU not just Bulgaria.

   
    @spotongeorgeHi spotongeorge,Can you tell me where you heard about this RH rule? I find it hard to believe.         -@SimCityAT

It's true Sim, since a few years ago.

My suggestion to George might be to find a local that's heading to UK (or other country that allows RHD cars) to buy it from you.  Try olx.ro and similar sites.  You definitely should have researched this before driving the car to Romania, but it is what it is now...

Romaniac
   

    -@romaniac

Ahh OK, but yeah. Advertise to someone going back to the UK, Ireland, Malta etc.... or sell it to a dealership across the border.

At a push drive it back to the UK and sell it there.

For those wanting to see the source regarding RHD cars in Romania.

It has been shown that RHD cars in LHD countries present a higher incidence of accidents, among other factors which led Romania to prevent further imports of them from outside the EU.

@romaniac Thanks. I did research this before I brought it here, it was my only choice, as I was transporting a trailer and two dogs, which would've cost me thousands in haulage otherwise. I am happy to sacrifice the car as its old, biut it seems I cannot even simply scrap it now without paying import duties!

BTW have you ever tried researching anything on Romania from the UK? Romania is not yet online and certainly not English friendly, if you do find anything, it is either pre-communism or pre-Brexit and so not relevant. I found a handful of conflicting instructions regarding vehicles, some written pre-2018 and so no longer valid and the remainder were posts from groups like this, asking for help!

No single authority has online help, instead you are advised to make an appointment at some Government bureau and bring a solicitor, translator and notary with you. Nightmare!!!

Apparently there is a Gov scrappage scheme here, but the only mention I found online was from 'Romanian Insider' blog, which is a paid subscription... Where is the official Government link please?

    @romaniac Thanks. I did research this before I brought it here, it was my only choice, as I was transporting a trailer and two dogs, which would've cost me thousands in haulage otherwise. I am happy to sacrifice the car as its old, biut it seems I cannot even simply scrap it now without paying import duties!
BTW have you ever tried researching anything on Romania from the UK? Romania is not yet online and certainly not English friendly, if you do find anything, it is either pre-communism or pre-Brexit and so not relevant. I found a handful of conflicting instructions regarding vehicles, some written pre-2018 and so no longer valid and the remainder were posts from groups like this, asking for help!

No single authority has online help, instead you are advised to make an appointment at some Government bureau and bring a solicitor, translator and notary with you. Nightmare!!!

Apparently there is a Gov scrappage scheme here, but the only mention I found online was from 'Romanian Insider' blog, which is a paid subscription... Where is the official Government link please?
   

    -@spotongeorge

We're straying a little off-topic, but as someone who lived in Romania for plenty of years I would have to disagree that Romania isn't online and that all the information is very outdated or only pre-Brexit.  To say that info sources aren't English friendly, well they do the best they can, though most if not all Government websites have an English version (though may be roughly translated, but it's clear enough to go by).  Remember English is not the official language of Romania.  As an expat, you'll need to learn Romanain or yes, use the services of a translator, avocat and notary to carry out things.  That's the process in Romania.  Yes, it's frustrating, but I think you're exaggerating a bit.

You'll have more success finding current and relevant information online by searching using Romanian language (use google translate to help you).  The government scrappage scheme I believe you are referring to is the "Rabla" program, which takes in old cars for scrappage in exchange for a credit towards purchasing a new car?  If it is I don't think it would work out for you in this situation.

I don't believe you can even scrap the car at a scrap yard (dezmembrari auto) without it being registered first in Romania.  It's a tough situation, you may just have to get out of the country to do anything with it.

@SimCityAT Diesel cost to UK is £400, Eurotunnel cost is £280, RAC cover across Europe is £150, hotels for 2-3 night stays is £200-300, Vignettes cost just £30, then once in the UK I can double all those prices for my duration there, all for a car worth £900. Just not worth it I'm afraid.

I just want to scrap it right now, but no idea how to legally.

I don't believe you can even scrap the car at a scrap yard (dezmembrari auto) without it being registered first in Romania.  It's a tough situation, you may just have to get out of the country to do anything with it.
   

    -@romaniac

I have a friend once, who found it cheaper to drive over in a banger of a car. He bought it for 500 GBP and scrapped it in the EU or just sold it on to parts. I can't remember. As he was going back to Canada where he lived.

@romaniac Yes the Rabla scheme, once again found two outdated sources of info, one suggested my car should be Romania registered and at least 15 years old, the other said 8 years old and I would need to pay for paperwork 'Handling' of non-Euro cars. I have emailed the  REMAT Militari website for help.

@SimCityAT yes that was my plan, but it seems I can't even scrap it now, without importing it and paying the 30% fee.

    @SimCityAT Diesel cost to UK is £400, Eurotunnel cost is £280, RAC cover across Europe is £150, hotels for 2-3 night stays is £200-300, Vignettes cost just £30, then once in the UK I can double all those prices for my duration there, all for a car worth £900. Just not worth it I'm afraid.
I just want to scrap it right now, but no idea how to legally.
   

    -@spotongeorge

The problem a lot of countries don't have scrap yards as the UK does.

    @romaniac Yes the Rabla scheme, once again found two outdated sources of info, one suggested my car should be Romania registered and at least 15 years old, the other said 8 years old and I would need to pay for paperwork 'Handling' of non-Euro cars. I have emailed the  REMAT Militari website for help.
   

    -@spotongeorge

It's 15 years old, and it must have been registered in Romania for at least 6 years (to prevent people from importing junkers to get credit tickets).  It's on the official Rabla info website (in Romanian)

@romaniac Link please? Apologies for not speaking fluent Romanian, only been here 3 months, must try harder ;-)

    @romaniac Link please? Apologies for not speaking fluent Romanian, only been here 3 months, must try harder ;-)         -@spotongeorge

"ecobonus în valoare de 1.500 lei, pentru casarea fiecărui autovehicul uzat cu o vechime de cel puțin 15 ani de la data fabricației și care are norma de poluare Euro 3 sau inferioară.

Vechimea autovehiculului uzat eligibil în cadrul programului trebuie să fie de cel puțin 6 ani de la data primei înmatriculări în România."

No worries, it can be hard to learn Romanian, at least it was for me and I never got what I would call fluent.  It takes time. 

@romaniac Thanks. I'm learning slowly, but had my hands full, arranging my Romanian wedding, obtaining my Permis De Sedere, then my emigration and the importing of my dogs, all in pigeon Romanglais, all from England. Trust me I'm online constantly, trying to cross the Ts and dot the i's.... but guidance is always welcome.

@spotongeorge

With regard to your car maybe ask in the Bulgaria forum? Is there a scrap yard there?

    @spotongeorgeWith regard to your car maybe ask in the Bulgaria forum? Is there a scrap yard there?         -@SimCityAT

I would think there is, but the issue is that in most countries, especially across the EU, the car must be registered in the country before it can be scrapped.  Otherwise, people could do criminal things, then run off and junk the car in another country to hide evidence of a crime, or evade police, for example.  Without being resident in the country, you can't register the car in that country unless you hold a business there and register the car under the company, which would be a lot of hassle for sub-1000 Euro car. 

I've read that now in Romania, you must have a permit from the police before you can scrap a car, so they can check that there are no outstanding criminal/civil actions pending on it or the owner, also they check that all property taxes on it are paid up.  This wasn't the case entirely when I took my Audi to the yard 6 years ago.

So I popped to Bulgaria last week and back in a day, my passport now has a new date stamp for my car, so its legal to be here for another three months. My UK insurance is another matter, so I might look into Romanian insurance... though I suspect the same ball breaking rules will apply! LOL

    So I popped to Bulgaria last week and back in a day, my passport now has a new date stamp for my car, so its legal to be here for another three months. My UK insurance is another matter, so I might look into Romanian insurance... though I suspect the same ball breaking rules will apply! LOL
   

    -@spotongeorge

Why are you getting passport stamps if you're a resident and hold a Permis de Sedere?  When you cross the border and show your residence permit, they typically aren't going to stamp a passport if they know you're not a tourist.  If you're a resident of Romania, going across the border and back doesn't make the car legal and "reset" the clock.

@romaniac Well they did stamp my passport and legally it says '90 days from entry to Romania' for my car and so yes, it is a reset, if only at first glance. It buys me time to sort the issue properly, so I'm grateful.

If you do a Google search for "cumpar auto pentru dezmembrari neinmatriculat", you might find some useful results for your situation.

I think I read somewhere that the car has to be out of the country for 90 days to reset for another 90 days, othwise you could just do that indefinitely right... 🤣

I'd put an ad on olx and/or autovit for car parts and sell the car bit by bit...