Importing a vehicle into Andorra: procedures, taxes and environmental requirements

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🏁 Importing a vehicle into Andorra: what you need to know

Andorra attracts car enthusiasts with its low taxes, scenic mountain roads and well-maintained vehicle fleet.
However, importing a vehicle into the Principality involves meeting several technical, environmental and fiscal requirements — particularly for used or classic cars.

This article explains which vehicles can be imported, what procedures are required, and the limits applicable depending on age and emissions.

Once imported, Andorra also allows custom licence plates. To learn more, read Personalised licence plates in Andorra: requirements and costs.

🚗 New or used vehicles: key differences

🔹 New vehicles

New vehicles can be registered without difficulty provided that they:

• Have a European certificate of conformity (COC).
• Comply with the EURO 6d or higher emission standard.
• Meet internal Andorran regulations and prove payment of 4.5% IGI.

🔹 Used or imported vehicles

When a vehicle has already been registered abroad, additional conditions apply:

• It must be no more than six years old.
• It must comply with EURO 6 or, at most, one level below the current standard (EURO 6 for cars, EURO 5 for motorcycles).
• It must pass a technical registration inspection verifying safety, noise and emissions.

👉 Vehicles that do not meet these standards cannot be registered, unless recognised as historic vehicles.

In exceptional cases — such as inherited or agricultural vehicles — the Government may authorise registration beyond six years if all other technical conditions are met (Articles 10.6 and 10.8 of Decree 534/2022).

📋 Required procedures and documentation

The main steps to import a vehicle into Andorra are as follows:

Customs declaration

• Present the invoice or sales contract and the transport document.
• Pay the Indirect General Tax (IGI) of 4.5%.
• Provide the certificate of conformity (COC) or an equivalent.

Technical inspection (ITV)

• Mandatory for all imported vehicles, except brand-new unregistered ones.
• Verifies emissions, noise, lighting, brakes and structural safety.

Registration application

• Submitted to the Andorran Vehicle Registry.
• Proof of IGI payment, ownership and mandatory insurance is required.

Obtaining licence plates

• Once approved, plates are issued by the Automòbil Club d’Andorra.

➤ For details on the full procedure, read Vehicle registration in Andorra: procedures and requirements.

🌱 Environmental and technical requirements

🚗 Cars and light vehicles

• Petrol: minimum EURO 5, though EURO 6 is generally required for registration without additional inspection.
• Diesel: minimum EURO 6 (EURO 4 or 5 diesel engines are accepted only in exceptional cases, such as certified classics).
• Vehicles meeting EURO 6d or 6d-TEMP (from 2021 onwards) have unrestricted access.

👉 In practice, EURO 6 is the real minimum standard for cars.

🏍️ Motorcycles and mopeds

• Since 2020, the EURO 5 standard applies to new motorcycles.
• Some EURO 4 models (2016–2019) may still be registered if they pass the Andorran technical inspection.
• Mopeds (up to 50 cc) must meet at least EURO 4.

👉 In practice:

• EURO 5 is the current standard for motorcycles.
• EURO 4 is only accepted for recently manufactured imports (up to ~2019).

🧓 Historic and classic vehicles

Historic vehicles are governed by Article 100 of the Traffic Code (Law 12/2021).
To be recognised as historic in Andorra, a vehicle must:

• Be more than 25 years old.
• Be in good condition, preserving its original characteristics.
• Pass a specific technical inspection, less strict than the ordinary ITV.
• Obtain the historic vehicle certificate issued by the Government.

🔸 These vehicles receive a special plate marked with “H” and may benefit from:

• Partial exemptions from taxes and inspections.
• Special import permissions even if not meeting EURO standards.
• Restricted use for exhibitions, events or recreational purposes.

👉 Example: a 1985 Porsche 911 or a 1960 Land Rover Series II can be registered as historic if they retain their original configuration.

💰 Applicable taxation

The main taxes and fees on vehicles in Andorra are summarised below:

• IGI (Indirect General Tax): 4.5% on the declared or market value.
• Registration tax: varies depending on vehicle type and emissions.
• Circulation tax: set by each parish (communal level).
• Plates and administrative management: handled by the Automòbil Club d’Andorra.

➤ To understand vehicle taxation after registration, see Vehicle taxation and communal taxes in Andorra.

➤ For a broader perspective on the Andorran tax system, read Taxation in Andorra: structure and tax rates.

⚠️ Limitations and practical advice

• Vehicles without EU approval or with unauthorised modifications (engine remapping, DPF or catalytic converter removal) are not allowed.
• Electric and hybrid vehicles benefit from fiscal and environmental incentives.
• Temporary imports (for competitions or events) may obtain special circulation permits.

In short, importing a vehicle into Andorra is perfectly feasible — provided the technical and fiscal regulations are strictly followed.

🧾 Legal references

The legal framework governing vehicle importation in Andorra includes:

• Law 12/2021, of 13 May, Traffic Code.
• Decree of 7 March 2012, on vehicle registration and inspection.
• Decree 534/2022, of 14 December, on vehicle registration and registry (in force in 2025).
• Regulation (EU) 540/2014, on vehicle noise levels.
• EURO 5, 6 and 6d standards (light vehicles) and EURO 4–5 (motorcycles) recognised by Andorra.

Conclusion and advisory support

Importing a car into Andorra can be an excellent decision, but each case depends on the vehicle’s origin, year and engine type.

If you wish to import your vehicle or register a classic car, ELYSIUM Consulting manages the entire process — from customs to final registration — ensuring full technical and fiscal compliance so you can drive in Andorra with total peace of mind.

To better understand life in the Principality, read Living and working in Andorra: what to know before relocating.

And remember: as in most countries, driving under the influence of alcohol is penalised. For more information, see Alcohol and driving in Andorra: legal framework, penalties and consequences.

Last review date: November 2025.