What a car from Germany really costs in Latvia (2026): the full calculation
A car from Germany costs the dealer price, delivery and registration in Latvia. There is no import duty on a car that is already in free circulation in the EU. You pay CSDD fees, taxes and OCTA; Latvian VAT applies only to a «new» car (up to 6 months or up to 6,000 km). For an ordinary used car, €858–1,188 lands on top of the dealer price: transport €550–800, CSDD registration with the first inspection €208 and OCTA for the first year €100–180. The vehicle operation tax comes on top, and its size depends on the car. You can also buy the car through the AutoPase salon — then the price is one figure.
The short answer, in figures
Latvian VAT applies only to a «new» car (up to 6 months or up to 6,000 km).
A car carrier for one car, 2–5 days on the road. Driving it yourself: export plates with insurance €100–150.
€110.00 natural-resources tax + €41.88 certificate and plates + €19.25 unit-number check + €36.95 inspection.
Depends on the car, the driver and the insurer.
Three examples: a €8,000, €15,000 and €30,000 car
The examples are an ordinary used passenger car standing in Germany. The dealer price (€8,000, €15,000, €30,000) is the figure in the ad. Every other number comes from the same calculation the import cost calculator runs and from the AutoPase salon price rules — no amount is typed by hand.
Each example has two paths: «Buying yourself» — the dealer price, your own delivery and the Latvian costs; «Through the AutoPase salon» — one final price. Transport and OCTA are ranges, so the total of the first path is a range.
Dealer price €8,000
Assumption: a petrol car, 1,400 cc, first registered in 2014, CO₂ 130 g/km (NEDC). The operation tax is counted for the months left in the year, registering in October. For another car the figures change — the calculator gives the exact amount.
Buying yourself
| Cost line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dealer price | €8,000 |
| Your delivery to Latvia (car carrier) | €550–800 |
| CSDD registration and first inspection | €208 |
| Vehicle operation tax | €23 |
| VAT | none (the car is not new) |
| OCTA, first year | €100–180 |
| Total | €8,881–9,211 |
Through the AutoPase salon: final price
Buying through the AutoPase salon, the final price is €9,170 (for cars from Germany and Austria; +€200 for other countries). It includes delivery, registration paperwork and the AutoPase fee. Paid separately: CSDD fees, OCTA, the operation tax and the first roadworthiness test. Calculated on 17.10.2026.
Dealer price €15,000
Assumption: a diesel car, 1,995 cc, first registered in 2019, CO₂ 140 g/km (NEDC). The operation tax is counted for the months left in the year, registering in October. For another car the figures change — the calculator gives the exact amount.
Buying yourself
| Cost line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dealer price | €15,000 |
| Your delivery to Latvia (car carrier) | €550–800 |
| CSDD registration and first inspection | €208 |
| Vehicle operation tax | €33 |
| VAT | none (the car is not new) |
| OCTA, first year | €100–180 |
| Total | €15,891–16,221 |
Through the AutoPase salon: final price
Buying through the AutoPase salon, the final price is €16,310 (for cars from Germany and Austria; +€200 for other countries). It includes delivery, registration paperwork and the AutoPase fee. Paid separately: CSDD fees, OCTA, the operation tax and the first roadworthiness test. Calculated on 17.10.2026.
Dealer price €30,000
Assumption: a petrol car, 1,984 cc, first registered in 2022, CO₂ 150 g/km (WLTP). The operation tax is counted for the months left in the year, registering in October. For another car the figures change — the calculator gives the exact amount.
Buying yourself
| Cost line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dealer price | €30,000 |
| Your delivery to Latvia (car carrier) | €550–800 |
| CSDD registration and first inspection | €208 |
| Vehicle operation tax | €25 |
| VAT | none (the car is not new) |
| OCTA, first year | €100–180 |
| Total | €30,883–31,213 |
Through the AutoPase salon: final price
Buying through the AutoPase salon, the final price is €31,610 (for cars from Germany and Austria; +€200 for other countries). It includes delivery, registration paperwork and the AutoPase fee. Paid separately: CSDD fees, OCTA, the operation tax and the first roadworthiness test. Calculated on 17.10.2026.
On the «Buying yourself» path the transport is a car-carrier range. If you drive the car home, export plates, fuel and the way back replace the carrier — there is no price list for that, and it is not in the total.
Every cost line: what it is, who you pay and when
Dealer price
Paid to the seller, usually before the car is handed over or shipped. Check whether the ad price includes VAT: a «netto» figure is meant for businesses, and a private buyer adds the German VAT on top. Check the car’s history and mileage before paying.
Delivery to Latvia
Paid to the carrier. A car carrier costs €550–800 for one car and takes 2–5 days. Driving it yourself needs export plates with insurance (€100–150), fuel, tolls and the way back.
CSDD registration and first inspection
Paid to CSDD when you register the car in Latvia: €208 in all. It has four parts — the natural-resources tax €110.00, the certificate and two plates €41.88, the unit-number check €19.25 and the first inspection €36.95.
Vehicle operation tax
Paid to the state at registration. It depends on CO₂ emissions and the age of the car and is charged for the months left in the calendar year. Electric cars pay none.
OCTA
Paid to the insurer before the car goes on the road. €100–180 for the first year; the car, the driver and the insurer set the exact amount.
VAT
Latvian VAT of 21% is due only on a «new» car — up to 6 months or up to 6,000 km. For example, if a new car’s dealer price without VAT is €30,000, the Latvian VAT would be €6,300. A used car older than 6 months with more than 6,000 km carries no Latvian VAT. For a new car, check the VAT procedure with the State Revenue Service (VID) and the dealer before buying.
What people call “customs” and what is actually paid
In Latvia people often say “customs” or “import duty” for the whole registration of a car. There is no import duty on a car that is already in free circulation in the EU.
You pay CSDD fees, taxes and OCTA; Latvian VAT applies only to a «new» car (up to 6 months or up to 6,000 km). OCTA is insurance, not a tax, but the car cannot be driven without it.
What people often forget
- The dealer’s export papers and plates: before you reserve the car, ask whether they are in the price.
- Export plates and their insurance when you drive the car yourself: €100–150.
- The carrier’s cargo insurance: check that the car is insured and for how much.
- Repairs the first inspection in Latvia uncovers — they are not in any line above.
If you buy through the AutoPase salon
Through the AutoPase salon the price of the car is one figure — the final price on the car page. It includes delivery, registration paperwork and the AutoPase fee (for cars from Germany and Austria; +€200 for other countries). Paid separately: CSDD fees, OCTA, the operation tax and the first roadworthiness test.
Before buying, AutoPase checks the car’s history and mileage, and delivery takes up to 14 days. AutoPase gives no commercial warranty of its own on the car. The consumer rights the law gives against the seller remain.
How ordering through AutoPase works · Cars from Germany — dealer ads
AutoPase car selection
A car from Germany, all-in: AI picks the 5 most suitable, delivered in about 21 days
Search abroadFrequently asked questions
What does it cost to bring a car from Germany to Latvia?
For an ordinary used car, €858–1,188 lands on top of the dealer price: transport €550–800, CSDD registration with the first inspection €208 and OCTA for the first year €100–180. The vehicle operation tax comes on top and depends on CO₂ and the age of the car. The import cost calculator works out the sum for a specific car.
Do I pay customs duty on a car from Germany?
There is no import duty on a car that is already in free circulation in the EU. You pay CSDD fees, taxes and OCTA; Latvian VAT of 21% applies only to a «new» car (up to 6 months or up to 6,000 km). For example, if a new car’s price without VAT is €30,000, the VAT would be €6,300.
What does a €15,000 car from Germany cost in total?
In the example with a dealer price of €15,000, buying yourself and using a car carrier, the total is €15,891–16,221. It covers delivery, CSDD registration with the inspection, OCTA and the operation tax. The assumptions (engine, CO₂, year) are stated in the example; for another car the sum changes.
What does the same car cost through the AutoPase salon?
In the example with a dealer price of €15,000, the final price through the AutoPase salon is €16,310 (for cars from Germany and Austria; +€200 for other countries). It includes delivery, registration paperwork and the AutoPase fee. Paid separately: CSDD fees, OCTA, the operation tax and the first roadworthiness test.
How long does delivery take and is there a warranty?
Before buying, AutoPase checks the car’s history and mileage, and delivery takes up to 14 days. AutoPase gives no commercial warranty of its own on the car. The consumer rights the law gives against the seller remain.
Sources
The sums for Latvian paperwork come from the code modules the import calculator and the car page also use, and match the official pages below. Transport and plate prices are from the carriers’ published pages.
- CSDD — First registration in Latvia with the certificate and two plates — €41.88; comparing the unit/VIN numbers with the car present — €19.25. (2026-09-27)
- CSDD — The natural-resources tax on an M1/N1 vehicle registered permanently in Latvia for the first time — €110.00. (2026-09-27)
- CSDD — The M1 initial inspection costs €34.10 and the road-use permission costs €2.85, for a total of €36.95. (2026-09-27)
- BB Logistik — The average price for moving one car from Germany to Latvia is about €550–600; standard delivery takes 2–4 days. (2026-09-21)
- Kurbads — Car delivery from Germany: "most of the time the delivery fee lands between €550 and €650". (2026-09-21)
- Elite Cars — Transport from €400 to €800 depending on distance; export plates with insurance €100–150; registration in Latvia €150–250. (2026-09-21)
- likumi.lv — The Vehicle Operation Tax Act: the rates and how the tax is paid. (17.10.2026)
- likumi.lv · VID — The Value Added Tax Act: what counts as a «new» means of transport (section 1, point 9). VID is the tax authority. (17.10.2026)
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