Calculator
Car import duties in Moldova
Excise, luxury surcharge and customs fee — at 2026 rates and under the new rules from 1 January 2027.
Import duty calculator
For private individuals importing for personal use
Enter the engine size, year of manufacture and price to see the result here.
What the car costs on the road
Price, shipping, customs and everything else — as one figure.
BNM rate for 27.10.2026: 1 EUR = 20.2161 MDL, 1 USD = 18.0582 MDL. This is an estimate; customs sets the final amount. Registration, insurance and the roadworthiness test are paid separately.
How import duties are calculated
The customs value is the car's price plus shipping and insurance to the Moldovan border. The luxury surcharge and the customs fee are calculated from it, so shipping from the US or Europe has to be included from the start.
Excise is the main payment: engine displacement in cm³ multiplied by the rate in the table below. The rate depends on fuel, displacement and the car's age (counted from the year of manufacture). In 2026 full hybrids get a 25% discount and plug-in hybrids 50%; mild hybrids (48V) pay the full rate and electric cars are exempt.
The luxury surcharge is an extra excise when the customs value is 600,000 lei or more. The percentage (2 to 10%) applies to the whole value, not just the amount above the threshold.
The customs procedure fee is 0.4% of the customs value.
20% VAT is currently not charged when a private individual imports a car for personal use: its introduction has been postponed. If the rules change, we'll update the calculator.
2026 excise rates, lei per cm³
Annex 2 to Title IV of the Tax Code. From 1 January 2027, petrol and diesel rates rise by 10%.
| Age, years | ≤1000 | 1001–1500 | 1501–2000 | 2001–3000 | >3000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | 9.56 | 12.23 | 18.90 | 31.14 | 55.60 |
| 3–4 | 10.00 | 12.67 | 19.34 | 31.58 | 56.04 |
| 5–6 | 10.23 | 12.90 | 19.57 | 31.81 | 56.27 |
| 7 | 11.25 | 14.19 | 21.53 | 34.99 | 61.90 |
| 8 | 12.38 | 15.61 | 23.68 | 38.49 | 68.09 |
| 9 | 13.62 | 17.17 | 26.05 | 42.34 | 74.90 |
| 10 | 16.34 | 20.60 | 31.26 | 50.81 | 89.87 |
| 11 | 21.24 | 26.79 | 40.63 | 66.05 | 116.84 |
| 12 | 26.24 | 31.79 | 45.63 | 71.05 | 121.84 |
| 13 | 31.24 | 36.79 | 50.63 | 76.05 | 126.84 |
| 14 | 36.24 | 41.79 | 55.63 | 81.05 | 131.84 |
| 15 | 41.24 | 46.79 | 60.63 | 86.05 | 136.84 |
| 16 | 46.24 | 51.79 | 65.63 | 91.05 | 141.84 |
| 17 | 51.24 | 56.79 | 70.63 | 96.05 | 146.84 |
| 18 | 56.24 | 61.79 | 75.63 | 101.05 | 151.84 |
| 19 | 61.24 | 66.79 | 80.63 | 106.05 | 156.84 |
| 20+ | 66.24 | 71.79 | 85.63 | 111.05 | 161.84 |
| Age, years | ≤1500 | 1501–2500 | >2500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | 12.23 | 31.14 | 55.60 |
| 3–4 | 12.67 | 31.58 | 56.04 |
| 5–6 | 12.90 | 31.81 | 56.27 |
| 7 | 14.19 | 34.99 | 61.90 |
| 8 | 15.61 | 38.49 | 68.09 |
| 9 | 17.17 | 42.34 | 74.90 |
| 10 | 20.60 | 50.81 | 89.87 |
| 11 | 26.79 | 66.05 | 116.84 |
| 12 | 31.79 | 71.05 | 121.84 |
| 13 | 36.79 | 76.05 | 126.84 |
| 14 | 41.79 | 81.05 | 131.84 |
| 15 | 46.79 | 86.05 | 136.84 |
| 16 | 51.79 | 91.05 | 141.84 |
| 17 | 56.79 | 96.05 | 146.84 |
| 18 | 61.79 | 101.05 | 151.84 |
| 19 | 66.79 | 106.05 | 156.84 |
| 20+ | 71.79 | 111.05 | 161.84 |
Luxury surcharge: customs value in lei → rate
- ≥ 600,0002%
- ≥ 700,0003%
- ≥ 800,0004%
- ≥ 900,0005%
- ≥ 1,000,0006%
- ≥ 1,200,0007%
- ≥ 1,400,0008%
- ≥ 1,600,0009%
- ≥ 1,800,00010%
What changes on 1 January 2027
- Excise on petrol and diesel cars rises by 10%. For a new 1001–1500 cm³ petrol car, for example: 13.45 lei/cm³ instead of 12.23.
- Only plug-in hybrids (PHEV) keep a 25% discount. Full (HEV) and mild hybrids will pay the full rate.
- Electric cars lose their exemption: excise will be charged by weight — 7.89 to 45.87 lei/kg for cars up to 2 years old, more for older ones.
- Flat amounts for collector cars rise: 90,000 lei for 30–39 years (now 40,000), 75,000 lei for 40–49 years (now 30,000), 60,000 lei for 50+ years (now 20,000).
Parliament adopted the law on simplifying tax and customs legislation in its final reading on 22 October 2026. If your car is already on its way, clearing it before 31 December 2026 will cost less.
FAQ
How much does it cost to import a BMW into Moldova?+
It depends on engine size, age and price. For example, a 2019 petrol BMW 2.0 (1998 cm³) cleared in 2026: 7 years old, rate 21.53 lei/cm³, excise of about 43,000 lei. Add the 0.4% customs fee and, if the car is worth more than 600,000 lei, the luxury surcharge. The calculator above gives the exact estimate.
Why does a diesel cost more to import than a petrol car?+
Diesel uses different displacement bands: a 1501–2500 cm³ diesel pays the same rate as a 2001–3000 cm³ petrol car. So a 2.0 diesel pays noticeably more than a 2.0 petrol — at 7 years, 34.99 lei/cm³ versus 21.53.
How is the car's age calculated?+
From the year of manufacture: the year of clearance minus the year of manufacture. A 2019 car cleared in 2026 counts as 7 years old.
Is there an age limit for imported cars?+
No, importing older cars isn't banned. But the excise rate rises sharply after 10 years and peaks at 20.
Do I pay VAT on an imported car?+
A private individual importing a car for personal use currently pays no VAT — its introduction has been postponed. You pay excise, the luxury surcharge (if it applies) and the 0.4% customs fee.
Is shipping part of the customs value?+
Yes. The customs value includes the car's price plus shipping and insurance to the Moldovan border. For a US car that's several thousand dollars, so include it from the start.
Are there discounts for hybrids and electric cars?+
In 2026: electric cars pay no excise, plug-in hybrids pay 50% of the rate, full hybrids 75%, mild hybrids (48V) the full rate. From 2027 only plug-in hybrids keep a 25% discount, and electric cars start paying excise by weight.