How to register a car in Luxembourg

Before starting the registration procedure, it's important to determine whether you actually need to do it. Generally, you will need to register a car in Luxembourg in the following cases:

There are two exceptions for special groups of people:

After determining whether you need to register your vehicle, the next step is to collect the paperwork that you must provide for the procedure. The first two necessary documents (invoice and registration) are supposed to be in your hands when you became the owner of a car. If you for some reason don't — contact the person or company with whom you purchased the vehicle.

Necessary documents

Something's missing

Make sure you've gathered all the documents before applying.

*The mandatory items are marked with red asterisks.

Payment invoice

Proof of obtaining the car. Needed also in case you are not written as the owner of the vehicle on the previous registration documents; you must present the original invoice.

Foreign registration documents

It is essential to present the documents in full, as in the EU, several countries provide a two-part registration certificate. Both parts are required.

The tax stamps

Proof of taxes and fees payments, that you will collect during your preparation.

Certificate of compliance (COC)

This document confirms, that the car meets EU safety and environmental standards.

Proof of valid insurance

A certificate of insurance, policy, or green card (international certificate), that is commonly used to demonstrate that your car is insured when traveling abroad.

The customs document

The 705 sticker is issued by the Customs and Excise Agency in Luxembourg, proving that a vehicle is in order with regard to VAT.

An identity document of the owner and/or holder of the vehicle

Required for identification.

Roadworthiness certificate

A special document, that indicates that the car is safe to drive and tested regularly, including details on test results, vehicle identity, and the date of the next test.

Something's missing

Make sure you've gathered all the documents before applying.

*The mandatory items are marked with red asterisks.

Luxembourgish license plates consist of two letters, followed by four numbers. The first letter on the license plate can indicate the region in Luxembourg where the vehicle is registered, while the second letter is usually chosen by the vehicle owner. The four numbers in the middle of the license plate are assigned sequentially by the Luxembourgish authorities.

Sourse: Luxtoday

It is necessary to install license plates on a vehicle before driving it on public roads in the country. Before initiating the registration process, you must request a registration number for the vehicle.

Getting legalised can be very confusing for some people from different contries. Usually you buy a car firstly, then you go to the registration office, they check it and issue the documents, and after that you have the plates. In Luxembourg, it's the other way round. First you get the number plates!

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Getting the registration number in Luxembourg

Getting the license plates in Luxembourg

When registering a car in Luxembourg, this certificate is one of the required documents that must be provided to the authorities. The EU Certificate of Conformity (COC) is a document that confirms that a car meets the safety and environmental standards set by the European Union.

It is valid in all EU countries once you receive it for your vehicle. Do not mix it up with National Certificates of Compliance, which are only valid in the country where it was issued. The document is obligatory for all new cars that are sold or registered, so if you plan to buy a brand-new car in Luxembourg, you will receive these documents with it.    

The certificate contains information about the car

Make and model

Engine type

Fuel type

Emissions data

To obtain a compliance certificate for a car, the manufacturer must carry out a series of tests and inspections to ensure that the car meets the requirements of the system. The certificate is then issued by the manufacturer and provided to the owner of the car.

For previously owned cars

If your old manufacturer cannot provide you with the certificate, but you have the technical data documented in the foreign registration certificates or previous technical reports, you may attach these documents when registering the vehicle. SNCA should be able to proceed with the registration without problems or guide you to the next step.

Before driving your car on public roads in Luxembourg, it is mandatory to have a third-party civil liability-type insurance policy in place. To get insurance for your vehicle, you need to provide the vehicle number and Luxembourg registration number to an approved insurance company.

There are various companies, that provide insurance services in Luxembourg. You need to choose the right one, based on the compensation amounts, best offers, and other important factors. The most popular insurance companies in Luxembourg are AXA, Bâloise, Foyer, and LALUX.    

If you're purchasing a new or used vehicle from a country outside the European Union, you'll need to carry out certain customs clearance formalities to register it in Luxembourg. This procedure includes customs formalities for the payment of customs duties and the VAT if it’s a new car.

You will need to bring the originals of the following documents to the agency (they will give them back to you later):

• The Certificate of Conformity (COC).
• An invoice or a sales contract.
• The registration number reservation paper.
• The previous registration certificate (if the vehicle has already been operated).
• The insurance certificate.
• Your national identification number.

It is almost impossible to do anything without a customs agent. There are several customs agents in Luxembourg. I would recommend anyone who has to go through such a procedure to search for them. In Luxembourg it is not as frightening as it seemed.

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As a car owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your car is in a roadworthy condition at all times. This means that your car should be regularly maintained and serviced, and safe to drive. You are required to present your car for roadworthiness testing, which is a mandatory inspection that assesses the safety and environmental standards of your vehicle and gives you a Certificate of roadworthiness.    

When you move to another EU country with a car

You will need to provide proof that it has passed a roadworthiness test in your previous country of residence. That means, that if you already have a certificate for a vehicle in another EEA Member State or Switzerland, it will remain valid as long as you register the vehicle in Luxembourg within 6 months of arriving at the commune.

Keep in mind that the frequency of roadworthiness testing may vary in different EU countries. Therefore, if you are planning to move or travel with your car, you should check the specific requirements of the country you will be driving in to ensure that you are compliant with their regulations.

A certificate that is done correctly is valid even if the ownership of the car changes: you won't need to obtain a new certificate if you buy your car from an individual.

How to pass a technical inspection

If you don't have a valid certificate, or the inspection documents are not up to date, you must have the vehicle inspected by an approved technical inspection body in Luxembourg before you can register it. The inspection will cover the safety and roadworthiness of the vehicle, so it's important to make sure that the vehicle is in good condition before you take it in for inspection.    

There are several companies, that can perform authorized inspections for the registration of cars in Luxembourg. All of them have convenient online appointments available on the website, and price rates for all types of vehicles can be found there.

To register your car, you will need to pay the stamp duty. We mentioned before, that you will need to pay for your license plates later when you reserve them. The moment had come. The amount will depend on the registration number type you have chosen:

• 50 euros for the current series numbers;
• 100 euros for personalized numbers (50 euros of the normal tax + 50 euros extra fee);
• 74 euros for personalized numbers – reuse (50 euros of the normal tax + 24 euros extra fee).

To pay the stamp duty you have two options, paying in-person, and with a wire transfer:

After the technical Inspection, you should already have all the necessary documents, now it’s time to take them all and go to the SNCA to register your vehicle. To avoid mistakes, follow the instruction:

1. Make an appointment on the official SNCA website
2. Wait for a response email

   They will send you an email with an application form (registration certificate application form), a memo, and the date of the appointment. You must complete that form and bring it along with the full package of documents for car registration on the day of the appointment.

3. Get registration approval

   Within 8-10 days, you will receive an answer about whether the registration is approved or not.

4. Pay the registration fee

   If it is approved, you must go to SNCA and pay the registration fee.

5. Receive the document and check them carefully

   Special attention should be given to the correct spelling of the owner's name and surname, model of the car, color, and other data in the received documents.

6. Receive your registration certificate and temporary tax sticker

   If everything is in order, the SNCA will issue your registration certificate and a provisional tax sticker valid for 30 days. All vehicles registered in Luxembourg, are subject to the road vehicle tax that needs to be paid to the Customs and Excise Agency every year. With the provisional tax sticker, you have 30 days to pay that tax, you will be notified of the amount to be paid and once the payment has been made, you will receive the permanent road tax receipt by post.