Used Vehicle Transfer Tax in Montenegro
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Tax on the transfer of used motor vehicles, vessels and aircraft in Montenegro. Rate 5% of market value, paid by the buyer, request filed with the Tax Administration within 15 days, payment within 10 days of the decision. No vehicle registration without proof of payment.
Key facts
- Rate is 5% of market value — paid by the buyer, not the seller.
- File a request with the Tax Administration within 15 days (Art. 8(1)).
- Tax is due 10 days after the decision is delivered (Art. 8(4)).
- No vehicle registration without proof the tax was paid.
Procedure
This tax is charged only if the transaction is not subject to VAT (Art. 1(1)). A vehicle counts as "used" if the seller had no right to deduct input VAT when acquiring it (Art. 2(2)). In practice: buying a second-hand car from a private individual, or from a company that did not deduct input VAT, triggers this 5% tax. Buying a new vehicle from an authorised dealer with VAT shown on the invoice does NOT — that transaction is already taxed under VAT.
The same tax covers vessels, aircraft and light aircraft — not only cars.
The tax obligation arises at the moment of purchase or other acquisition (Art. 7(1)). If the vehicle is acquired under a court or other authority's decision, the obligation arises on the date that decision becomes final (Art. 7(2)). The market value — which is the tax base — is established from the acquisition documents (Art. 4(2)), so a contract stating a realistic price is the key document.
The buyer must file a request to assess the tax with the tax authority at their seat or place of residence within 15 days of the tax obligation arising (Art. 8(1)). Attach the sale contract or other acquisition document, plus any further documentation the tax authority asks for (Art. 8(2)). If you miss the deadline, the tax authority opens the procedure ex officio (Art. 8(6)) — you still pay the tax, plus a fine.
Unlike real-estate transfer tax, you do NOT self-assess here — the Tax Administration assesses the tax by decision.
The tax authority assesses the liability by decision within 15 days of the request (Art. 8(3)). The tax falls due within ten days of the decision being delivered (Art. 8(4)). If the authority finds the market value stated in the contract unrealistic, it determines the base by valuation or comparable data (Art. 4(3)) — writing a lower price into the contract will not reduce the tax.
A vehicle, vessel or aircraft cannot be registered without proof the tax was paid (Art. 8(5)). Courts, notaries and the companies that carry out technical inspection and vehicle registration must send the tax authority the documents that change ownership within 15 days of the end of the month (Art. 9) — the change of owner reaches the Tax Administration either way.
Key parameters (Law, Official Gazette 127/2025)
| Element | Rule |
|---|---|
| Rate | 5% (Art. 5) |
| Taxpayer | The buyer or acquirer of the vehicle (Art. 3) |
| Tax base | Market value when the obligation arises, per the acquisition documents (Art. 4) |
| When it applies | Only if the transaction is not subject to VAT (Art. 1(1)) |
| Deadline to file | 15 days from the tax obligation arising (Art. 8(1)) |
| Deadline for the decision | 15 days from filing (Art. 8(3)) |
| Deadline to pay | 10 days from delivery of the decision (Art. 8(4)) |
| Revenue goes to | The state budget of Montenegro (Art. 1(2)) |
Exemptions (Art. 6)
| Who is exempt | Situation |
|---|---|
| First-order heir, spouse or common-law partner, same-sex life partner | Inheriting a vehicle from the deceased |
| First-order donee, spouse and partner of the donor | Gift of a vehicle |
| Former spouse or common-law partner, same-sex life partner | Division of joint property on the end of a marriage, common-law union or life partnership |
| State and local bodies, funds, public institutions and budget-financed legal entities | Donation or gift received |
| Donee | Property ceded in probate that they would have inherited had the heir-donor renounced the inheritance |
Penalties (Art. 12–13)
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Failure to file within 15 days — legal entity | €1,000–10,000 |
| Failure to file — individual, responsible person, tax intermediary | €300–2,000 |
| Failure to file — entrepreneur | €300–6,000 |
| Failure to pay within 10 days — legal entity | €600–11,000 |
| Failure to pay — individual, responsible person, tax intermediary | €100–600 |
| Failure to pay — entrepreneur | €200–6,000 |
Additional notes
This is a NEW law: adopted by Parliament on 27 October 2025, published in Official Gazette of Montenegro 127/2025 of 31 October 2025, in force since 8 November 2025. It repealed the previous law (Official Gazette RCG 55/03 and Official Gazette CG 34/14 and 70/17).
The mechanism changed: you no longer self-assess the tax on a return — you file a request, the Tax Administration assesses the tax by decision, and only then does the 10-day payment period start.
The transitional 2.5% rate (Art. 16) applied only to taxpayers who paid within 180 days of the law entering application. That window has closed — the standard 5% rate applies now.
Revenue from this tax goes to the state budget of Montenegro (Art. 1(2)), so the request goes to the Tax Administration — unlike real-estate transfer tax, which municipal tax offices administer.
If the contract, inheritance decision or court decision is not delivered, or is delivered late, the tax obligation is deemed to arise on the day the tax authority learns of the acquisition (Art. 7(3)) — delay does not help.
Importing a vehicle from abroad is a separate procedure with customs duty, excise and import VAT — see the "Customs & Excise" guide.
Required Documents
- Request to assess tax on the transfer of a used motor vehicle
- Vehicle sale contract (or other acquisition document)
- Vehicle registration document
- Tax Administration decision assessing the tax
- Proof of payment
- ID documents of buyer and seller
Legal Basis
Competent Institutions
- Tax Administration of Montenegro
Receives the request, assesses the tax by decision, checks market value and collects payment
- Ministry of Finance
Supervises the law (Art. 11) and prescribes the form of the request (Art. 8(7))
- Technical inspection and vehicle registration companies
Register the vehicle against proof of paid tax; report ownership changes to the Tax Administration (Art. 9)
FAQ
Who pays the tax on a second-hand vehicle — the buyer or the seller?+
The buyer, i.e. the acquirer of the vehicle, pays (Art. 3 of the Law). The seller has no liability on this basis.
What is the tax rate on used vehicle transfers in Montenegro?+
The rate is 5% of the vehicle's market value at the moment the tax obligation arises (Art. 5, Official Gazette 127/2025). A transitional 2.5% rate applied only during the first 180 days of the law's application and no longer applies.
Do I pay this tax when buying a new vehicle with VAT?+
No. The tax applies only where the transaction is not subject to VAT (Art. 1(1)). If VAT is shown on the invoice, this transfer tax is not charged.
What if I state a lower price in the contract than the real one?+
The tax authority verifies the market value stated in the acquisition documents and, if it finds it unrealistic, determines the base by valuation or comparable data (Art. 4(3)).
Can I register the vehicle before paying the tax?+
No. Registration cannot be carried out without proof that the tax liability has been paid (Art. 8(5)).
Is tax due on an inherited vehicle?+
A first-order heir, spouse or common-law partner and a same-sex life partner are exempt from this tax (Art. 6(1)).
Related guides
Real Estate Transfer Tax (PR-OPPN)
One-off tax on purchase / inheritance / gift — rates 3/5/6 %, PR-OPPN form (formerly PR-PPN) filed with the municipal tax office within 15 days
How to Pay Tax in Montenegro
Payment accounts, reference numbers, model 18, IRMS refunds — a practical payment guide
Customs & Excise in Montenegro
Customs number, import, export, import VAT, excise