Car tax in Romania 2026: how it is calculated and when to pay

Car tax in Romania — officially the tax on means of transport — is the yearly tax you pay to your local council for every vehicle registered in your name. It is not paid to ANAF (the national tax agency) and has nothing to do with the rovinieta or with RCA insurance: these are three completely separate obligations. Here is how it is calculated, when it is due and where people most often get caught out.

Who pays it, and where

It is owed by the owner listed in the vehicle registration document, to the council of the locality where they are domiciled (or registered, for companies). If you move to another locality, the tax moves with you — you have to file a declaration with the new council.

How it is calculated

The basis for the calculation is the engine capacity, in cubic centimetres. A fixed amount is applied for every 200 cc started, and that amount increases in bands:

• —up to 1,600 cc
• —1,601 – 2,000 cc
• —2,001 – 2,600 cc
• —2,601 – 3,000 cc
• —over 3,000 cc

Note that the increase is not linear. The higher the band your engine falls into, the larger the amount charged per 200 cc — so a 2,500 cc engine does not cost "twice a 1,250 cc one", it costs considerably more.

When it is due

The tax is paid in two equal instalments, with fixed deadlines every year:

• —first instalment — by 31 March
• —second instalment — by 30 September

If you pay the full year in one go by 31 March, you get a discount of up to 10%. The exact percentage is decided by each local council, so it varies between localities.

Where to pay

• —Online, on ghiseul.ro
• —On the council’s own platform — most larger cities run their own payment system
• —At the council’s cash desk
• —By bank transfer, to the account indicated by the council

Exemptions and reductions

• —Fully electric vehicles — completely exempt
• —Hybrids — a reduction set by decision of the local council
• —Historic vehicles — exempt, under the conditions of the law
• —People with disabilities — exempt, according to legal provisions

Exemptions are not applied automatically. You have to file a request together with supporting documents at the council — otherwise you will continue to be taxed normally.

When you buy or sell the car

When buying, you have 30 days to declare the vehicle at the council. The tax starts running from the year following the purchase.

When selling, this is the most common trap: if you do not file the declaration to be removed from the tax register, the council keeps charging you tax for a car that is no longer yours. Many owners only find out years later, when they need a tax certificate and discover an accumulated debt.

How not to miss the deadlines

The two deadlines — 31 March and 30 September — are easy to miss, especially the second one, which falls right after the holiday season. With Carvix you save your car’s key dates and get an automatic reminder in advance, just like for inspection, insurance and the vignette. All in one place.