I'm buying a used car imported from another EU member state. Are there safety requirements?

What the Law Says

EU law ensures that vehicles sold or registered in any Member State meet common safety and environmental standards, even when imported second-hand from another EU country.

All motor vehicles placed on the EU market — including used cars imported from other EU countries — must have valid EU type-approval. This means the vehicle model was originally certified to meet EU safety, emissions, and performance standards.

Once imported, the vehicle must undergo a national roadworthiness (technical) inspection before first registration in the new Member State — unless it has already passed an equivalent inspection within the last year in another EU country.

Member States may not impose additional safety requirements beyond those set out in EU law — such as requiring re-testing of components already covered by valid type-approval.

Statutory Text

Member States shall not prohibit, restrict or impede the sale, registration or entry into service in their territory of vehicles which satisfy the requirements of this Regulation.

— Regulation (EU) 2018/858, Art. 17(1)

Statutory Text

A vehicle which has been registered in one Member State and is subsequently registered in another Member State shall be subject to a roadworthiness test before its first registration in that other Member State, unless it has undergone such a test within the previous 12 months.

— Directive 2014/45/EU, Art. 3(3)

Sources