Knowledge base / Living in Armenia
Bringing a Car to Armenia: EAEU Cars and Temporary Import
Cars registered in the EAEU
Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), so cars registered in member states cross the border freely.
- No customs declaration is required.
- An environmental fee is charged at every entry. For a passenger car with fewer than 10 seats it is AMD 3,750, or AMD 7,500 if the engine does not meet emission norms.
- Armenian compulsory third-party (CMTPL) insurance is mandatory and is sold at the border. Driving in without it costs AMD 100,000.
If you settle in Armenia, you can move the car onto Armenian plates. That means deregistering it in the original country and registering it with the Armenian Road Police. Confirm the current document list with the registration office before you deregister the car at home.
Cars from outside the EAEU: temporary import
This covers cars registered in countries such as Georgia, Turkey or EU states. The rules come from the EAEU Customs Code.
- Declare the car at the border.
You fill in a passenger customs declaration. - Check whether a deposit applies.
What matters is your permanent residence, not your passport. A "foreign person" with no permanent residence in the EAEU brings in a first car without a deposit. A "Union person", meaning someone who lives permanently in the EAEU, including Armenia, must leave a cash deposit covering duties and taxes. - Drive it yourself.
The car stays under customs control and must remain in your possession. Handing it to someone else without customs permission is fined at 20% of the car's customs value. - Take it out in time.
The limit is one year, and the law gives no way to extend it. You cannot leave Armenia and keep the car here.
Note: once you move permanently and get a residence permit, customs may treat you as a Union person, and the first-car exemption no longer protects you.
Full customs clearance
Individuals pay a single EAEU customs payment calculated in euros per cubic centimetre, based on the car's age and engine size. It is especially high for cars older than five years. Companies pay a duty of about 15% plus 20% VAT. The VAT exemption for imported electric vehicles has been extended to 31 December 2026. Always calculate the payments and confirm them with customs before you buy or ship a car.
Papers to keep in the car
- Passport and driving licence.
- Vehicle registration certificate.
- Power of attorney if you are not the owner.
- Armenian CMTPL policy and the environmental fee receipt.
- For non-EAEU cars, the passenger customs declaration.
For licence rules, see Driving in Armenia on a foreign licence.
Common mistakes
- Lending a temporarily imported car to a friend or relative. The fine is 20% of its value.
- Expecting an extension after 12 months. There is none.
- Deregistering the car at home before checking Armenian registration requirements.
- Crossing the border without Armenian insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive my Russian-registered car into Armenia?
Yes. Cars registered in EAEU countries need no customs declaration. You pay an environmental fee at every entry and must buy Armenian CMTPL insurance, which is sold at the border.
How long can a non-EAEU car stay in Armenia?
A car registered outside the EAEU, for example in Georgia or the EU, can be imported temporarily for up to one year, with no extension. To keep it longer, it must be cleared through customs.
Can someone else drive my temporarily imported car in Armenia?
Not without customs permission. The car must stay in your possession, and handing it to someone else is fined at 20% of its customs value.
How much is customs duty to import a car into Armenia?
Individuals pay a single EAEU payment in euros per cubic centimetre based on age and engine size, which is especially high for cars over five years old. Companies pay about 15% duty plus 20% VAT.
Moving your business to Armenia?
We register sole proprietors and LLCs, help open bank accounts and take care of taxes and accounting.
Sources: State Revenue Committee — temporary import notice and guide for individuals; EAEU Customs Code and Armenian laws — arlis.am; EV VAT exemption — VATupdate; vehicle registration — roadpolice.am.