How to check RAR Auto-Pass, ITP validity, the VIN, documents and condition of a car in Romania, then transport and register it safely in Poland.
The Romanian market is rapidly becoming digital. That is good news for buyers, but it also creates a new temptation: download a certificate and consider the work finished. The right approach uses RAR data as an outline for the questions that a technician will verify on the specific car.
RAR Auto-Pass and ITP are two different layers
RAR Auto-Pass is a digital certificate from the Romanian authority that covers recorded events and mileage data. A separate RAR service allows you to use the VIN or CIV number to check whether a valid ITP is recorded in the database.
The buyer should compare the VIN, first-registration date, mileage sequence and technical records. The certificate must be current and come from the official source. A screenshot without a verifiable identifier is not enough.
An imported car’s history gap may predate Romania
Many Romanian used cars were imported from Western Europe. Establish the country of origin, import date, registration documents and history from before the Romanian period. A continuous Romanian record does not automatically begin with the first kilometre of the car’s life.
Also verify the seller and the chain of ownership. At a dealership, establish whether it is selling its own car or merely acting as an intermediary. The contract and payment must reflect its actual role.
The physical inspection should test the most likely discrepancies
Measure the paint panel by panel and inspect the welds, floor, sills and axle mounts. On a lift, look for corrosion, leaks, play and unprofessional repairs. Diagnostics must not be limited to the engine if the car provides access to ABS, airbag, transmission and other control units.
On a diesel, check the DPF, EGR, injection system and turbocharger to the extent permitted by the available data and road test. On an older SUV, pay attention to the four-wheel-drive system and mismatched tyres that may place strain on an expensive drivetrain.
Export and deregistration must connect with the Romanian documents
Before signing, verify the current permanent-export deregistration process with DGPCI and the local tax authority. Romanian procedures may require a certificate showing that the seller has no local tax liabilities relating to the vehicle, the surrender of documents or plates, and the issue of export documents.
Do not rely on a commercial blog without verifying the procedure. For Romania, before publication the editor must obtain a current primary-source page with the complete list because document availability and names may change.
After arriving in Poland
Crossing the Polish border does not make the car administratively ready. A used car from the EU is generally not subject to customs duty, but the buyer must settle Polish excise duty, registration and insurance, as well as a technical inspection or translations where necessary. The AKC-US declaration is normally filed within 14 days of the tax liability arising, and the tax is paid within 30 days. An application to register a car imported from another EU Member State must be filed within 30 days of import.
VAT cannot be determined merely from the fact that a car is advertised as used. Under EU rules, a car is new if it has no more than 6,000 km on the clock or was supplied within six months of first registration. It is considered used only when both opposite conditions are met. For a dealer invoice, the VAT scheme applied also matters. Keep the RAR Auto-Pass and ITP record in your own documentation, but the original registration and ownership documents are decisive for Polish registration.
A Polish administrative step cannot rescue a missing document from Romania. Before paying, check that the proof of purchase, foreign registration, any deregistration confirmation and technical documentation form a continuous chain for a single VIN.
Warning combinations
The car has Romanian records for only the past year, the seller will not show the earlier foreign documents and the paint reveals several repairs. The ITP is valid, but the VIN on the certificate is illegible. A dealership wants payment to a private account. Or the export documents are to arrive by courier after departure. These are situations in which to stop the transaction.
FAQ
What does RAR Auto-Pass show?
Recorded data and events within the scope of the Romanian system, including mileage records. Check the precise current contents with RAR.
How can you check ITP validity?
The official RAR service allows you to check it using the VIN or CIV number.
Does RAR Auto-Pass include history from before import?
Not necessarily. For an imported car, investigate the previous country and documents separately.
Does a valid ITP mean the car is in good condition?
No. ITP is a periodic inspection, not a complete pre-purchase inspection.
Primary sources
- RAR - Auto-Pass - Romania’s digital history certificate
- RAR - ITP check - check ITP validity using the VIN/CIV
- PUESC - AKC-US - declaration within 14 days, payment within 30 days
- Polish Ministry of Infrastructure - vehicle registration - the 30-day deadline and registration framework
- Your Europe - VAT when buying or selling a car across borders - new versus used cars for VAT purposes
