The words used at the counter, in plain English.

The document that lets you drive the car for a limited period before permanent registration. It is the paperwork that comes with the red temporary plates.

The system that raises or lowers your RCA premium based on your history: no at-fault accidents means a lower price, past claims mean a higher one.

Proof that your third-party liability cover is valid outside Romania. For most European countries the cover comes with the RCA policy itself.

Handing the car to an authorised dismantling facility, which issues a destruction certificate. That certificate is used for deregistration.

The document you keep in the car showing who owns it and what its registration number is. Romanians usually call it the talon.

A document from the local tax office showing the car has no unpaid local taxes. It is required when selling or deregistering a car.

The document describing the car: make, model, chassis number, engine. It follows the car for life and is updated at every change of owner.

The contract signed by seller and buyer. The details must match the car documents exactly, otherwise the file is rejected at the counter.

The folder with all documents and completed application forms submitted at the counter. This is what we prepare, checked document by document.

A temporary document issued when the registration certificate is withheld or being processed. It either allows driving or not, and this is stated on it.

The Romanian authority for driving licences and vehicle registration, where registration, deregistration and temporary plate files are submitted. Our office is opposite its Pipera branch.

Registering the car with the tax office of your locality, which is how your annual vehicle tax is calculated. When you sell, the car is removed from your records.

The annual tax paid to your local council, calculated from the engine capacity. The amounts differ from one locality to another.

The procedure by which the car receives a registration number and a registration certificate in the owner’s name.

The compulsory technical check carried out at an authorised station. Without a valid ITP you are not allowed to drive.

A combination of letters and digits chosen by you, for an extra fee, instead of the number assigned automatically.

The red plates valid for a limited period, used until permanent registration. They are issued together with the temporary driving permit.

Confirmation that the car meets Romanian technical requirements. For cars brought from outside the European Union this step goes through RAR.

The metal plates with the car’s number, issued at the counter for a fee together with the registration certificate.

Registering in Romania a car that has never been registered here, for example an imported or a brand new one.

A document signed at a notary giving someone else the right to represent you at the counter. With one, we go to DRPCIV in your place.

Removing the car from the traffic records, for example when it is sold abroad, scrapped or permanently taken off the road.

The institution that inspects vehicles technically, issues the vehicle identity card and handles type approvals.

Compulsory third-party liability car insurance. It covers the damage you cause to others, not your own car, and is required for every car on the road.

The car’s unique 17-character identification number. It appears in the car documents and is stamped on the body.

Putting the car in the new owner’s name after a purchase, that is, changing the details on the registration certificate.