The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation has clarified the conditions under which an imported vehicle can be regarded as imported for personal use. In this context, it may benefit from a preferential recycling fee rate of 3.4 thousand rubles for a new car and 5.2 thousand rubles for a used car, a detail reported by Rossiyskaya Gazeta with reference to the department’s press service.
The ministry also reminded that one prerequisite is that customs duties and taxes on the vehicle are paid at uniform rates or in the form of a lump-sum customs payment as provided for in Chapter 37 of the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union.
A car with a confirmed import date before December 21 of the current year may qualify as imported for personal use if, at the same time, these conditions are met: a purchase and sale contract signed before October 29 of the year; and if the vehicle design safety certificate or electronic passport was issued before December 21.
On October 29, 2023, new rules took effect, under which the recycling fee tariffs for individuals buying cars in EAEU member states and bringing them into the Russian Federation for personal use from August 1, 2023 were raised by an average of 250 times, aligning with commercial rates for legal entities.
Earlier, automobile expert Egor Vasiliev explained that the purpose behind the increase in the recycling fee for cars offered for resale is to bolster the domestic market and to deter players involved in gray parallel import schemes. Since August 1, the recycling collection rates have risen by a factor of 1.7 to 3.7.
Russian automakers proposed delaying the recycling fee payment at year end for vehicles produced in 2024. AvtoVAZ president Maxim Sokolov stated that a postponement would assist automakers in managing working capital amid high lending costs. The proposal received backing from KamAZ and GAZ.
Drivers and industry observers have noted the sharp rise in recycling charges, seeking to understand the policy aims behind this adjustment and its impact on consumers, manufacturers, and the broader market.
In the broader context, the government continues to align import rules with the Eurasian Economic Union framework while balancing revenue needs with market competitiveness. The stated objective is to support domestic production and ensure compliance with environmental and safety standards across the region. These changes reflect ongoing efforts to harmonize rates and procedures for personal-use imports within the EAEU, while offering certain exemptions to enforce policy goals and stabilize the automotive sector. [Source attribution: Rossiyskaya Gazeta; official press releases from the Ministry of Industry and Trade; expert commentary by industry observers]