New procedure of customs clearance of vehicles from left bank of Dniester enters into force today

Chisinau, 24 February /MOLDPRES/ – The drivers, who held until 01 November 2016 vehicles with plates issued in administrative – territorial units from Transnistria and Bender municipality, will be able to place them in import customs regime since today, regardless of exploitation term, with payment of 30 per cent of excise duty rate established for 2016.

At a press conference, Finance Minister Octavian Armasu, stated that since today enters into force the Government decision which established the customs clearance of cars previously registered in the districts of Transnistria and Bender municipality. "These vehicles will be registered under privileged provisions, paying 30 per cent of excise duty rate established for 2016. Clearance of transport can be conducted at 39 customs posts, most of these work 24 hours," Armasu said.

The minister also specified that transport can be cleared without presenting the original documents by which they were introduced in Moldova. At the same time, for placement in the import and registration, car owners with number plates from Transnistria, will complete an affidavit, stating that vehicle meets criteria set out in accompanying documents.

"Since 01 April 2017, it will be prohibited on public roads of vehicles with registration numbers of administrative units from Transnistria and Bender municipality to citizens holding driving licence and resident of Moldova on the right bank. As it would be prohibited motor vehicles with licence plates from an unrecognized territorial unit by Moldova. Similarly, cars registered abroad will be allowed to stay in Moldova up to 180 days after to be removed from Moldova or be registered with payment of all taxes ", said Octavian Armasu.

Also, according to provisions, cars with foreign number plates and over 10 years will no longer be registered in Moldova. "We urge citizens not to postpone clearance procedure until the last days of March, because we risk overcrowding at customs offices and drivers likely to fail to register their cars," added Armasu.

According to Finance Ministry, on 01 January – 24 February 2017, customs clearance procedure included over 7.800 cars, being charged to budget 182 million lei. Most cars had licence plates from Lithuania and Bulgaria.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor A. Raileanu)