Register a car in Iceland or change its owner

Imports end at an inspection station, sales are reported online

A car you bring into Iceland has to be pre-registered with the Icelandic Transport Authority (Samgöngustofa) and cleared through customs before it can be inspected. The inspection station then registers it and issues the permanent number plates. When a car simply changes hands, the seller reports the sale online and the buyer approves it.

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How it works

Register or transfer a vehicle

Register a car you bought or imported, or transfer it to a new owner.

When you buy, import or sell a vehicle, its registration has to be updated. A first registration or an import usually requires proof of ownership, a valid technical inspection, insurance, your ID and proof of address; imports may also need customs or tax clearance and new plates. When you buy a used car within the country, the seller and buyer often complete the transfer together, sometimes online, at a post office or at a registration counter. Expect fees for plates and registration documents.

Also searched as

car registrationregister a carvehicle registrationimport a carchange of vehicle ownershipnumber platesregister an imported car

At a glance

Offices
30 offices in 14 cities
Book online
At 12 of 30 offices
Apply online
At 1 of 30 offices

Stations set their own days and booking rules

Where to take your car for registration

Registration inspections are done at approved inspection stations, with several in larger places such as Reykjavík and Hafnarfjörður and a single station in many smaller towns. Look at how a station takes visitors, then confirm opening times and booking rules before you travel.

See the stations

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Other countries

The same task in other countries

Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.

Where to next

Stations that register vehicles in Iceland

Find the inspection stations that register imported vehicles and hand over plates, and see how each one takes bookings.

Vehicle registration stations in Iceland

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