From 1 May 2021, a new accounting system, in which records of the owners of all vehicles are kept, has become operational. In other words, every vehicle, that is present in the country and owned by a Lithuanian resident or company, must have a unique owner declaration code (SDK). Only with this code it is possible to sell or register a vehicle.
If the vehicle was purchased and registered in Lithuania before 1 May 2021, then the SDK was generated for it automatically (except for vehicles that are temporary registered and those that are exported). So, nothing needs to be done by their owners, and the code, that has been assigned, can be verified online:
If the vehicle was purchased before 1 May 2021, but was not registered in Lithuania, then its owner had himself apply to “Regitra” and get the SDK. If this has not yet been done, “Regitra” must be immediately applied to for the SDK.
From 1 May 2021, all vehicles sold in Lithuania must have the SDK. Therefore, before purchasing a vehicle, it is very important to make sure that it already has this code, because it will not be possible to declare a change of ownership and register the vehicle in own name without this code.
If you have purchased the vehicle abroad, more information and the exact steps you need to take can be found HERE.
If you have purchased the vehicle in Lithuania, more information and the exact steps you need to take can be found HERE or HERE.
Before purchasing a vehicle, it is crucial to make sure that it already has the SDK assigned to it, because without this code it will not be possible to declare the change of ownership and register the vehicle in your own name.
You can verify here if the SDK is valid:
More information and the exact steps you need to take after purchasing a vehicle can be found HERE.
A change of ownership of a vehicle has to be declared by:
NOTE. This rule applies in all cases of the vehicle acquisition, for example, in cases of sale, inheritance or gift. Also, for all vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, trailers, etc.
NOTE. The process presented is valid in all cases of vehicle acquisition, for example, in cases of sale, gift, etc. Also, for all vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, trailers, etc.
The process of declaring and registering a change of ownership of a car previously registered in Lithuania consists of the following stages:
At this stage, a purchase-sale contract is entered into. It is very important to make sure that the SDK has already been assigned to the car because it will not be possible to perform the other steps specified below without this code. This code is also recommended to be entered in the purchase-sale contract.
At this stage, the process takes place in the following order:
IMPORTANT. Both parties must confirm the acquisition and transfer. The buyer must do this within 5 days of the transaction and the seller within 5 days of the buyer providing his details.
At this stage, the new car owner must apply to “Regitra” with the newly generated SDK for its registration in order for a new car registration certificate and, if the applicant desires so, of vehicle registration plates to be issued. This can be done in a way convenient for the customer: online or at “Regitra” branch. The car registration procedure itself remains unchanged.
IMPORTANT:
Liudas sold the car to Rytis. On the next day after concluding the transaction, Rytis applied to “Regitra” and submitted an acquisition declaration online. Then, after having logged in to “Regitra” electronic system, Liudas confirmed the data provided by Rytis. After these actions were performed jointly within 5 working days, Rytis became the declared owner of the car and receive the unique SDK that has been assigned to the car. Rytis once again applied to Regitra with the new SDK and registered the car in his name.
NOTE. The process presented is valid in all cases of vehicle acquisition, for example, in cases of sale, gift, etc. Also, for all vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, trailers, etc.
The process of declaring and registering a change of ownership of a car imported to Lithuania consists of the following stages:
If a car was purchased abroad and only now will be imported to Lithuania, before importing the car to the territory of the country, the car owner must apply to “Regitra” and obtain the SDK. This can be done online or at “Regitra” branch, for example, through an authorized person.
At this stage, a purchase-sale contract is entered into. It is very important to make sure that the SDK has already been assigned to the car because it will not be possible to perform the other steps specified below without this code. This code is also recommended to be entered in the purchase-sale contract.
At this stage, the process takes place in the following order:
IMPORTANT. Both parties must confirm the acquisition and transfer. The buyer must do this within 5 days of the transaction and the seller within 5 days of the buyer providing his details.
At this stage, the new car owner must apply to “Regitra” with the newly generated SDK for its registration in order for a new car registration certificate and, if the applicant desires so, of vehicle registration plates to be issued.
The car registration procedure itself remains unchanged. In other words, since the car has not been previously registered in Lithuania, it must be taken to “Regitra” branch for verification of identity.
IMPORTANT. If the vehicle is not planned to be used in public traffic, then it does not necessarily have to be registered.
A Lithuanian company engaged in car trade bought 10 cars in Germany and plans to import them to Lithuania by car carrier. Thus, before importing the cars to Lithuania, the company must apply to “Regitra” and obtain a unique SDK for each car.
Lina bought one of the cars already after they were imported to Lithuania. After concluding the transaction, on the next day Lina submitted an acquisition declaration in “Regitra” electronic system. Thereafter, the woman waited for her data to be confirmed by the representative of the company. Both parties must do this jointly within 5 working days of concluding the transaction. In other words, if Lina declared the transaction concluded within 1 working day, then the representative of the company had 4 working days to perform the actions on his part. After the company has confirmed the data, a new SDK was generated for Lina and she became the declared owner of the car and was able to apply to “Regitra” for its registration.
NOTE. The process presented is valid in all cases of vehicle acquisition, for example, in cases of sale, gift, etc. Also, for all vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, trailers, etc.
The process of declaring and deregistering a change of ownership of a car sold to another country consists of the following stages:
At this stage, a purchase-sale contract is entered into. It is very important to make sure that the SDK has already been assigned to the car because it will not be possible to perform the other steps specified below without this code. This code is also recommended to be entered in the purchase-sale contract.
At this stage, the process takes place in the following order:
After the SDK is deleted, the car is automatically deregistered.
Viktorija sold the car to a foreign resident who came to Lithuania. After concluding the transaction, the foreign resident immediately went to “Regitra” branch and submitted an acquisition declaration, because this has to be done by foreign resident on the day on which the circumstances occurred, i.e. on the same day on which the transaction was concluded. Then Viktorija logged in to “Regitra” electronic system and confirmed the data provided by the foreign resident without waiting for the term of 5 working days, that applies to her, to expire in order for the foreign resident to be able to leave Lithuania by the car that he has acquired. The SDK of Viktorija was deleted and the car was deregistered.
NOTE. The process presented is valid in all cases of vehicle acquisition, for example, in cases of sale, gift, etc. Also, for all vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, trailers, etc.
The process of declaring and registering a change of ownership of a car acquired abroad consists of the following stages:
At this stage, a purchase-sale contract is entered into.
Since a car is registered abroad, no SDK has been assigned to it. Therefore, before importing the car to the territory of Lithuania, a resident of Lithuania must apply to “Regitra”, declare the acquisition and obtain the SDK for the first time. This can be done online or at “Regitra” branch, for example, through an authorized person.
At this stage, the new car owner must apply to “Regitra” with the newly generated SDK for its registration in order for a new car registration certificate and, if the applicant desires so, of vehicle registration plates to be issued.
The car registration procedure itself remains unchanged. In other words, since the car has not been previously registered in Lithuania, it must be taken to “Regitra” branch for verification of identity.
IMPORTANT. If the vehicle is not planned to be used in public traffic, then it does not necessarily have to be registered.
Tomas acquired a car from a foreign resident. The transaction was concluded in Belgium. Before he planned to import the car to Lithuania, Tomas logged in to “Regitra” electronic system and declared the car acquisition, and obtained the SDK that was assigned to the car in order he could later register the car in Lithuania in his name.
NOTE. The process presented is valid for all vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, trailers, etc.
The process of deregistration of a car that has been given away for disposal consists of the following stages:
At this stage, the car is given away to a disposal company, with which the purchase-sale contract or other document is entered into, for destruction. It is very important to make sure that the SDK has already been assigned to the car because it will not be possible to perform the other steps specified below without this code. This code is also recommended to be entered in the purchase-sale contract.
At this stage, the process takes place in the following order:
IMPORTANT. Both parties will have to confirm the acquisition and transfer. The disposal company must do this within 5 days of the transaction and the person who gave away the car for destruction within 5 days of the disposal company providing his details.
After the disposal company has destroyed the car, it must apply to “Regitra” within 5 working days and submit a declaration of destruction (transfer). The existing SDK of the car is deleted because the vehicle is destroyed.
After the SDK is deleted, the car is automatically deregistered.
A company registered in Lithuania provides vehicle disposal services. The company was approached by a person who requested the company to destroy the car that reached the end-of-life stage. After the vehicle was given away to the disposal company, the representative of the company first contacted “Regitra” and submitted an acquisition declaration. Then the person who gave away the car for destruction confirmed the transfer.
Later, the company disposed of the car and within 5 working days the representative of the company submitted to “Regitra” a declaration of destruction (transfer). The SDK of the car has been deleted and the car has been deregistered.
The following documents can prove ownership of the vehicle:
IMPORTANT. The documents must contain the following information to be entered at the time of submitting the declaration: document name; date of issue (drawing up) of the document; country in which the document has been issued (drawn up); share of ownership; amount/value; currency; payment method (cash; bank order; combined payment method – cash and bank order).
Police officers, the officials of the State Tax Inspectorate, of the Lithuanian Customs and of the Financial Crime Investigation Service, also the officials of the State Border Guard Service and of the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration will be able to inspect car dealers.
Inspections will be carried out on the road, at the time cars are transported by car carriers, after stopping individual vehicles, in market places and other car sales outlets, through analysis of vehicle sales advertisements in cyberspace, etc.
The officials of the Lithuanian Customs will be able to inspect the availability of the SDK:
NOTE. Vehicles transported through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania to other countries are not required to have the SDK.
If the person will not declare a vehicle in accordance with the established procedure (there will be no SDK assigned to the vehicle), he will not be able to sell such a vehicle.
Having found out that no SDK has been assigned to the vehicle, the controlling officers may apply administrative liability on the operator or user of such a vehicle.
A fine will be imposed by the authority that has found the violation. A protocol on administrative offenses will be drawn up in accordance with Paragraphs 1 or 2 of Article 431 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (Failure to comply with the requirements set for the owner (operator) of the vehicle).
The owner (operator) of the vehicle faces a fine between 150 and 300 euros for failure to comply with the requirements established in the Law on Road Traffic Safety of the Republic of Lithuania. In case of repeated violation – a fine between 440 and 600 euros.
| Service | Online | At the branch |
| Submission of acquisition declaration and assignment of the SDK (to the buyer) | Free of charge | 4,20 EUR |
| Confirmation of the transfer declaration (for the seller) | Free of charge | Free of charge |
| Submission of the transfer declaration (after sale abroad to a foreign resident or company) | Free of charge | 4,20 EUR |
| Submission of the destruction declaration (to waste management entity) | Free of charge | 4,20 EUR |
