Estonia Vehicle Tax 2027: 86,000 Old Cars and the €800 Removal Fee
86,000 old vehicles could face Estonia’s vehicle tax in 2027: what should owners do?
From 1 January 2027, Estonia’s annual motor vehicle tax will also apply to vehicles with suspended registration records that belong to taxable categories. This could affect thousands of people who still have an old, unused, sold or destroyed vehicle registered in their name.
On 4 November, ERR reported that approximately 86,000 vehicles could be affected by the changes. Official figures from the Estonian Transport Administration show that 73,211 vehicles with suspended registrations remained after the register cleanup, including 56,397 in categories subject to vehicle tax from 2027.
Another important change concerns the state fee for removing certain missing or destroyed vehicles from the register. Until the end of 2026, eligible vehicles can be permanently removed through a special procedure for €15. From 1 January 2027, the fee for the same procedure will increase to €800.
If a vehicle that no longer exists is still registered in your name, check its status before 31 December 2026. It may qualify for permanent removal with a €15 state fee. If the vehicle still exists but is unused, you can consider temporary removal or official recycling.
Why are so many old vehicles still registered in Estonia?
For many years, Estonia’s traffic register included large numbers of vehicles with suspended registration records.
Some of these cars are still stored in garages or on private property. Others have already been dismantled, destroyed, sold or lost, but the necessary registration changes were never completed.
On 1 July 2026, the Transport Administration identified vehicles whose registration records had remained suspended for at least seven years.
Under the applicable legislation, these vehicles were treated as missing vehicles for the relevant removal procedure. On 1 November, 71,749 vehicles were automatically deleted from the traffic register.
Earlier, 97,668 vehicles had been identified as potentially meeting the removal criteria. However, many owners wanted to preserve their vehicles and applied to replace their suspended registrations with temporary removals.
According to the Transport Administration’s statement of 3 November, 73,211 vehicles with suspended registrations remained after the cleanup. Of these, 56,397 belonged to categories that will be subject to vehicle tax from 2027.
ERR’s 4 November report described a broader group of approximately 86,000 vehicles, including cars that owners had chosen to keep registered. This does not mean that every one of these vehicles will automatically receive a tax assessment.
Further information: Transport Administration announcement and ERR’s report.
What changes to Estonia’s vehicle tax in 2027?
Estonia introduced its annual motor vehicle tax on 1 January 2025. The tax is generally assessed for a calendar year based on the vehicle’s registered technical characteristics and the applicable legal rules.
Vehicles with suspended registration records benefited from transitional rules in 2025 and 2026. From 1 January 2027, this arrangement changes, and vehicles with suspended registrations in taxable categories will also become subject to motor vehicle tax.
Suspended registration and temporary removal are different
Suspended registration (peatatud registrikanne) means that the vehicle’s registration record is suspended, although the vehicle remains in the traffic register. From 2027, qualifying vehicles with this status will be subject to the annual motor vehicle tax.
Temporary removal (ajutiselt kustutatud) is a separate administrative procedure requested by the vehicle owner. If the temporary removal remains valid on 1 January 2027, the annual tax is not assessed on that date.
However, if temporary removal expires during the year and is not extended, tax liability may arise from the day after expiry until the end of the calendar year.
The Estonian Tax and Customs Board provides official guidance on these registration statuses.
€15 or €800: how much does vehicle removal cost?
There are different procedures for removing vehicles from the register. The €800 fee does not apply to every old vehicle or every removal application.
Until 31 December 2026: €15
From 1 January 2027: €800
Applies to eligible vehicles that cannot be removed through the standard certificate-of-destruction procedure.
2026: €15
2027: €15 under current legislation
The vehicle’s existence must be verified, and the relevant administrative requirements must be met.
2026: No state fee
2027: No state fee
Important: the €800 charge is not the annual vehicle tax and is not a penalty for owning an old car. It is a state fee for a specific permanent removal procedure.
See the Transport Administration’s official vehicle removal instructions.
What should owners do with an old car? Four situations
1. The vehicle still exists but is not being used
If your vehicle is stored in a garage or on private property and you want to keep it, temporary removal from the traffic register may be an appropriate option.
Temporary removal is generally available for a period of one to 24 months. Replacing a suspended registration with temporary removal may require evidence that the vehicle still exists, using the Transport Administration’s digital verification service.
Check the expiry date carefully. If you still want to keep the vehicle off the road, extend the temporary removal before it expires.
2. The vehicle exists but is only suitable for recycling
If the car cannot reasonably be repaired, contact an authorised vehicle dismantler or waste handler.
An authorised operator can issue the required certificate of destruction and arrange permanent removal from the traffic register.
Removal with an official destruction certificate is not subject to the special €800 state fee for missing vehicles.
3. The vehicle no longer physically exists
Some vehicles were dismantled, destroyed or lost years ago, yet remain listed in the register.
In such cases, check whether the vehicle qualifies for the special permanent removal procedure.
Eligible vehicles can be removed for a €15 state fee until 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027, the fee for this procedure increases to €800.
4. The vehicle was sold years ago but remains registered in your name
Sometimes a vehicle is sold without the buyer completing the necessary change of ownership in the traffic register.
First, check your vehicle registration information and any available sales documents.
If the sales contract is no longer available, a special removal procedure may apply to certain eligible vehicles. Confirm the requirements with the Transport Administration rather than assuming that an old sale automatically changed the registration record.
How to check vehicles registered in your name
- Open the Transport Administration’s online service.
- Sign in and review the vehicles associated with you.
- Check whether each vehicle has an active, suspended, temporarily removed or permanently removed registration.
- Determine whether the vehicle physically exists and which procedure is appropriate.
- Submit the necessary application, keep confirmation and check the final decision after processing.
Do not leave the application until the last day. The Transport Administration has reported an increase in applications and longer processing times. If your application is pending, monitor official notifications and any requests for additional information.
Free collection of scrap vehicles until 8 November
Estonia’s “Hoov puhtaks!” campaign runs from 19 October to 8 November 2026. Eligible scrap vehicles can be collected free of charge and transferred to authorised waste handlers for recycling.
Participating companies include vehicle dismantlers and metal recycling operators. Collection eligibility depends on the vehicle’s location, ownership and documentation.
For further information, visit the Estonian Environmental Board and the Transport Administration’s announcement.
Frequently asked questions about Estonia’s vehicle tax
Will all 86,000 old vehicles be taxed in 2027?
No. ERR’s estimate covers a broader group of vehicles. According to the Transport Administration, 56,397 vehicles with suspended registrations remained in categories subject to tax from 2027. An individual vehicle’s tax liability depends on its registration status and applicable legal rules.
Is €800 the new annual vehicle tax?
No. The €800 amount is the state fee for a particular permanent removal procedure for certain missing or destroyed vehicles without a standard destruction certificate.
Does an unused car in a garage have to pay vehicle tax?
Not driving a vehicle does not automatically remove its tax liability. Its official registration status is important. Suspended registrations become taxable from 2027 in the relevant vehicle categories, while valid temporary removal is treated differently.
How much does it cost to replace a suspended registration with temporary removal?
The state fee is €15 under current legislation. The €800 fee applies to a different procedure: the special permanent removal of certain missing vehicles.
Can a vehicle be permanently removed without paying the €800 fee?
Yes. Vehicles officially dismantled with the required certificate of destruction can be removed through the normal process without the special removal fee.
Where can I calculate the annual vehicle tax?
Use the official services of the Transport Administration and the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. The amount depends on the vehicle’s category, technical characteristics, age and the applicable tax rules.
What should vehicle owners do before 31 December 2026?
If you own an old or unused vehicle, check its status in the Estonian traffic register.
If the vehicle no longer exists, determine whether permanent removal under the special procedure is available. If you want to preserve an existing vehicle without using it on public roads, consider temporary removal.
The key is to review your registration records before 2027, when both the tax treatment of suspended registrations and the state fee for a specific removal procedure will change.
You may also find these articles useful
Traffic Accidents in Estonia: What to Do and How to Deal with Insurance
Practical guidance on reporting an accident, documenting damage and communicating with insurers.
How to Remove a Vehicle from Estonia’s Traffic Register
Official instructions on temporary and permanent removal, eligibility requirements and state fees.
When Does Estonia’s Motor Vehicle Tax Apply?
Explanations from the Estonian Tax and Customs Board about suspended and temporarily removed vehicles.
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