Homologation of an imported car in BiH: Euro 5, price and documents

A car imported into BiH must pass homologation at an authorised technical service before customs will clear it. A used car needs an emission approval at the Euro 5 level or later. Fees are the same across BiH: 244.00 KM with a CoC and 267.40 KM without, VAT and tax included.

Why homologation comes before customs

A vehicle imported into BiH must be homologated before it can be cleared through customs (Rulebook on vehicle homologation, Službeni glasnik BiH 83/20 and 8/22, article 4). The Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH runs it through an administrative body (a consortium led by Centar motor d.o.o. Široki Brijeg) and authorised technical services, which inspect the cars.

Some cars, such as one brought when moving to BiH after at least 12 months abroad, one inherited under a final court decision or an oldtimer, can be exempted on request to the Ministry; they get an identification and technical-condition check instead, at 75% of the homologation fee. The rules guide covers the conditions.

When and where it is done

At the border you get a transit declaration, and the deadline written on it applies (the BiH customs guide explains it). Within that time the car must reach an authorised technical service, so agree a date in advance. The services are listed on homologacija.gov.ba: companies across BiH, many of them inspection stations or car dealers, and two faculties. An inspection anywhere else needs the Ministry's written approval.

With the certificate, the import is completed at an inland customs office, where duty and VAT are paid (the BiH customs guide covers this).

Which cars pass: Euro 5 and other conditions

Since 1 June 2019 a used passenger car needs an emission approval to UNECE Regulation 83, 06 series, or to Regulation (EC) 715/2007 with 692/2008, or a later series or regulation (Službeni glasnik BiH 23/19). Regulation 715/2007 is the EU regulation for Euro 5 and Euro 6, so in practice Euro 5 is the minimum and a Euro 4 car fails. For battery-electric cars the rules also list a UNECE Regulation 100 approval. How the emission rule applies to hybrids and electric cars is not confirmed, so ask a technical service before you buy one.

There is no age limit. The car must also:

be adapted to right-hand traffic, with the steering wheel not right of centre;
have a speedometer that reads km/h;
have a rear number-plate light.

Which documents to bring

You need one of two documents:

The original CoC, if it was issued under Directive 2007/46/EC or later. The brand's authorised representative checks its data; the homologation portal says the technical service scans the CoC for them, so you need not visit them.
Or the original manufacturer's certificate (potvrda proizvođača), from the manufacturer or its authorised representative; the portal lists the representatives.

Also bring the German registration document, the sales contract and/or invoice, the customs declaration (the rules do not say which one; ask the technical service), any manufacturer's technical data needed and proof that the fees are paid.

Hand in originals: if the application is refused, the attached originals go to the administrative body.

What it costs

The 2022 price list (Službeni glasnik BiH 50/22), which the homologation portal still lists as current in September 2026, applies at every technical service (Rulebook 83/20, article 53). Its amounts exclude VAT (17%).

Homologation of a passenger car: 170 KM plus VAT, 198.90 KM.
CoC check: 30 KM plus VAT, 35.10 KM.
Or a manufacturer's certificate: 50 KM plus VAT, 58.50 KM.
State administrative tax: 10 KM, without VAT (cut from 20 KM in April 2023).

Total: 244.00 KM with a CoC, 267.40 KM without. Any tests under special procedures cost extra.

How to pay

Proof of payment is needed to start, so pay first.

The homologation fee goes to the administrative body's account.
The fee for the CoC check or the manufacturer's certificate goes to the document's issuer or to the administrative body.
The 10 KM tax goes to the single treasury account of BiH (revenue type 722194). Since 3 January 2025 the budget organisation code for the Ministry is 2301999, not 0902999.

On 20 August 2026 the Ministry told the administrative body that a tax payment not made exactly as instructed must be made again; you can request a refund of the wrong one. Copy the payment details from homologacija.gov.ba.

The certificate, and what if the car fails

A car that passes gets the Potvrda o usklađenosti pojedinačnog vozila (certificate of conformity of an individual vehicle), often called the homologation certificate. You show the original and hand in a copy at customs, and again at the technical inspection; it also reaches the registration authority electronically.

If the car does not comply, you get 30 calendar days to fix it, and customs is informed. The re-inspection is at the same technical service, and the deadline can be extended with the Ministry's consent. If the defects cannot be fixed, the car fails again or it is not brought back in time, the Ministry refuses the certificate by decision.

Common mistakes

"Homologation costs 150 KM." That was the 2010 price (Službeni glasnik BiH 89/10), replaced in 2022; it is now 170 KM plus VAT.
"About 254 KM in total." That used the old 150 KM fee and 20 KM tax; it is now 244.00 KM with a CoC or 267.40 KM without.
"You have 10 days after entry." The deadline is the one written on your transit declaration; the BiH customs guide explains it.
"File the JCI and pay duty first, then homologate." Customs will not clear the car without the certificate.
"Cars older than 10 years cannot be imported." There is no age limit, only the emission rule.

This step of the import

Work out the whole cost

Sources

The official laws, decisions and pages this guide rests on, read on 23/09/2026. Rules and amounts change, so check the ones that matter to you before you buy.