Car Ownership Transfer in Slovakia (prepis vozidla) 2026 - Steps, Documents and Fees
Sold or bought a used car in Slovakia? Here is who must do the transfer (prepis) and by when, what to bring to the dopravný inšpektorát (DI, the police office that registers vehicles), how much you pay based on engine power and emission class, and how to handle it without the buyer or online.
Who transfers the car and by when
Since 1 January 2023 the car transfer in Slovakia has become much simpler - and the person responsible for it has changed. Many articles online still describe the old procedure.
The seller is responsible
The change of keeper (zmena držby) must be reported to the DI by the current keeper, i.e. the seller (§ 116(1) of Act No. 8/2009). The buyer either comes along or gives a power of attorney with a certified signature.
30-day deadline
The change must be reported within 30 days of the sale (§ 116(3)). The old system, where the seller deregistered the car and the buyer registered it in their own district, no longer applies.
Any dopravný inšpektorát
You can do the transfer at any DI in Slovakia, regardless of where the seller or buyer lives. New documents and new plates, if needed, are handled in a single visit.
The seller is liable until registration
The keeper's rights and obligations pass to the buyer only on the day the change is registered (§ 118(2)). Until then you are still the keeper - speed camera fines and insurer letters will come to you.
Three ways to transfer a car
Depending on who can come to the DI, choose one of three options.
| Option | Who goes | What else you need |
|---|---|---|
| In person together | Seller and buyer | Nothing extra - IDs, registration certificates and the buyer's PZP are enough. The fastest option. |
| In person without the buyer | Seller only | Power of attorney from the buyer with an officially certified signature (or a purchase contract with the buyer's certified signature). Not needed for close relatives. |
| Online | Nobody - via slovensko.sk | ID card with chip (eID) and a qualified electronic signature. The buyer gives an electronic power of attorney or a certified signature. |
Documents needed to transfer a car
List according to the Ministry of Interior (MV SR). If anything is missing, the DI will not register the change.
The seller brings
- A valid ID (ID card or passport).
- Registration certificate part II (osvedčenie o evidencii časť II, the paper "large" certificate); for older cars the technical certificate and registration certificate.
- Registration certificate part I (chip card) - if the buyer is present.
- The buyer's power of attorney with a certified signature - if the buyer is not present.
The buyer brings
- A valid ID (for foreigners - residence card or passport).
- Proof of compulsory motor insurance (PZP) in their name - the policy number or temporary cover is enough.
- Company: extract from the Commercial Register (výpis z obchodného registra) or founding document.
The DI does not require the purchase contract (kúpna zmluva) when both parties come in person, but bring it anyway. If the buyer does not come, a contract with the buyer's certified signature can replace the power of attorney.
How much does a car transfer cost in 2026
The administrative fee for registering a new keeper of a passenger car (item 65 of Act No. 145/1995) is calculated as: rate by engine power × ecological coefficient. The minimum is €33. The applicant pays it - agree with the buyer who covers the cost.
Rate by engine power
| Engine power | Rate |
|---|---|
| up to 80 kW | €33 |
| over 80 to 90 kW | €60 |
| over 90 to 100 kW | €90 |
| over 100 to 110 kW | €120 |
| over 110 to 125 kW | €200 |
| over 125 to 140 kW | €300 |
| over 140 to 155 kW | €500 |
| over 155 to 170 kW | €700 |
| over 170 to 210 kW | €900 |
| over 210 kW | €1,000 |
Ecological coefficient
| Vehicle | Coefficient |
|---|---|
| Euro 1 (first registered up to 1996) | 1.00 |
| Euro 2 (1997 - 2001) | 0.80 |
| Euro 3 (2002 - 2006) | 0.70 |
| Euro 4 (2007 - 2011) | 0.60 |
| Euro 5 (2012 - 8/2016) | 0.50 |
| Euro 6a, b, c (9/2016 - 8/2020) | 0.45 |
| Euro 6d and newer (from 9/2020) | 0.40 |
| Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hydrogen | 0.20 |
| Vehicle older than 40 years | 0.10 |
The coefficient is set by the Euro emission standard in registration certificate part II. The date of first registration is used only if the standard cannot be determined.
An electric car always pays €33, regardless of power.
Calculation examples
| Car | Calculation | In person | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel 85 kW, Euro 5 (2014) | €60 × 0.50 = €30 → minimum | €33 | €16.50 |
| Diesel 110 kW, Euro 6b (2018) | €120 × 0.45 | €54 | €27 |
| Petrol 190 kW, Euro 6d (2021) | €900 × 0.40 | €360 | €310 |
| Plug-in hybrid 150 kW | €500 × 0.20 | €100 | €50 |
| Electric car (any power) | fixed amount | €33 | €16.50 |
When filed electronically, the fee is 50% of the standard amount, but the discount is capped at €50 (§ 6(2) of Act No. 145/1995). So for more expensive cars you save "only" €50 online, not half.
Other possible costs
- Number plates (tabuľky s EČ) - free if they stay on the car. New standard plates €25 each, custom plates (your own combination) €250 each.
- Express issue of the chip card (registration certificate part I) within 2 working days - €45.
- Certifying the signature on a power of attorney at the matrika - €2 per signature; at a notary according to the notarial tariff.
- Exempt from the fee: a car acquired by inheritance, court decision or division of spouses' joint property. Holders of a ŤZP (severe disability) card get a 50% discount.
Car transfer step by step
This is how the transfer goes when you visit the DI in person. The process at the counter itself usually takes a few dozen minutes.
Purchase contract and handover
Sign a purchase contract with the VIN, mileage and price. Check that the car is not leased, pledged or under enforcement (exekúcia) - otherwise the DI will not register the change (§ 118(4)).
Buyer's PZP
The buyer takes out compulsory motor insurance (PZP) in their name before the transfer. The seller's PZP ends at the moment the change is registered.
Power of attorney if the buyer will not come
The buyer signs a power of attorney (MV SR template) and has the signature certified at a matrika or notary. Not needed for close relatives.
Dopravný inšpektorát (DI)
Choose any DI. Many let you book a time slot online in advance; otherwise expect a queue.
Application and plates
At the counter, state that it is a change of keeper (zmena držby), who the new keeper and owner will be, and what happens to the plates (by default they stay on the car).
Paying the fee
The fee is paid on the spot at a payment kiosk (card or cash). The amount depends on engine power and emission class.
New documents
You get the new registration certificate part II immediately; the chip card (part I) is produced and posted to the new keeper's address. Until it arrives, part II serves as the document.
After the transfer: seller's PZP
The seller notifies their insurer of the sale and sends a copy of the change document. The insurer refunds the unused premium.
Start with a good purchase contract
The transfer goes smoothly when the purchase contract has the correct VIN, mileage and details of both parties. See what a car purchase contract in Slovakia must contain and how to protect the seller.
Car purchase contractTransfer without the buyer - power of attorney (splnomocnenie)
The buyer does not have to go to the DI. But then the seller must present the buyer's consent with an officially certified signature (§ 116(4) of Act No. 8/2009).
Official power of attorney template
The Ministry of Interior (MV SR) publishes the template "Splnomocnenie - Súhlas s prevodom držby vozidla na kupujúceho" (consent to transfer the vehicle to the buyer). The buyer fills it in and signs it.
Download the template (minv.sk, DOCX)Signature certification
The buyer's signature is certified by the matrika (obecný or mestský úrad, €2 per signature) or by a notary. Instead of a power of attorney, the seller can also present a purchase contract with the buyer's certified signature. Amounts valid as of 5 October 2026.
Close relatives - no certification
If you transfer the car to a direct relative, sibling or spouse, no certified signature is needed.
Electronic power of attorney
A buyer with eID can submit the power of attorney electronically via slovensko.sk - then no matrika certification is needed.
Who pays and where documents go
The fee is paid by the applicant, i.e. the seller - agree the amount with the buyer in advance. If the buyer is not present, the new documents are posted to them.
Car transfer online via slovensko.sk
You can file the change of keeper electronically, without visiting the DI - and for less.
What you need
ID card with chip (eID), personal security code (BOK) and a qualified electronic signature (KEP). The application is filed via the MV SR portal (portal.minv.sk) - the service "Elektronická žiadosť o prevod držby vozidla na inú osobu".
Buyer's consent
Online filing also needs the buyer's consent: an electronic power of attorney or a scan of a power of attorney or contract with the buyer's certified signature (§ 116a(2)).
Half the fee
The fee is 50% of the standard amount, but the discount is capped at €50. New documents arrive by post. Amounts valid as of 5 October 2026.
What happens to the number plates
The registration number (ŠPZ) does not have to change on transfer - even if the buyer lives in another district.
Plates stay on the car
The standard and cheapest option: the buyer keeps driving with the original plates and pays nothing for them (§ 116(14)).
The seller keeps them
The seller can keep the original plates and within one year have them assigned to another car. The sold car then gets new plates.
New plates for the buyer
The buyer can choose a random number from stock (€25 each), a custom combination (€250 each) or use plates kept from their previous car. Amounts valid as of 5 October 2026.
After the transfer: what else to do
Once the change is registered, the car officially belongs to the buyer. A few things are still easy to forget.
Seller: PZP and comprehensive cover
The seller's PZP ends when the change of keeper is registered. Notify your insurer with a copy of the change document and ask for the unused premium back. Cancel comprehensive insurance (havarijné poistenie) separately.
Seller: motorway vignette
The electronic motorway vignette (diaľničná známka) is linked to the registration number. If the plates stay on the car, the vignette goes to the buyer - factor it into the price.
Buyer: documents and inspection
Check the details on the new registration certificate part II and wait for the chip card by post. Check when the next technical (STK) and emission (EK) inspections are due - without valid PZP the car will not pass STK.
Tax on the sale
Income from selling a private car that was not part of business assets is usually tax-exempt. For a company car, consult an accountant.
Common mistakes when transferring a car
- The seller leaves the transfer to the buyer under the old rules - and gets fines and insurer letters for months.
- The buyer has no PZP in their name at the time of transfer.
- A power of attorney without an officially certified signature - the DI will not accept it.
- Calculating the fee by kW only, without the ecological coefficient - and budgeting far too much.
- The car is still leased or pledged - the change will not be registered without the owner's consent.
- The seller forgets about PZP after the transfer and does not claim the premium refund.
FAQ about car ownership transfer in Slovakia
Who transfers the car - the seller or the buyer?
Since 2023, the seller (current keeper) must report the change of keeper to the DI (dopravný inšpektorát) within 30 days (§ 116 of Act No. 8/2009). The buyer either comes along or gives a power of attorney with an officially certified signature.
How much does a car transfer cost in Slovakia in 2026?
At least €33. The exact amount = rate by engine power (€33 to €1,000) × ecological coefficient by Euro standard (0.10 to 1.00). For example, a 110 kW Euro 6b diesel pays €54, an electric car always €33. Amounts valid as of 5 October 2026.
Is an online transfer cheaper?
Yes. When filed electronically via slovensko.sk the fee is 50% of the standard amount, but the discount is capped at €50. With the minimum fee of €33 you pay €16.50. Amounts valid as of 5 October 2026.
Do you pay separately for the new registration certificates (€9 + €9)?
By law, the keeper registration fee includes issuing the new documents. However, some DIs and calculators list an extra €9 for part I and €9 for part II - to be safe, budget an extra €18. Express issue of the chip card within 2 days costs €45. Amounts valid as of 5 October 2026.
Can the seller transfer the car without the buyer?
Yes, with the buyer's power of attorney with an officially certified signature or a purchase contract with the buyer's certified signature. For a transfer to a close relative (parent, child, sibling, spouse) no certification is needed.
Where can I get the signature on a power of attorney certified?
At the matrika (obecný or mestský úrad, €2 per signature) or at a notary. Abroad - at a zastupiteľský úrad SR (Slovak embassy or consulate). Amounts valid as of 5 October 2026.
Do the number plates have to change?
No. The plates stay on the car even if the buyer lives in another district. New plates are issued only if the seller keeps the old ones or the buyer asks for new ones.
Can I transfer the car at any DI (dopravný inšpektorát)?
Yes. Since 1 January 2023 you can register the change of keeper at any DI in Slovakia regardless of residence, including new documents and plates.
When does the seller's PZP end?
At the moment the change of keeper to the buyer is registered. The buyer must therefore have their own PZP at the transfer, and the seller can ask the insurer for a refund of the unused premium.
What if the transfer is not done within 30 days?
The seller breaches a duty under the Road Traffic Act and may be fined. On top of that, until registration they are liable for the car - camera fines, insurer letters. So do the transfer as soon as possible after the sale.
Is a valid STK and EK inspection required for the transfer?
The STK and EK certificate is not presented for the change of keeper itself. But a car without a valid inspection must not be driven on public roads, including to the DI.
How does it work for an inherited or gifted car?
Transferring an inherited car is fee-exempt - you present the final inheritance decision. A gift pays the standard fee; for a close relative no certified signature is needed.
Today you can transfer a car in Slovakia in a single visit to any DI or online. The key is that the seller does not leave the transfer to the buyer, the buyer has PZP, and both work out the fee by kW and Euro standard in advance.
Published 5.10.2026 · Updated 5.10.2026
Information only, not legal advice - confirm current fees with the DI.
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