The process for removing older cars from circulation in Estonia has been altered, with an upcoming registration fee increase to 800 euros for deregistration starting next year.
In Estonia, the methods by which older cars are removed from circulation have changed significantly due to the introduction of higher fees. Starting next year, the cost to deregister a lost or self-scrapped vehicle will increase to 800 euros, up from the current fee of 15 euros. This change gives vehicle owners a limited timeframe to manage their registrations before the fee hike takes effect. Last year alone, without the deregistration fee, approximately 60,000 vehicles were removed from the registry, highlighting the impact of the current low cost on registration practices.
The head of the vehicle registry department at the Estonian Transport Administration, MΓ€rten Surva, clarified during a Radio 2 morning program that the increased fee primarily affects cases where the vehicle has been destroyed or dismantled without meeting regulations, rather than vehicles that are still physically present. This distinction is vital for understanding the impact of the financial barrier the new fee creates for owners of older, potentially non-compliant vehicles.
Surva emphasized that the fee adjustment is being framed as an environmental charge, suggesting that it is intended to encourage better management and accountability for older vehicles that may contribute to environmental issues. As the new regulations roll out, there is an expectation that more vehicle owners will take appropriate action regarding their older cars, considering the significant financial implications of failing to do so, which may further impact the visibility of old cars on roads and highways in the coming years.
