Importing a car from abroad is a common solution for people who are looking for a larger selection, better price or a specific model that is hard to find in Bulgaria. But after the purchase comes a very important question: how to bring the car safely, on time and with no unnecessary costs.
The topic is especially relevant, because in our country used cars continue to occupy a very large share of the market. According to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory, in 2025 Bulgaria has over 3.5 million light and light-commercial vehicles, and according to data cited by DAT Group, as of December 1, 2024 registered used cars are roughly five times more than new ones.
When a car carrier is a better option than driving it yourself
A car carrier is a good choice whenever you do not want the car to travel a long distance under its own power. This applies both to purchases from abroad and to cars from car showrooms, auctions or private sellers, especially if the car is unregistered, damaged or needs to be delivered together with other cars.
Another benefit is that the car does not accumulate additional kilometers. With used cars this matters, because you often do not know the real condition of the tires, battery, brakes, etc. If the car is bought at auction or from a yard, it may have stood for a long time, have a weak battery, damage, missing technical inspection or registration that does not allow legal road movement.
The car carrier is particularly suitable when you want a predictable process. Instead of you organizing temporary plates, insurance, route, overnight stays, road taxes and the risks of driving a unfamiliar car, we at A Logistics clarify in advance where the car is located, what its condition is, who releases it, what documents exist and where it should be delivered.
From which countries are cars most often imported to Bulgaria
The most common directions for transporting cars to Bulgaria are countries with a large used-car market, strong dealer networks, leasing vehicles, corporate fleets and online auctions. However, the term and price do not depend only on the country. There is a difference whether the car is in a big city, an industrial zone, a small settlement, a yard with business hours, an underground parking lot or an address with difficult access for the car carrier.
- Germany – one of the largest car markets in Europe. In 2025 Germany recorded 6,512,427 transfers of used light vehicles, which explains why the country is among the main sources for imports to Bulgaria.
- Italy – a popular destination for urban cars, family cars, car showrooms and auctions. In 2025 the Italian used-car market reached 5,593,646 transfers, and the ratio is 2.1 used cars for every new one.
- Austria – sought after due to proximity to Bulgaria, good road infrastructure and an active market for newer cars. In 2025 Austria registered 284,978 new light vehicles, a 12.3% increase and the highest level since 2019.
- Netherlands – a common direction for cars from leasing, dealers and auctions. In 2024 the country saw 2,047,285 used cars change ownership, up 9.1% from 2023.
- Belgium – a popular market for corporate and leasing cars. In 2025 registrations of used cars in Belgium were 734,165, representing 63.9% of the total car market.
- France – a large market with a developed dealer network and a significant car fleet. According to ACEA, France had over 38.8 million light vehicles in 2022, and French statistics report 1.665 million new registrations in 2025 with a slight increase in used-car sales.
- Switzerland – a common destination for more expensive, well-equipped and maintained cars, but since the country is not part of the EU, customs documents are more important and must be clarified before transport. According to ACEA, Switzerland had 4.77 million light vehicles in 2022.
- Spain – used for cars from dealers, auctions and private sales, especially when the purchase is good in price, but logistics must be planned more carefully due to the distance. In 2025 Spain sold 2,218,824 used light vehicles, up 4.2%.
For each of these directions, grouping with other cars along the route can make the transport more economical, but requires a realistic timeframe. Therefore, already at the beginning at A Logistics we specify the exact city, address, condition of the car, the yard’s working hours and whether there are special loading conditions.
What does auto transport by car carrier involve
Transport by car carrier means that the car is taken from a specific point – address, car showroom, warehouse, etc. – and delivered to Bulgaria or to a specific city, as agreed. In international transport there are usually several key stages: confirming the address, checking the documents, agreeing with the contact person, loading, transport, unloading and handover.
The main options are a large car carrier for several cars, a smaller car carrier or a platform for a single car, open transport and enclosed transport. For mass import, open carrier is the standard and most economical solution because it allows the transport of several cars on one route. Enclosed transport is discussed for high-value cars, classic cars, sports cars or cases where you want extra protection from weather conditions.
At A Logistics, for the country from which the car originates, we also consider the exact loading address, the exact delivery address, whether the car is drivable, whether there is a key, whether there are documents, whether it is accessible for a car carrier, and whether there is a deadline for removal from the yard or auction. Through all these data we can prepare the most accurate and realistic offer possible.
What documents are required for transporting a car
For transport within the EU, documents for purchase or ownership, registration documents, sender and recipient details, as well as a transport document are usually required. European registration rules state that when the registration certificate has two parts, both parts should usually be presented during registration; authorities may require proof of ownership and to verify data on the invoice and VAT regime.
When buying a car from another EU country there is no customs clearance as with imports from a non-EU country, but it matters whether the car is new or used for VAT purposes. According to EU rules the car is considered new for VAT if it is not more than 6 months old or has traveled no more than 6,000 km; for cars from non-EU countries import, customs declaration and VAT apply.
For cars from Switzerland, the United Kingdom or Turkey customs documents must be clarified in advance. The European Commission defines a customs declaration as an official document with data for goods imported or exported from the EU customs territory. For a car from the United Kingdom, for example, British rules require notifying DVLA for permanent export, and the buyer receives the full V5C document, necessary for registration in another country.
Missing document, missing key or incomplete data for releasing the car can delay loading. Therefore it is good not to wait for the car carrier to arrive to check that everything is available.
Loading, securing and mistakes that are made at the very start
Loading begins before the car carrier arrives. First, a date or window for pickup is agreed, the exact address is confirmed, the contact person is checked and it is clarified whether the car can move on its own. Upon arrival an inspection is conducted, visible damages are described, the car is loaded onto the car carrier and secured with special belts and fixing means.
Proper securing is not a formality. The European Commission states that poorly secured cargo can fall, disrupt the balance of the vehicle and cause an incident, with up to 25% of truck accidents linked to poor cargo securing. Directive 2014/47/EU states that the load must be secured so that it withstands forces during acceleration and braking, including 0.8 times the weight forward and 0.5 times the weight sideways and backward.
The most common loading problems arise not from the transport itself, but from insufficient information:
- The car is located on a narrow street, in a small yard or underground parking, where the car carrier cannot access;
- it was not stated in advance that the car does not start, has no battery, a punctured tire or blocked wheels;
- the key is missing or the steering wheel is locked, which makes loading difficult;
- photos have not been taken and visible scratches, dents or missing items before loading;
- the car contains personal belongings that were not agreed as part of the transport;
- there is no clearly listed on-site contact person or the yard operates only at certain hours.
When the car is in an underground garage, inner yard, narrow parking or a low-height zone, it may be necessary to move it to a more convenient loading point. This is much easier when known in advance, rather than when the car carrier is already at the address.
Insurance and responsibility when transporting cars
When transporting a car it is important to ask in advance what responsibility the carrier has and under what conditions the coverage applies. The “Carrier’s Liability” insurance usually covers liability for total or partial loss and damage to the cargo during automobile transport, according to applicable policy rules and conditions.
However, this does not automatically cover every old scratch, previous impact, mechanical fault, worn battery or a problem that the car already had before loading. Therefore the car’s condition must be documented at pickup. For expensive, classic or sports cars it is reasonable to pre-determine limits, exclusions and whether additional insurance or a special type of transport is required.
The best protection is a combination of precise photos, described visible damages, correct transport document and clear terms. This is not bureaucracy, but a way to avoid disputes at delivery.
Why good logistics are so important when importing a car
Transporting a car to Bulgaria is part of the deal itself. If logistics are well planned, you know when the car can be picked up, who hands it over, what documents are needed, how it will be loaded, how it is insured and where it will be delivered.
For imports from the EU, the emphasis is on ownership documents, registration documents, transport and subsequent registration. For imports from non-EU countries, customs documents, VAT and procedures for bringing the car into the Union are added. Official European rules clearly distinguish purchases within the EU from imports from third countries, so the car’s origin is important already when planning the transport.
At A Logistics we plan the transport in advance so that car transport does not become a problem after the purchase. We check the route, access, the car’s condition, documents and loading conditions so that delivery to Bulgaria can be clear, traceable and predictable.