Major overhaul ahead: Hungary’s draft regulation on vehicle fees

The Ministry of Construction and Transport has prepared a new draft regulation that will significantly change the fees for the registration and technical inspection of road vehicles in Hungary. The draft cites inflation and rising costs for the authorities, while aiming to improve environmental protection and road safety.

According to Portfolio, the main reasons for the fee increase are inflationary pressures and the rising costs of regulatory investigations. The proposal also emphasises the environmental aspect: part of the money raised would be used to improve environmental systems and road safety programmes. Such projects include, for example, improving air quality and increasing energy efficiency. These measures could contribute to a sustainable transport system, according to the draft’s authors.

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Significant fee increases in technical audits

One of the most important elements of the draft is the level of the fee increases. For example, the price of a general approval would rise from HUF 178 900 (EUR 437) to HUF 242 100 (EUR 592), an increase of more than 35%. Equally significant changes will affect the approval of vehicle parts and conversion procedures. Fees for ADR permits, or permits for vehicles carrying dangerous goods, will also increase dramatically, by up to 39%. The increases cover a wide range of segments, including single and serial vehicles, as well as vehicles produced in a multi-stage production process.

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A detailed overview of the price changes

The restructuring of fees affects a number of areas. Some prominent examples are:

Serial registration permit: will increase from HUF 178 900 (EUR 437) to HUF 234 000 (EUR 572), an increase of 30.8%.

Serial variation approval: the new fee is HUF 144 600 (EUR 353), up from HUF 109 000 (EUR 266), an increase of more than 32%.

Individual marketing authorisation: from HUF 22 800 (EUR 55) to HUF 30 600 (EUR 74), an increase of 34%.

Replacement of the “technical file”: from HUF 580 (EUR 1,4) to HUF 900 (EUR 2,2), an increase of 55%.

These changes will affect not only private individuals but also companies, especially those involved in the transport of dangerous goods.

The draft regulation is currently under public consultation, which will end on the 19th of December 2024. The adopted regulation is expected to enter into force on the 1st of February 2025 and the changes will apply to subsequent proceedings. The draft also includes rules on the refund of fees: if the client makes an additional payment or the procedure is not started, the amount paid will be refunded within a maximum of eight days.

What do these changes mean for car owners?

The planned fee increases could place a significant financial burden on both individuals and businesses. The increase in the cost of registration and conversion procedures could be particularly sensitive for those planning to buy new vehicles or convert existing ones. And the increase in the cost of ADR permits could put industrial and logistics operators in a difficult situation.

The new draft regulation will change the system for the registration and technical inspection of road vehicles in several ways. The measures are intended to improve road safety and environmental protection, but the scale of the fee increases could place a heavy burden on those affected. The public consultation is still open for comments on the proposal, the final form of which could have a long-term impact on the regulation of road transport in Hungary.

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