Registering a US car in Lithuania: homologation and registration
A car from the USA can be registered in Lithuania once it meets EU requirements. Carwise prepares the car and handles the homologation, the roadworthiness test and the registration with Regitra. Our fee is €300; the homologation itself costs about €250.
Our fee: €300 + work on the car
At a glance
- DocumentsWe check what you have
- HomologationConformity assessment
- Registration with RegitraLithuanian plates
What is homologation, and why is it needed?
Cars built for the US market are made to US requirements, not European ones. So before a US-spec car can be registered in Lithuania, it needs a conformity assessment, also called homologation.
After the homologation come the roadworthiness test (TA) and the registration with Regitra. We handle all of it.
If the car needs changes, we tell you what and why before any work is done. We do the modification work ourselves and with partners.
Who is this service for?
Private buyers and dealers. What matters is that the car comes from the USA and needs to be registered in Lithuania.
Private buyers
You have brought, or will bring, a car from the USA and want it registered in Lithuania.
Dealers
You bring cars from the USA and want us to handle the paperwork and registration in Lithuania.
Dealers and importers: terms by agreement. For dealers and importers
How do I register a US car in Lithuania?
Homologation first, then the roadworthiness test and registration with Regitra. You send the documents, and we handle the rest.
You write to us
Send us the VIN, where the car is now and which documents you have.
You get a price
We tell you what needs changing and what is missing, and send you the price of the work in writing.
Preparation
We prepare the car to EU requirements and book the homologation and the roadworthiness test in advance.
Homologation and registration
The homologation, roadworthiness test and registration with Regitra usually take 1 working day. Then we hand the car over to you.
What should I send for a quote?
The VIN, where the car is, and photos of the documents you have. We send the price of the work in writing once we have seen the documents.
- The car’s VIN
- Where the car is now: in the USA, on its way, or already in Lithuania. We generally take cars imported by someone else too, depending on the state of the documents.
- Photos of the documents you have: the US title, the purchase invoice and the customs declaration.
- Whose name to register it in: a private person or a company. We will need your power of attorney. If we import the car in our name, no power of attorney is needed.
Our fee
€300 + work on the car
We handle registration in Lithuania. The cost of work on the car depends on the model.
What it costs
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Homologation, including the mandatory wheel alignment | about €250 |
| Roadworthiness test (TA) | up to €30 |
| Pollution tax at registration with Regitra | €0 to about €780 |
| Insurance for 1 month | up to €40 |
| Temporary plates (if the car is exported) | up to €50 |
| Carwise fee | €300 |
| Converting US rear lights to EU spec | €250–600 per set |
| Coding (EU maps, km/h, radio), optional | from about €500 |
The pollution tax depends on CO2: €0 for electric and low-emission cars, highest for high-emission diesels. The cost of work on the car depends on the model.
Frequently asked questions
What is homologation of a US car?
Homologation is the assessment of whether the car meets EU requirements. A car built for the US market must pass it before it can be registered in Lithuania, and a mandatory wheel alignment is done at the same time.
Can a car from the USA be registered in Lithuania?
Yes. First comes the homologation, then the roadworthiness test (TA) and the registration with Regitra. Once the car is prepared, all three are usually done in 1 working day.
How long do homologation and registration of a US car take?
The homologation, roadworthiness test and registration themselves usually take 1 working day, but the preparation takes longer: 1–2 weeks if there are no major defects. Without rushing, preparing an undamaged car from the USA can take up to a month, because there is always some technical work and some waiting in queues.
How much do homologation and registration of a US car cost?
The homologation, including the mandatory wheel alignment, costs about €250, the roadworthiness test up to €30, and the pollution tax at registration with Regitra from €0 for electric cars to about €780 for high-emission diesels. The Carwise fee is €300, not including work on the car.
What has to be changed on a US car to register it in Lithuania?
Most often the rear turn signals: they must be amber, not red. The car also needs a rear fog light, side turn repeaters on the wings or mirrors, parking lights front and rear, a speedometer in km/h (a dual mph and km/h speedometer is fine), no tint on the windscreen or front door windows, and in winter proper winter tyres marked M+S with the snowflake symbol.
How do I prepare a US car for homologation?
The lights must meet EU requirements, the car must be in good technical order, with a full fuel tank, proper documents and insurance. Converting the lights takes 1–2 weeks for most models. We book the homologation and the roadworthiness test in advance.
What documents do I need to register a US car in Lithuania?
The original US title, proof of ownership (the purchase invoice), the customs declaration showing import duties and taxes paid, and the owner’s ID or a power of attorney.
Can a car with a salvage title be registered in Lithuania?
Yes. A car with a salvage or flood (water damage) title can pass homologation and be registered in Lithuania. Be careful with titles marked as total destruction or with other severe brands – talk to us before you buy.
Do the front headlights have to be changed?
No. Changing the headlights to EU spec is not required; they are usually fine. Amber front side markers are also fine, as long as the car has separate parking lights.
Does a US car need a rear fog light?
Yes, a rear fog light is mandatory. Many US-spec cars already have one.
How much does converting US rear lights to EU spec cost?
Converting or replacing the rear lights to EU spec – the most common job – costs €250–600 per set, depending on the model.
Does a US car need to be coded or reprogrammed?
It is optional but useful: coding switches the navigation to European maps, removes mph completely and sets the radio to EU frequencies. It costs about €500, more for complex models.
How do I charge an electric car from the USA in Europe?
You can use an inexpensive charging adapter, or have the charging socket changed to the EU type. The cost of changing the socket varies a lot by model.
Can I register a US car in Lithuania if I don’t live in Lithuania?
Not in your own name: registration requires a permanent address in Lithuania. But there are solutions: we can register the car temporarily in Lithuania (the US title remains the main registration document), or import it in our name and register it here. Other options we discuss case by case – write to us.
Do you need a power of attorney?
Yes, we need your power of attorney. Alternatively, we import the car in our name, and then no power of attorney is needed.
How much do insurance and temporary plates cost?
Insurance for 1 month is up to €40. If you are taking the car to another country and need temporary plates, they cost up to €50.
Do you take cars that someone else imported from the USA?
In general, yes. It depends on the state of the documents.
Who does the modification work?
We do it ourselves and with partners. We tell you what needs changing, and why, before any work is done.
Do you work with dealers?
Yes. We handle homologation and registration in Lithuania for both private buyers and dealers. For dealers, terms are by agreement.
What else does Carwise offer?
How do I contact Carwise?
Email us or send a WhatsApp message. We reply in writing.
Phone +370 678 13862