A European Commission proposal will simplify registration processes and reduce formalities associated with moving automobiles throughout the EU.

This means that not just citizens, but also their vehicles will be given the green light to easily travel between Member States.

It has been 20 years since the creation of the internal market, which allows goods and people to freely move throughout the European Union. However, two decades later, European citizens are still unable to easily transfer cars between Member States because of burdensome vehicle registration procedures and paperwork. According to the 2010 EU Citizenship Report, vehicle registration is one of the main obstacles that citizens face when applying their EU rights in practical life.

Some of the problems include confusion about where to register vehicles, long and complicated procedures, cumbersome documentation and repetition of technical inspections. These concerns – which in 2012 affected some 3.5 million Europeans who moved cars between Member States – are currently dealt with by national legislations, and often the European Commission and the European Court of Justice must intervene to solve particular cases. This is all about to change.

The European Commission submitted a legislative proposal that will eradicate lengthy procedures for people who move permanently with their vehicle or purchase one in another Member State. The proposal should benefit both citizens and businesses: in addition to enabling citizens to better exercise their right to freedom of movement, the proposal should lead to a very substantial administrative simplification with substantial savings overall for businesses, citizens and registration authorities.