The Commission has set out proposals to dramatically reduce what it calls the unnecessary administrative burden for registering a car in another Member State. The proposals will lead to substantial administrative simplification with total savings of at least € 1.5 billion per year for businesses, citizens and registration authorities, according to the Commission.

The proposal includes limiting the re-registration of vehicles coming from another EU country, for example citizens who work in another EU country using a car registered by their employer will not need to re-register it. Generally, administrative formalities for the re-registration within the EU of cars, vans, buses and trucks will be greatly simplified, For example, when moving residence from one EU country to another and when purchasing a second hand car from another EU country.

It will also become impossible to register a stolen car in another EU country, according to the Commission's proposals. In the Commission's view, car-rental companies will save substantially, as they will be able to transfer cars to another EU country during holiday periods without re-registration.

Full details are available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/349&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en&guiLanguage=en