German customs can arrest cars with Russian license plates

The German customs service can legally arrest cars with Russian license plates. The department provided explanations in response to numerous press requests caused by messages from owners of vehicles registered in Russia.

The response of the customs department is quoted by RBC. According to the customs officials, the import of passenger cars from Russia to the European Union is prohibited in accordance with Article 3i of Regulation 833/2014, which defines the embargo against Russia. The regulation was adopted in 2014, but was significantly tightened after the entry into force of the 11th package of EU sanctions on June 24, 2023. From that day on, German mass media and social networks began to report problems with customs from owners of cars with Russian license plates – both tourists and residents of Germany who did not change their license plates to local ones.

Not only the import of cars from Russia is subject to sanctions, but also any movement of them and their mere presence in Europe. The ban should apply throughout the EU, but so far similar actions have been reported only from Germany.

German lawyer Alexander Shmagyn, answering the questions of the Berlin Russian-language TV channel OstWest, confirmed that the regulation in its current version contains a ban on the entry and movement of cars from Russia in Germany. According to him, so far there have been no attempts to challenge the decisions of the customs department in court. He advises Russians entering Germany to use public transport or use the services of car rental companies.