The essentials
- RKS means registered in Kosovo: no customs, only the notary and the change of owner.
- With duty paid, inspection, homologation, insurance and registration still remain.
- With duty unpaid, duty, excise and VAT come on top of the price.
Same price, different cost
Two cars with the same price can cost very different amounts. The difference sits in three words that appear in every listing.
What follows after the price
- RKS — registered in Kosovo, with plates. No customs and no first registration: only the notarised contract and the transfer of ownership at the registration centre within 30 days remain, with a TPL policy in your name.
- Duty paid — cleared, but no plates yet. Inspection, homologation certificate, insurance and registration remain; a few days and a few hundred euros.
- Duty unpaid — not yet cleared. Duty, excise and VAT come on top. Without an EUR.1 proof of origin that is often a third of the price or more. Cars older than ten years cannot be cleared at all.
RKS or duty unpaid
Which is better? A question of patience. RKS costs more and is faster; duty unpaid is cheaper and slower. For a first car RKS usually wins: the risk of a surprise outweighs a few hundred euros of saving.
Always compare the final sum, never the number in the listing. On our site, duty-unpaid listings show the final sum when the seller has entered the engine size; otherwise one click takes you to the customs calculator.