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@Mariannagr40

Welcome to the forum!

Where are you actually living? If you just visit Bulgaria occasionally, I'm not sure having your truck registered here is particularly helpful! If you want to move back to Bulgaria, or plan to use it as your official residence while travelling around Europe, then it's more plausible. Either way, you have to (if you want to keep the vehicle road-legal) travel back to the registration country (UK or Bulgaria) every year to get the MOT/inspection done, and consider how convenient this is.

As you'd be importing a non-EU vehicle, you'd need to pay VAT and import duties (about 30% in total), which might be a significant cost. I don't believe there's a vehicle exemption for "personal use". The exemption is for a one-time ToR (Transfer of Residence, from X to Bulgaria), but your ID card shows that you moved here years ago.

You'll also need to get your lights changed over (unless it's a LHD vehicle). However, you don't need an export letter.

Some members have reported difficulties with re-registering RHD vehicles. But I think it's still possible, at least in the bigger KATs (Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna).

I don't know the valuation method. My guess is that they can look up the age/model and get an estimate. They do ask for an invoice, so that would help a great deal. I don't think you'd find it very hard to create a plausible looking invoice, and put some kind of wet stamp on it to make it more convincing. Alternatively (or additionally), you could write a sworn declaration (in Bulgarian) that confirms all the details of what you purchased, and when, and how much you paid. A Bulgarian notarized document would look very official.

You might find it useful to have a local helper. I used BulgarianPlates (dot com) for our vehicles. They could advise on the invoice/valuation/notary issue and how to minimize your tax bill.

A vehicle intended for personal use is exempt from customs duties and VAT if it belongs to a person who is relocating to live in Bulgaria. The vehicle must have been owned or possessed by the person for at least six months. The individual must have resided in a non-EU (third) country for a minimum of one year.

For more information check Customs.bg ---> info citizens --> car import

Many thanks for your responses.

I still live in the UK permanently but plan to relocate in Greece or Bulgaria soon ,still working on it. The vehicle currently has MOT but expires in August so that would be better to do it before this date.

I will definitely visit a lawyer for advise ,Sofia or Plovdiv would be the most convenient; do you know how much they charge to assist in the process?

I am based in Plovdiv but I can also help for Sofia.

Sofia has more expensive coat of living. Plovdiv is nice and friendly.

Come and visit them first and decide.