Importing a motor vehicle across the Russian border, the importer must pay a deposit to Moscow customs in advance. The amount of the deposit depends on year of manufacturing and the engine volume in c.c.

Cars over 3 years old with an engine volume of fewer than 2500 c.c: 1,500 Euro

Cars over 3 years old with an engine volume of over 2500 c.c: 3,500 Euro

Cars under 3 years old with an engine volume of fewer than 2500 c.c: 7,000 Euro

Cars under 3 years old with an engine volume of over 2500 c.c: 15,000 Euro

Russian customs charge import customs duties on personal motor vehicles, with the exception of motor vehicles belonging to foreign diplomats.

Individuals importing vehicles not for production or any commercial activity (but for personal use) should pay either full range of import duties (import tariff, vat, and excise tax), or they should pay 5 European currency unit (ecu) equivalent per 1 cubic centimeter (cc) of engine size

The customs duty on all cars, new and used, is currently 25 percent.

Imported vehicles must also pay a 20 percent VAT tax which is calculated on the sum of the C.I.F. value plus the tariff plus the excise tax, a 5 percent excise tax and a freight cost of 0.15 percent.

Some vehicles may also be subject to a luxury tax of as much as 70 percent. Vehicles purchased through a Russian-based dealership but ordered for a specific individual are assessed duties under the individual, not company, tariff regime.

Individuals, moving to Russia for permanent stay from other countries are exempt from import duties for one vehicle, except new vehicles with engine size over 1,800 cc.

Russia also permits the importation of used cars. Used cars, two or more years old, imported by companies are assessed a 40 percent tariff instead of 46 percent tariff, plus excise tax plus VAT. Individuals importing used cars pay the same tariff of about 4 dollars per cc of engine displacement.

Individuals, residents of foreign countries are exempt from import duties for temporary import of one vehicle for a period not exceed to one year and only for personal use or use by the members of the family of this individual.

The registration process for car shipping in Russia depends greatly on whether the dealer has been importing cars into the country for a period of six months if not less, or for a period longer than six months. In case the former is true, the registration would have to be done with the Russian customs department. In case the latter is applicable to the concerned dealer, registration can be done post customs clearance with the Russian Interior Ministry’s Traffic Safety Inspectorate.
With the registration of the car one gets a document known as UVTS (Vehicle’s Import Acknowledgement Certificate), that legally entitles one to use the imported vehicle in the country. Apart from this the Obligatory Third Party Car Insurance (of the OSAGO) policy would also need to be submitted at the customs.