Vehicle manufacturers in the European Union have been required since 5 July 2026 to make certificates of conformity available as structured electronic data through the EUCARIS system. Serbia’s vehicle-import process still relies substantially on paper certificates.
The transition affects importers, registration authorities and technical-inspection bodies. It also applies to Serbian manufacturers of vehicle conversions, trailers and other non-motorised vehicles exporting to EU and EFTA markets, which will increasingly need to issue compatible electronic documentation.
Without a functioning interface, Serbian importers may depend on paper duplicates even as manufacturers phase them out. That could slow customs clearance, registration and inventory turnover, creating additional financing costs for dealers holding vehicles that cannot immediately enter service.
The issue is narrow but commercially relevant. Serbia’s automotive sector is tightly integrated with the EU, from the Stellantis plant in Kragujevac to component manufacturers and vehicle distributors. Regulatory digitalisation in the EU is therefore becoming a domestic Serbian operating requirement well before accession. Institutional readiness will be measured at customs offices and registration counters, where a delayed technical connection can interrupt trade more quickly than a formal change in tariff policy.
