Russia wants to legalize cars stolen in EU

Russia wants to legalize cars stolen in EU

Russia is considering legalizing the registration of cars stolen within the European Union. This proposal has raised concerns among German law enforcement officials, who warn it could lead to a surge in vehicle thefts across the region. The Russian Interior Ministry has drafted a bill aimed at allowing the legal registration of stolen cars from the EU and other designated countries, as reported by the Moscow-based newspaper Kommersant.

Lawmakers in Russia have been debating the legislative change since February, with the ministry stating that the goal is to safeguard the interests of car owners whose vehicles are flagged as “wanted” by hostile states. These states include not only the 27 EU members but also Switzerland, Norway, the U.S., Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. The bill would also cover vehicles listed as missing by Ukraine, particularly those taken in occupied territories.

“The goal is to protect the interests of car owners whose vehicles ‘have been listed as wanted on the initiative of hostile states,'” stated the ministry in a press release.

Currently, Russia prohibits the registration of vehicles under international search warrants. However, the Interior Ministry claims that Russian authorities often struggle to determine the reasons behind such listings. Since the war in Ukraine began, these “hostile states” have not responded to Moscow’s requests for information about the vehicles, according to the ministry.

Germany is highlighted as an example, with Russian officials alleging that Berlin ignores their inquiries “for political reasons.” The ministry noted that 123 German vehicles reported as wanted internationally were located in Russia in January 2026, yet no explanations were provided by German authorities. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) confirmed to DW that there is no official exchange of information on stolen cars with Russia.

“The BKA is aware of inquiries from Russian authorities regarding vehicles listed by Germany. However, since these primarily concern civil law issues (ownership and the owner’s interest in repatriation), the BKA has no jurisdiction,” the agency said.

Benjamin Jendro, a spokesperson for the Berlin-based police union GdP, described the proposed law as a “disastrous sign” that “encouraged crime.” He noted that Germany has seen stable but high vehicle theft rates for years, with 30,373 cars stolen in 2024 and only 8,858 cases resolved. “We have had stable vehicle theft figures for years — at a very high level. Such a law would further undermine the security authorities’ fight against international car-trafficking gangs,” he added.

Jendro also highlighted how stolen vehicles are often dismantled in Eastern Europe before being exported. “But there are also various vehicles that are essentially stolen according to a shopping list and very quickly end up in countries where we can no longer access them,” he explained. Some Russian experts, like Alexander Kholodov of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation (OPRF), argue the amendment could facilitate other aspects of the issue, though the article cuts off there.