From January 1, 2026, updated collection rules apply in Belarus recycling collection — environmental fee for recycling vehicles. This payment has become a mandatory step when registering, re-registering or importing a car into the country. But there are still many questions surrounding the scrap collection fee: who should pay, how the amount is calculated, whether the money can be returned when selling the car, and what will happen if the requirements are ignored.
In this article, we will analyze all the nuances of recycling collection in the Republic of Belarus for 2026: from basic tariffs to life hacks for saving. You will learn how to properly process a payment, what documents are required for a refund, and what pitfalls await owners of used cars. We will pay special attention foreign citizens and for those who import cars from abroad - the rules are different for them.
Important: the information is current May 2026 and is based on the latest edition of Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 115 dated March 25, 2026. If you are planning to buy or sell a car in the near future, bookmark this article - it will help you avoid mistakes and unnecessary expenses.
What is recycling collection and why is it needed?
Utilsbor (officially - environmental tax for vehicle recycling) is a payment to the government that is levied on vehicle owners to finance their future disposal. The idea is simple: when the car has served its useful life, the state undertakes to safely dispose of it using the funds raised. In Belarus, the system has been operating since 2017, but the rules are regularly tightened.
Since 2026, recycling collection has become mandatory for all categories of vehicles, including motorcycles, trailers and even some types of special equipment. Previously, there were exceptions for cars over 30 years old, but now they are also subject to the tax - albeit at preferential rates.
The main goals of recycling collection:
- 🌱 Reducing environmental damage from old cars (up to 80% of parts can be recycled)
- 💰 Formation of a fund to subsidize recycling
- 📉 Containment of the import of used cars with a mileage of more than 500 thousand km
- 🔄 Stimulating fleet renewal (owners of new cars pay less)
The collection is controlled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, and administered by RUE "Belgosstrakh". This is where all payments are received and where you need to apply for a refund.
If you buy a used car, always check whether the previous owner paid the salvage fee. If not, you will have to pay for it when re-registering, even if the car has been running for 20 years.
Who should pay the recycling fee in 2026
In 2026, you will be required to pay a recycling fee. all vehicle owners, which:
- 🚗 Register a car with the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Republic of Belarus for the first time (including after purchasing a used one)
- 🔄 The car will be re-registered to the new owner
- 🌍 Cars are imported from abroad (including temporarily for a period of more than 6 months)
- 🏗 Assemble cars from construction kits (kit cars)
There are several categories of citizens who released from recycling collection:
- 👨👩👧👦 Large families (3 or more children) - the benefit is valid for one car over 5 years old
- 🦽 Disabled people of groups I and II - only for cars with manual control
- 🚜 Owners of agricultural machinery and special vehicles (according to the list of Resolution No. 145)
- 🇧🇾 Diplomats and consular officers (if they have immunity)
Special attention - foreign citizens. If you temporarily import a car into Belarus (for example, for contract work), you do not need to pay the recycling fee, provided that:
- The car is registered to you abroad
- Duration of stay in the Republic of Belarus is less than 180 days per year
- You do not plan to sell cars in Belarus
If at least one of the conditions is not met, you will have to pay the fee in full.
What happens if you don't pay the recycling fee?
Refusal to register a car with the traffic police, a fine of up to 50 basic units (1,925 BYN in 2026), the inability to sell the car without paying a fee by the new owner.
Recycling tariffs in 2026: table by category
The amount of disposal fee depends on type of vehicle, him age and environmental class. In 2026, tariffs increased by 12% compared to 2023. Current rates are shown in the table:
| Vehicle category | Car age | Eco class | Fee amount (BYN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars (M1) | up to 3 years | Euro 6 | 250 |
| Passenger cars (M1) | 3-10 years | Euro 5 | 480 |
| Passenger cars (M1) | 10-20 years | Euro 4 and below | 750 |
| Freight (N1-N3) | up to 5 years | Euro 6 | 500 |
| Motorcycles (L3-L5) | any | any | 120 |
Valid for cars over 20 years old fixed rate 1,200 BYN, regardless of eco-class. An exception is rare cars (over 30 years old) with original parts: for them the fee is reduced to 600 BYN, but an expert opinion on cultural value is required.
If you import a car from abroad, the amount of the fee is calculated using the formula:
Recycling fee = Basic rate × Age coefficient × Eco-class coefficientOdds are published on the website Ministry of Natural Resources of the Republic of Belarus and are updated quarterly. For example, for 2015 Toyota Camry (Euro-5) with a mileage of 150 thousand km, the coefficients will be:
- Age (9 years): ×1.8
- Eco-class (Euro-5): ×1.0
- Total amount: 480 BYN × 1.8 = 864 BYN
Before buying a used car, always check its eco-class in the vehicle title. Cars with Euro-3 and below are 2-3 times more expensive in terms of recycling than modern analogues.
How to pay the recycling fee: step-by-step instructions
You can pay the recycling fee only after receiving the receipt from the traffic police or through the portal Belgosstrakh. Spontaneous payment without details does not count! Here is the algorithm of actions:
- Get details
When submitting documents to register a car at the State Traffic Inspectorate, you will be given a form with a unique payment number. An alternative is to generate a receipt online on the website Belgosstrakh (section "Environmental fee").
- Select payment method
Available options:
- 🏦 Through a bank cash desk (Belgazprombank, Belarusbank, Priorbank)
- 💳 Online banking (including through MyBank or Alfa-Click)
- 📱 Mobile payments (in bank applications or through ERIP — section "Transport fees")
- 🖥 Self-service terminals (commission up to 1%)
After payment you will receive a check (electronic or paper) with a bank mark. It must be presented to the traffic police along with other documents. Registration will not be carried out without a receipt!
PTS or STS of the car|Owner's passport|Registration certificate (if any)|Receipt from the traffic police or from the Belgosstrakh website|Bank card details (for online payment)-->
The validity period of the paid receipt is 30 calendar days. If you did not manage to register the car during this period, you will have to pay again.
⚠️ Attention! When paying via ERIP, check that the purpose of payment indicates Environmental fee for vehicle recycling. If you simply indicate “State Duty”, the money will go to the wrong BCC and will not be counted.
How to return the salvage tax when selling a car
If you sell your car, the salvage fee can be returned partially or completely - but only if the following conditions are met:
- 📅 The car was your property less than 3 years
- 💸 You paid the recycling fee upon registration (there are supporting documents)
- 🚗 The new owner also pays a fee upon re-registration
Return procedure:
- Collect a package of documents:
- 📄 Application for return (sample on the website Belgosstrakh)
- 📄 Copy of the purchase and sale agreement
- 📄 Receipt for payment of recycling fee (original)
- 📄 STS or PTS (copies)
The refund amount is calculated in proportion to the time you own the car. Formula:
Refund = (Payment × Remaining Term) / 36 monthsExample: You paid 750 BYN for 2012 Volkswagen Passat and sold it after 18 months. The refund will be:
(750 × 18) / 36 = 375 BYN⚠️ Attention! If the new owner does not pay the salvage fee upon re-registration (for example, he took advantage of a benefit), your refund will be canceled. Please check this before selling!
For cars older than 3 years, no refund is provided - it is considered that the collection was completely used for future disposal.
Lifehacks: how to save on recycling fees
There are several ways to legally reduce the amount of disposal fees:
- 🔄 Buy a car with mileage up to 3 years
Cars less than 3 years old (from the date of manufacture) belong to the cheapest category. For example, 2021 Skoda Octavia will cost 250 BYN instead of 480 BYN for a similar 2018 model.
- 🌿 Choose a car with a high eco-class
Even among used cars there are options with Euro 6. For example, Renault Duster A 2019 model with a 1.5 dCi engine has a Euro-6 class and is subject to a rate of 250 BYN instead of 480 BYN.
- 📝 Take advantage of the benefits
If you are a large family, check whether you qualify. The benefit applies to one car over 5 years old in the family. The main thing is to provide it to the traffic police original certificate of a large family.
- 🚗 Register a car to a legal entity
Reduced tariffs apply to organizations (20% lower). If you have an individual entrepreneur or LLC, register the car to the company. The downside is that you will have to pay property taxes.
Another way to save money is buy cars from official dealers. Many salons compensate for recycling fees through discounts or bonus programs. For example, Atlant-M Finance offers 100 BYN cashback when purchasing a new one Geely or Haval.
If you are importing a car from the EU, check its eco-class by VIN on the website Cleaner Car Contracts. Sometimes the PTS indicates the Euro-4 class, but in fact the car corresponds to Euro-5 - this will reduce the fee by 30-40%.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Even experienced car owners make mistakes when paying for recycling fees. Here are the most common:
- 📌 Payment using old details
Since 2026, the BCC and the name of the recipient have changed. If you pay according to the 2023 receipt, the money will be stuck and will have to be returned through the court. Always take the latest details to the traffic police.
- 📌 Ignoring mileage
For cars with mileage >500 thousand km, an increasing factor of ×1.5 applies. For example, Mitsubishi L200 2010 with a mileage of 600 thousand km will cost not 750 BYN, but 1 125 BYN.
- 📌 An attempt to bypass the collection through a deed of gift
Many people think that when donating a car to a close relative, recycling fees are not paid. This is not true: from 2022, donation is equivalent to sale, and the new owner must pay the fee in full.
- 📌 Unverified data in PTS
If the PTS indicates an incorrect release date or eco-class, you will be required to pay the maximum rate. Always check your data against the database State traffic inspectors (possible through the service
check.gai.by).
⚠️ Attention! If you bought a car on credit, the bank may require you to pay a disposal fee before issuing money. This is illegal - the fee is paid only when registering with the traffic police. The request can be appealed via National Bank of the Republic of Belarus.
FAQ: answers to popular questions
Is it necessary to pay salvage tax when selling a car over 30 years old?
Yes, but at a reduced rate of 600 BYN. The exception is rare cars included in the register of cultural property (for example, GAZ-21 "Volga" or ZAZ-965 "Zaporozhets"). There is no fee for them, but an expert opinion is required.
Is it possible to pay the recycling fee in installments?
No, the law only provides for a one-time payment. However, some banks (for example, Belinvestbank) offer loans to pay the fee at 0% for 3 months.
What should I do if I lost my receipt for the recycling fee?
Contact the bank where you made the payment with your passport. They will issue a duplicate check. An alternative is to request an account statement (for online payments). The traffic police also accept electronic checks (for example, a screenshot from MyBank).
Do I need to pay a recycling fee when changing the owner's registration?
No, if the car remains registered to the same person. The fee is charged only when there is a change of ownership or initial registration.
How can I find out if the previous owner paid the salvage tax?
Check it through the service Traffic police portal (section "Vehicle check"). Enter the VIN or body number - the system will show the payment status. If there is no data, request an extract from Belgosstrakh (paid service - 5 BYN).