The previous vehicle identity checking should be carried out:

• in case of registration of vehicle’s ownership change (registration of transfer)
  excepting the cases of slow vehicles and their trailers
• in case of first registration of the vehicle:
• in case of a new vehicle obtained from manufacturer and not having the certificate of originality (vehicle accompanying sheet)
• in case of used vehicle
• in case of slow vehicles and other vehicles which have not been registered previously
• in case of re-registration:
• in case of re-registered vehicles finally or temporarily withdrawn from the road traffic
• in case of re-registered vehicles temporarily withdrawn from the road traffic if there was a change to the owner
• prior to the technical intervention of the vehicle resulting chassis (VIN) number exchange (exchange of structural component carrying VIN, exchange of VIN or bodywork)

In case of not registered damaged vehicle the previous identity checking must be carried out prior to the technical intervention, changing the vehicle identification number, and the technical examination performed by the transport authority.

In case of vehicles subject to checking their legal status and imported from abroad with the purpose of operating in Hungary, the previous vehicle identity checking can be carried out after the decision certifying their legal status result has entered into force.

The previous vehicle identity checking should not be carried out:

• prior to the registration of the imported used vehicle from another EEA-State with the purpose of operating in Hungary (the checking of the vehicle’s legal status and) the previous vehicle identity checking should not be carried out, if the applicant had attached to the application the following documents issued by the authority of the country of origin:
• the registration certificate with non-harmonised data content or its copy certified by the issuing authority, or
• Part I. of the registration certificate with harmonised data content and Part II. if it was issued by the country of origin
• the vehicle ownership change must be registered even without carrying out the previous identity checking if its legal basis is   
• relating to inheritance/succession
• relating to property acquisition resulted from transformation of business associations, provided that the newly merged business entity is the legal successor of the previous one
• relating to termination of joint ownership if the vehicle will become the property of one of the co-owners or in case of establishment a joint ownership if the vehicle was previously owned by one of the co-owners
• relating to state or local government bodies or to the transfer of the vehicle owned or held by a local government to another state or local authority or to another local government
• relating to used vehicle becoming the property of entitled vehicle trade organizations or entrepreneurs, excepting the property acquisition with the purpose of proper use
• the registered holder of the vehicle remains unchanged and fulfilling the vehicle leasing contract he/she acquires the property right of the vehicle
• to carry out traffic administration procedure related to vehicles of historic character
• to carry out traffic administration procedure related to four-wheel mopeds at their first registration in Hungary

The previous vehicle identity checking can be carried out at the inspection stations.

The National Transport Authority and the inspection stations of enterprises officially contracted with the Traffic Inspectorates of Metropolitan or County Government Offices as licensing authorities are entitled to carry out a previous vehicle identity checking.

The result of the vehicle identity checking is certified by an administrative authorization.

The administrative authorization can be received:

• immediately after the vehicle identity checking at the inspection station
• following the vehicle identity checking in the document office of the district office (at the traffic administration authority)
• by mail following the 15th day from the date of the vehicle identity checking

The following documents must be presented during the identity checking at the inspection station:

• valid document appropriate for personal identification (ID card, passport, card format driving license)
• vehicle identification documents (registration certificate, ownership booklet)
• official document certifying vehicle ownership
• a document certifying  entitlement to initiate the procedure:
• in case of natural person
• authorization letter

• in case of legal entities, business associations without legal personality:

• a specimen signature with notarial certification or its copy attested by the notary public
• document verifying his/her entitlement to the procedure
• other vehicle-related documents (administrative decision, administrative certificate, vehicle technical data sheet)

An administrative fee must be paid for the vehicle identity checking at the inspection station.

According to the relevant legislation, the procedure fee must be paid as a condition to initiate the procedure at the beginning of the procedure at the inspection station. Reimbursement of the paid-in fee - regardless of the outcome of the procedure - is not possible.

The administrative certificate proving the vehicle identity checking result can be received following the checking at the inspection station.

In case of issuance of a certificate it can be received in the document office or by mail.

The administrative certificate proving the previous vehicle identity checking must be issued within 10 days from the submission.

In order to start the (traffic) administration procedure in the document office it is necessary to carry out the previous vehicle identity checking within a period not exceeding 60 days.

The sixty-day procedure time excludes the period while according to the criminal procedure after the identity checking the vehicle had been in custody of the authority due to its seizure.

The result of the vehicle identity checking can be used only onceduring the traffic administration procedure. This fact is recorded in the registry.

Vehicle identity checking cannot be applied for electronically.