Estonian Authorities Will Start Selling Cars Abandoned Near The Border With Russia

The proceeds will go to the budget.

Estonia will confiscate and auction cars abandoned at the border with Russia, ERR reports. The Department of Transportation will start evacuating cars that remain parked near the Koidula checkpoint for longer than three days starting in October. They will be taken to a guarded parking lot in the town of Võru, 44 kilometers from the border.

Department spokesman Siim Jaksi reminded that the parking lot has a 72-hour limit and the driver must designate the date and time when entering. "If this is not done, we automatically have the right to tow the car," he said and referred to the traffic law, which comes into force from 2025. According to Yaksi, the owner must come forward within a month, otherwise the car will be put up for auction. The proceeds will go to the budget, including compensation for transportation and storage costs.

The evacuation contract has been signed with Svenai OÜ and is valid until the end of 2026. Estonian authorities have already started to identify the owners of cars parked for a long time in the free parking lot at the Koidula checkpoint. Upon removal, a representative of the department draws up a report fixing the condition of the car, indicating the reasons for moving it. The owner is then notified again by e-mail and, if possible, by phone, informing about the associated costs to be paid for the return of the vehicle. The cost of towing one vehicle is 152 euros. One month in a guarded parking lot will cost 237 euros plus VAT.

After the war in Ukraine began, European countries bordering Russia banned the entry of cars with Russian license plates. In particular, such measures were taken by Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Finland and Norway. In the first two Baltic states, vehicles with Russian registration are confiscated. Latvia then hands them over to Ukraine as support in the fight against the aggressor state, the republic's Transport Ministry said. The owners are also obliged to pay a fine. In Latvia - up to 2,000 euros, in Lithuania - up to 6,000 euros, in Estonia - 400 euros.

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