Buying a new car paying cash( not financing) in Bulgaria

No but please let us know how you get on we currently live in Bulgaria near Burgas and we may be doing the same soon ish.

I bought my Dacia Duster with factory LPG conversion new from the dealership, paying cash - there weren't any discounts, but they* threw in a few handy extras.  I'd definitely recommend them as about the best bang for your buck in terms of a decent quality robust 4x4.

*Actually it was the salesman who threw in the extras as they came out of his commission; haggling isn't really a thing in Bulgaria and people can get shirty if you try too hard...

Thank you Jimj husband says that they are good value.

But we live close to the city of Burgas where do you live?

@Kath948381

Omnicar are the main Dacia dealers in BG - there's one in Burgas:

Omnicar Auto Burgas

8 Yanko Komitov Blvd.

8000, Burgas, Burgas

Phone: +359 56 939 039

The full list of dealers in BG are on their main website: https://www.dacia.bg/namerete-dilarstvo.html

Why are modern cars all so big? We will need a 4 wheel drive, but prefer something smaller. All those Dacias look huge!

@janemulberry

For a 4x4, the Duster is pretty small. That said, my wife loves her Suzuki Ignis 4x4, which is tiny in my eyes - it replaced her Fiat Panda 4x4, which I'd say is better than the Suzuki...

My first car was a Suzuki, how I loved that car! Then we had a Suzuki Ignis a while back. Nice car to drive, but after something went wrong with the ABS system (warning light on) one day after the warranty expired and the dealer refused to help, we decided against any more Suzukis.  I'll look at the Panda. I didn't know they did a 4x4!

Yeah, the main Suzuki dealership in BG is complete cr*p! The "New" Ignis is okay but I find the suspension feels like it's composed of cement block - the Panda's is MUCH better.

The first Panda 4x4 came out in 1983......😁

LOL! Obviously I am not a car buff. After the Suzuki thing, we've only driven old second hand cars and had very cheap motoring with minimal issues.

The Panda looks big to me, too. Possibly because our car for the past few years has been an ancient two seater Smart car!

I had an RX 450H Lexus in the US which I sold last year. I was very, very happy with the  car.

The best SUV that I have ever owned. Nothing ever failed. The RAV uses the same technology .

and it  will be good  for any rough terrain in Bulgaria. That is why  I have decided on that car.

Looks like I will not get much of a discount; oh well it is worth to try anyway....

I'll have a look at the RAV, Tony. Good luck with your purchase. As @JimJ said, if they won't consider a discount, try to get extras instead.

Thank  you all for your input. I will share my experience when the time comes.

I have been going to different car dealers exploring options. To my chagrin I found out that one cannot

buy a car the same day and drive off with it. I have to order the car especially if  I want certain options in it. No such thing as end of year sale and deals. Apparently Bulgarian dealers do not have enough new cars to meet the demand- very strange situation considering the fact that communism is a history. During that time people waited years in line to get Russian/German clunkers like Moskvich, Trabant.... Is it a deja vu or what?

  We can buy a car in the US, let it stay there 6-7 months and then import it ( my wife is EU citizen, so no duty)  but this will extend the wait even further.

Anyway, it is what it is. We have decided on a  nice new car - we will have to wait 4 months to get it. It will have years of warrantee and peace of mind.

I have been going to different car dealers exploring options. To my chagrin I found out that one cannot
buy a car the same day and drive off with it. I have to order the car especially if I want certain options in it. No such thing as end of year sale and deals. Apparently Bulgarian dealers do not have enough new cars to meet the demand- very strange situation considering the fact that communism is a history. During that time people waited years in line to get Russian/German clunkers like Moskvich, Trabant.... Is it a deja vu or what?
We can buy a car in the US, let it stay there 6-7 months and then import it ( my wife is EU citizen, so no duty) but this will extend the wait even further.
Anyway, it is what it is. We have decided on a nice new car - we will have to wait 4 months to get it. It will have years of warrantee and peace of mind. - @TonyFF

It's not strange at all; you are comparing what you are used to. Remember, you are in a different country. When I bought a new car in the UK I never got it on the same day, even if the car was there. I would buy an ex-demonstrator, which would have money taken off it. They would prepare the car, clean it, etc.... and I would collect later that week. Or if I wanted extras and options, the same thing.

Some dealers will sell the display models and the car is still regarded as brand new.

That's what we done at skoda, but we had a month wait whilst they transferred car from plovdiv to gorna oryahovitsa and they checked over car and completed paperwork for registering car and plates.

Otherwise we would have had 6 month wait for identical car but different colour.

We got 5% discount from dealer but no extras chucked in (haggling not their thing).

I have been going to different car dealers exploring options. To my chagrin I found out that one cannot
buy a car the same day and drive off with it. I have to order the car especially if I want certain options in it. No such thing as end of year sale and deals. Apparently Bulgarian dealers do not have enough new cars to meet the demand- very strange situation considering the fact that communism is a history. During that time people waited years in line to get Russian/German clunkers like Moskvich, Trabant.... Is it a deja vu or what?
We can buy a car in the US, let it stay there 6-7 months and then import it ( my wife is EU citizen, so no duty) but this will extend the wait even further.
Anyway, it is what it is. We have decided on a nice new car - we will have to wait 4 months to get it. It will have years of warrantee and peace of mind. - @TonyFF

You can always buy a  modern car in another country - usually Germany - and re-register it in Bulgaria.   It's a common approach.   German auto manufacturers have schemes for their employees where they get a discount if they keep them a year or so.  You can see them on Ebay.de (search Jahreswagen).   

As it's EU, there are no import taxes between EU countries.  The circulation taxes (road tax, registration tax etc) WILL have to be paid. Your wife being an EU citizen means nothing.  The rules were (and I don't think they changed) is usually around moving households (and a car is household goods).  To be a secondhand vehicle, it needs to have covered 6000 miles or be older (and owned more) than 6 months.

BTW, US cars are not always 100% compatible with EU standards.  Modifications will have to be made.  The mods are not that much - usually headlights (sometimes), rear fog lights, side indicators/turn signals and mph speedos to kmh.  The standard for emissions/pollution can be problematic too as the US standards don't always match up - the best now is Euro 6.  If your import is below that, you'd pay more circulation taxes or may not even be able to register or import it.    There are also problems with hood ornaments and angles of body work.  If you choose a car model which is also found in Europe, you'll have fewer problems.

If you buy a car in Canada (I did this a few times many years ago and imported it to the EU),  you get a dual speed speedo.   I also chose a model which existed in a European form.  Spare parts were never a problem if one accepted the price but they have become difficult over the many years I've owned my current North American car.  China is now my main source of service parts. 

The easiest route is to get a new one from Germany.   The warranty should be transferrable.  US warranty I cannot see as having any validity in Europe.

Yes, I heard about buying cars in Germany; too complicated to do that.

I  bought in the past in the US a car that was driven in Canada and the odometer showed only in km. Maybe there was a setting for miles to change it  but I never used it. No problem driving it in the US. My Lexus had odometer in miles and km. Re. buying a car from the US- we decided against it. Shipping is not that great considering that  the Black Sea is closed for business so most cargo goes thru Holland /or Germany. So we chose to support the local market. We will wait a few months.....

Yes, I heard about buying cars in Germany; too complicated to do that.
I bought in the past in the US a car that was driven in Canada and the odometer showed only in km. Maybe there was a setting for miles to change it but I never used it. No problem driving it in the US. My Lexus had odometer in miles and km. Re. buying a car from the US- we decided against it. Shipping is not that great considering that the Black Sea is closed for business so most cargo goes thru Holland /or Germany. So we chose to support the local market. We will wait a few months..... - @TonyFF

Yeah, it won't pass the roadworthiness test if it's only in mph.  If it's got both, fine.  Importing the car through Rotterdam or Hamburg is OK but you'd have to pick it yourself in person and show your US or non-EU passport.  The cost of shipping is not that high.  Insurance is problematic but not impossible.

The usual thing is to pick it up yourself at the port  and drive back making a bit of a road trip out of it.  You need to get the Customs clearance agent on the job.  You might even have to buy a bond.

Germany is your best bet.  There are sometimes US cars from military personnel sold on web sites like justlanded.com.

Yes, I am aware how the shipping works. Alessie and Clements Worldwide  insurance companies are available immediately. I have contacted them in the past. Their rates are great if one has good driving record. I just do not feel like dealing with ports, customs, etc. Lazy, unmotivated to go this route.

@TonyFF

Are you sure Germany's too much aggravation? The EU has Freedom of Movement for cars and people. :-) There's no import restriction and VAT/duty does not apply, so it's WAY less trouble than a non-EU vehicle. You just have to drive it back (1,500 km ish, doable in a day or so) and register it at your local KAT. Many (most?) Bulgarian dealers are importing a good chunk of their cars as used vehicles from Germany or Italy, mostly. Often, they don't bother to register them in Bulgaria until someone buys it (and you have to go to the notary with them). Germany is a big market with a reputation for conscientious owners with well-maintained vehicles and multiple online/auction sites selling private and ex-fleet/contract vehicles. I have friends who did this very recently, and they said it was very easy, and they're pleased with their purchase.

But I certainly agree that the easiest option is to buy a new vehicle direct from the manufacturer network or a used car from a reputable car dealer in your town. The former tends to be the most expensive option, and the latter has the challenge of verifying the dealer and the vehicle. The German option is probably the cheapest option, and so the financial savings might justify the slight extra hassle (especially if you're spending a lot of money on a performance car or luxury SUV).

@TonyFF
Are you sure Germany's too much aggravation? The EU has Freedom of Movement for cars and people. :-) There's no import restriction and VAT/duty does not apply, so it's WAY less trouble than a non-EU vehicle. You just have to drive it back (1,500 km ish, doable in a day or so) and register it at your local KAT. Many (most?) Bulgarian dealers are importing a good chunk of their cars as used vehicles from Germany or Italy, mostly. Often, they don't bother to register them in Bulgaria until someone buys it (and you have to go to the notary with them). Germany is a big market with a reputation for conscientious owners with well-maintained vehicles and multiple online/auction sites selling private and ex-fleet/contract vehicles. I have friends who did this very recently, and they said it was very easy, and they're pleased with their purchase.

But I certainly agree that the easiest option is to buy a new vehicle direct from the manufacturer network or a used car from a reputable car dealer in your town. The former tends to be the most expensive option, and the latter has the challenge of verifying the dealer and the vehicle. The German option is probably the cheapest option, and so the financial savings might justify the slight extra hassle (especially if you're spending a lot of money on a performance car or luxury SUV). - @gwynj

Totally agree, Germany is the way to go for a second had car.

When I was in Asia for a while, many people were buying cars on Be Forward.   

They have cars in Bulgaria too.

Yeah, the main Suzuki dealership in BG is complete cr*p! The "New" Ignis is okay but I find the suspension feels like it's composed of cement block - the Panda's is MUCH better.
The first Panda 4x4 came out in 1983......😁 - @JimJ

I just wanted to add to this post: the Ignis is decidedly NOT okay: we recently had a service done and the mechanic informed us that the underside was in poor condition, due to the very poor quality of the undersealing. Luckily we know a specialist in that field but it still cost 1,200leva to get it fixed.

There's also another, apparently insuperable, problem: like many people here, my wife prefers to have two sets of alloy wheels to facilitate changing between winter and summer tyres. Both sets came direct from Suzuki and both have the manufacturer's tyre pressure sensors fitted, but the car's systems only recognise one set, so all winter long she has a "critical error" showing on her dash display that can't be cancelled, even though the pressure in all tyres is correct. This display also takes up the space that other important, real but less "critical" messages would be displayed in. The main dealership (and Mr Google) are unable to fix the problem - really poor design IMO...

Yeah, the main Suzuki dealership in BG is complete cr*p! The "New" Ignis is okay but I find the suspension feels like it's composed of cement block - the Panda's is MUCH better.The first Panda 4x4 came out in 1983......😁 - @JimJ I just wanted to add to this post: the Ignis is decidedly NOT okay: we recently had a service done and the mechanic informed us that the underside was in poor condition, due to the very poor quality of the undersealing. Luckily we know a specialist in that field but it still cost 1,200leva to get it fixed.There's also another, apparently insuperable, problem: like many people here, my wife prefers to have two sets of alloy wheels to facilitate changing between winter and summer tyres. Both sets came direct from Suzuki and both have the manufacturer's tyre pressure sensors fitted, but the car's systems only recognise one set, so all winter long she has a "critical error" showing on her dash display that can't be cancelled, even though the pressure in all tyres is correct. This display also takes up the space that other important, real but less "critical" messages would be displayed in. The main dealership (and Mr Google) are unable to fix the problem - really poor design IMO... - @JimJ

Why don't you get all season tyres?   

We've stopped that changing of tyres because it's just a nuisance to do it, one needs two sets of rims or have to get the tyres changed onto one set of rims.  It all costs.

Probably in your case, the batteries have failed on the valve/pressure sensors.    The sensors are inside the tyre and look like butterflies or a T shape and fix internally to the rim.   The batteries last for years but not forever.   They are sealed units.  When the batteries run out, you have to replace them.

On our car (a Ford), we just bought compatible ones. Works just fine.   They cost about 10-12 EUR each.

I appreciate all the advice/tips and I have a few follow up questions:

1. When one buys a car from another EU country the warrantee is no longer good( per the dealership I talked to). Maybe only the factory warrantee??

2. When buying a car from dealers they want the money to come  only from  a Bulgarian bank account . What is your experience with that?  Can it be bypassed somehow? They do not take WISE:(

3. question about all year tires. In California I have always used all year tires. No such thing to keep changing tires. All Bulgarians we talked to  advise us again that because the tires that are sold in Bulgaria are “ no good”. Without advertising any tires please let me know which ones do you find reliable( price is not an issue).

I forgot to ask one more question- any good Germany web sites for car sales?

What payments  do they take?

Yeah, the main Suzuki dealership in BG is complete cr*p! The "New" Ignis is okay but I find the suspension feels like it's composed of cement block - the Panda's is MUCH better.The first Panda 4x4 came out in 1983......😁 - @JimJ I just wanted to add to this post: the Ignis is decidedly NOT okay: we recently had a service done and the mechanic informed us that the underside was in poor condition, due to the very poor quality of the undersealing. Luckily we know a specialist in that field but it still cost 1,200leva to get it fixed.There's also another, apparently insuperable, problem: like many people here, my wife prefers to have two sets of alloy wheels to facilitate changing between winter and summer tyres. Both sets came direct from Suzuki and both have the manufacturer's tyre pressure sensors fitted, but the car's systems only recognise one set, so all winter long she has a "critical error" showing on her dash display that can't be cancelled, even though the pressure in all tyres is correct. This display also takes up the space that other important, real but less "critical" messages would be displayed in. The main dealership (and Mr Google) are unable to fix the problem - really poor design IMO... - @JimJ

Why don't you get all season tyres?

We've stopped that changing of tyres because it's just a nuisance to do it, one needs two sets of rims or have to get the tyres changed onto one set of rims. It all costs.

Probably in your case, the batteries have failed on the valve/pressure sensors.  The sensors are inside the tyre and look like butterflies or a T shape and fix internally to the rim. The batteries last for years but not forever. They are sealed units. When the batteries run out, you have to replace them.

On our car (a Ford), we just bought compatible ones. Works just fine. They cost about 10-12 EUR each. - @fluffy2560

1- not having winter tyres gives the insurance companies a get-out-of-jail-free card - and the cops regard, supposedly legally, not having winter tyres when the conditions require it as a contributory fault on your part if you have an accident. Yes, it does cost but your tyres last longer if they're only used for half a year at a time.

2 - the TPMS on the replacement wheels have never worked from new.  We've had specialist tyre shops look at them, as well as the main dealer, from whom we bought the darned thing; no-one's been able to fix the problem..it appears to be that what's in the Ignis will only talk to the original set of sensors 😥

I forgot to ask one more question- any good Germany web sites for car sales?
What payments do they take? - @TonyFF

A popular site https://www.autoscout24.com

@TonyFF

"All Bulgarians we talked to  advise us again that because the tires that are sold in Bulgaria are “ no good”."

My advice?  Find some other Bulgarians with a few brain cells to talk to...  The tyres sold here are just the same, albeit sometimes a bit more expensive, as the tyres sold elsewhere in Europe - you seem to encountering the typical mantra of the left-behind-in the communist-era (and none too bright) folk who still think that everything elsewhere in Europe is vastly superior to what's available here.  That may have been true back in the days when you had to wait years to reach the head of the queue to buy a "car" (and all you got for your pains was a Moskvich) but not anymore.

I buy Nokian winter tyres and I'm perfectly happy with them, but you can certainly get cheaper, and inferior, tyres in Metro (and some of the big supermarkets); I prefer not to penny pinch when my life could literally depend on it...

Yeah, the main Suzuki dealership in BG is complete cr*p! The "New" Ignis is okay but I find the suspension feels like it's composed of cement block - the Panda's is MUCH better.The first Panda 4x4 came out in 1983......😁 - @JimJ I just wanted to add to this post: the Ignis is decidedly NOT okay: we recently had a service done and the mechanic informed us that the underside was in poor condition, due to the very poor quality of the undersealing. Luckily we know a specialist in that field but it still cost 1,200leva to get it fixed.There's also another, apparently insuperable, problem: like many people here, my wife prefers to have two sets of alloy wheels to facilitate changing between winter and summer tyres. Both sets came direct from Suzuki and both have the manufacturer's tyre pressure sensors fitted, but the car's systems only recognise one set, so all winter long she has a "critical error" showing on her dash display that can't be cancelled, even though the pressure in all tyres is correct. This display also takes up the space that other important, real but less "critical" messages would be displayed in. The main dealership (and Mr Google) are unable to fix the problem - really poor design IMO... - @JimJ

Why don't you get all season tyres?

We've stopped that changing of tyres because it's just a nuisance to do it, one needs two sets of rims or have to get the tyres changed onto one set of rims. It all costs.

Probably in your case, the batteries have failed on the valve/pressure sensors. The sensors are inside the tyre and look like butterflies or a T shape and fix internally to the rim. The batteries last for years but not forever. They are sealed units. When the batteries run out, you have to replace them.

On our car (a Ford), we just bought compatible ones. Works just fine. They cost about 10-12 EUR each. - @fluffy2560
1- not having winter tyres gives the insurance companies a get-out-of-jail-free card - and the cops regard, supposedly legally, not having winter tyres when the conditions require it as a contributory fault on your part if you have an accident. Yes, it does cost but your tyres last longer if they're only used for half a year at a time.

Storage is problem for some.  But quite right on the insurance.  Depends on legislation.  Winter tyres are not mandatory in Hungary but if you go to Austria, you could be caught out.  We just use All Season tyres now, despite being slight worse for fuel.

2 - the TPMS on the replacement wheels have never worked from new. We've had specialist tyre shops look at them, as well as the main dealer, from whom we bought the darned thing; no-one's been able to fix the problem..it appears to be that what's in the Ignis will only talk to the original set of sensors 😥 - @JimJ

Aliexpress might have some that are compatible?   Japanese car, Asian parts.  It could work.  It's probably something in the computer that needs programming.  Some companies won't have the right programming tools. An ordinary scanning tool might not cut it.

@TonyFF
I buy Nokian winter tyres and I'm perfectly happy with them, but you can certainly get cheaper, and inferior, tyres in Metro (and some of the big supermarkets); I prefer not to penny pinch when my life could literally depend on it... - @JimJ

I'd be careful with Hankook tyres.  We have All Season versions and I think there might be separation of the layers.  There was a recall on them a few years ago for the same issue. Perhaps it was fixed in Korea, but where were our ones made?  No idea. We're still using them and the tyre guy said it didn't look dangerous.  Thanks very much!  I'll remember that at 130 km/h.

@fluffy2560

In Austria, winter tires are mandatory for all vehicles from November 1st to April 15th when driving in winter conditions like snow or ice. For passenger cars and vehicles under 3.5 tonnes, the obligation is situational, requiring tires to be fitted only during wintry conditions. However, for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and buses, winter tires are mandatory at all times during this period, regardless of weather.

@fluffy2560
In Austria, winter tires are mandatory for all vehicles from November 1st to April 15th when driving in winter conditions like snow or ice. For passenger cars and vehicles under 3.5 tonnes, the obligation is situational, requiring tires to be fitted only during wintry conditions. However, for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and buses, winter tires are mandatory at all times during this period, regardless of weather. - @SimCityAT

Yup indeed Austria has those rules.

All Season tyres have to have the M+S (Mud and Snow), Snowflake and 3P (3 peaks)  markings.

If they have that, they are good to go all year.

@TonyFF

I'd be shocked if a Bulgarian car dealer cares where your money comes from! :-) They'd probably prefer cash rather than Wise, but if they'll accept a card payment or bank transfer, then Wise would work as well as a Bulgarian bank/card.

In California, labor costs are sky high, so changing your set of tyres would be a big expense twice a year. Bulgarian labor is still cheap, so swapping your set (which can be the tyres only, or tyres/rims) over routinely costs $25 or so (or you can do it yourself for free, if you have tyres/rims). However, like you, I think swapping (and storing) is a right pain in the proverbial, so I've run all-season tires for many years.

It's true that such tires have some performance disadvantages (in both summer and more noticeably in very wintery weather) and wear quicker. And they are much more expensive. Most folks like them for their convenience, and with Bulgarian winters seemingly getting milder you're probably fine unless you absolutely have to be able to drive every day (rather than sitting it out if a snowstorm hits your village) or you want to live higher up in a Bulgarian mountain range. Our village house is in the Balkan Mountains and we have a holiday flat in Bansko ski resort in the Pirin Mountains. I've had no issues at all, but, yes, there have been odd days where I stayed at home just to play it safe.

As to buying them, Bulgaria has a bunch of online tire stores, and they mostly sell the same brands/tires as you'd see anywhere in Europe. And usually a bunch of them are cheap China tires. If money is no object, then you can buy the big name brands, and they'll be the same tires you'd get elsewhere. If you want to save a few bucks, then Chine-made all-seasons are an appealing option (mine are on their 4th year, and were about 30% of the cost of a Michelin CrossClimate.

@TonyFFI'd be shocked if a Bulgarian car dealer cares where your money comes from! :-) They'd probably prefer cash rather than Wise, but if they'll accept a card payment or bank transfer, then Wise would work as well as a Bulgarian bank/card.-----As to buying them, Bulgaria has a bunch of online tire stores, and they mostly sell the same brands/tires as you'd see anywhere in Europe. And usually a bunch of them are cheap China tires. If money is no object, then you can buy the big name brands, and they'll be the same tires you'd get elsewhere. If you want to save a few bucks, then Chine-made all-seasons are an appealing option (mine are on their 4th year, and were about 30% of the cost of a Michelin CrossClimate. - @gwynj

I'm with you.  It's hard to ignore the price competitiveness of the Chinese brands.

I have a 4WD hobby car.  About 4 years ago, I bought a complete set of  quality alloy rims and chunky hardly used tyres  - well known brand -for about 400 EUR.  I'm still using them on the car.   I bought them I think on Ebay and the guy was based in Salzburg, Austria. We were coming back from the UK, so we detoured there and picked them up.   Secondhand tyres are not to be sniffed at.  I have all the gear to change my own wheels (but not the tyres) - multiple jacks, socket sets, socket guns etc.

I do agree the Chinese tyres are significantly cheaper.  I personally wonder about it but if you aren't going far and at high speed, and the tyres are CE marked then they should be at sufficient quality to meet all standards for the EU.  I was quoted about 180 EUR for ONE tyre for my 12 year old Skoda runabout.  That was a Dunlop.  I need to replace it as it has a cut in the sidewall.  A low end, "budget" tyre was about 70 EUR.  I think it was a Chinese brand, Laufenn.   I've heard of it but avoided them.   For that Dunlop price, I could replace both tyres on the same axle for the price of the single Dunlop.  As I hardly use the car, I am seriously thinking I could just do the Chinese ones, possibly Korean. 

One thing you have to be aware of is minimum tire tread depth for winter period on all season tires is 4mm.

I have them, been used all year round so I will check depths this month.

Last thing I would need is to be in accident and police say tires were under limit, would likely affect insurance claim.

@mickg

You should do that constantly with all tyres anyway. We regularly check our lights because they are on constantly.

@mickg
You should do that constantly with all tyres anyway. We regularly check our lights because they are on constantly. - @SimCityAT

Our main car (Ford) absolutely eats light bulbs for the same reason.  Always the headlights on outside of town - off in town.   It also eats number plate lights.

On that particular Ford car, I have to take half the front off to get to the back of the headlight.  Designed by morons. Number plate light bulbs are easy.

I have been considering swapping to LED bulbs for the headlights so they last longer.   That can be problematic for the government car tests if not CE marked.  Average tester might not notice but some might.

@fluffy2560

In Austria it was from the 15th of November 2005, all vehicles must be driven with headlights switched on at all times

There was a transitional period until spring 2006, after which fines will be imposed for non-compliance with this regulation.

I can remember the exact date it wasn't the law. But ever since other European countries have had the lights on automatically, they haven't changed the spec on Austrian cars.

Sorry, going slightly off topic here.