MT Plates Andorra: The Complete Guide for Non-EU Residents (2026)

MT plates (Matrícula Turística) are Andorra's official tourist registration system that lets non-EU residents own and register a car in their personal name. The car can be driven anywhere in the world except your country of residence. Annual renewal is required, insurance is third-party, and the entire process takes just 1–2 business days once the vehicle is in Andorra. Our management fee is 5% of the car's value — we handle everything so you don't have to.

If you've been researching how to own a car in Europe without EU residency, you've probably come across the term "MT plates." But most sources only scratch the surface. This guide covers everything: the legal framework, exact documentation, insurance details, what happens at borders, vehicle restrictions, renewal process, and the edge cases nobody else explains.

At YourCarInEurope.com, we've been helping non-EU residents register cars on MT plates for over 10 years. This guide is based on real experience with hundreds of clients — not theory.

What are MT plates in Andorra?

MT stands for Matrícula Turística — Tourist Registration. It's an official vehicle registration system created by the Principality of Andorra specifically for non-residents. It allows people who live outside the European Union to register a car in Andorra under their own personal name.

Key facts:

• MT plates are issued by the Andorran government — they are fully legal and officially recognized
• The car is registered in your personal name, not a company or intermediary
• You can drive the car anywhere in the world — the only restriction is your own country of residence
• MT plates are valid for one year and renewable annually, indefinitely
• You receive official Andorran vehicle documents, insurance, and an international green card

The plates themselves have a distinctive look: a red band on the left with "MT" in black, followed by four numbers, and on the right a red band showing the expiry month (in Roman numerals) and year, with "PRINCIPAT D'ANDORRA" at the bottom.

Who is eligible for MT plates?

The eligibility rule is simple: you must be a resident of a country outside the European Union.

This includes:

What documents do you need? Just one essential document: a valid passport or residence card from a non-EU country. That's it. With this, you can register a car on MT plates in your personal name in Andorra.

Where can you drive with MT plates?

This is one of the most common questions — and the answer surprises most people.

With MT plates, you can drive anywhere in the world. There is no geographic limitation. Europe, North Africa, Turkey, the Middle East — wherever you want to take your car.

The only restriction: You cannot drive the car in your country of primary residence. If you're American, you can drive it in France, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Turkey — but not in the United States. If you're British, everywhere except the UK. If you're Swiss, everywhere except Switzerland.

In practice, this is rarely an issue since the car is based in Europe and most clients use it for European travel.

What happens at border crossings?

Nothing out of the ordinary. Your car has official Andorran plates and you carry:

• Official vehicle registration documents issued by the Andorran government
• Insurance documents
• The international green card (carte verte) — which shows your insurance coverage is valid in all countries

Police or border agents may occasionally ask about the plates since Andorran MT plates are less common than French or German ones. But once you show your documents, there's no issue. This is a standard, legal vehicle registration.

What about driving in your country of residence?

The regulations clearly state you cannot drive the MT-plated car in your country of residence. In practice, enforcement is rare because local police may not be familiar with Andorran MT plate regulations. However, it is not permitted, and we strongly advise all clients to respect this rule.

What vehicles can get MT plates?

Not every vehicle type qualifies for MT plates. Here's the breakdown:

Age restrictions

If the car is imported specifically for MT plates (e.g., we buy it for you in Germany), it must be no older than 6 full years from the date of manufacture. The calculation uses only the year, not the month — so in any month of 2026, cars manufactured from January 1, 2020 onwards are eligible.

If you already own a car that is registered in Andorra, there is no age limit for MT plates.

Homologation: COC or individual

Every car needs either a Certificate of Conformity (COC) from the manufacturer or an individual vehicle homologation. We handle this entirely — we check everything before importing and give you a fixed all-inclusive price, even if the homologation process turns out to be more complex than expected. No surprises.

How much do MT plates cost?

Registering a car on MT plates involves the same costs you'd pay anywhere when buying and importing a car — transport, taxes, inspection, registration fees. These are fixed costs that exist regardless of whether you do it yourself or through us.

What we charge: a 5% management fee on the car's purchase value. That's our commission for handling the entire process end to end — so you don't have to deal with German dealers, Andorran customs, government offices, or homologation paperwork in languages you may not speak.

Here's what you get for that 5%:

The easiest way to see what your car will cost? Use our search tool on YourCarInEurope.com — the prices shown already include the car, all fixed costs, and our fee. What you see is what you pay.

After that, the only ongoing cost is annual insurance — just like any car you'd own anywhere in the world.

How does the MT plate process work? Step by step

Step 1: Choose your car

Tell us what you're looking for or browse our search tool with access to over 50,000 verified cars in Germany. We'll present you with the best options matching your criteria.

Step 2: We source, buy, and transport

Once you choose, we purchase the car, handle all German export paperwork (including VAT), verify homologation documents, and arrange professional transport to Andorra. This takes approximately 3–4 weeks.

Step 3: Registration in Andorra (1–2 business days)

Once the car arrives in Andorra, the registration process is fast:

• Customs clearance and IGI payment (4.5%)
• Technical inspection (ITV)
• MT plate registration at the government office
• Insurance arrangement and green card issuance

This takes 1–2 business days. That's why we ask you to come to Andorra for 2–3 days — to sign the final documents and drive away in your car. If a weekend falls in between, many clients stay a couple of extra days to enjoy Andorra.

Step 4: Set up future renewals (optional)

If you'd like us to manage your annual renewals remotely, we can arrange a notarial power of attorney during your visit. This authorizes us to handle ITV, insurance, and plate renewal on your behalf in future years — so you won't need to come back just for paperwork. If you prefer to handle renewals yourself or come to Andorra each year, that's fine too.

Step 5: Drive anywhere you want

Your car is now registered, insured, and ready. Drive it across Europe, park it at your holiday home, or leave it with us in Andorra until your next trip.

How does annual renewal work?

MT plates are valid for one year. Before they expire, the registration, insurance, and ITV must be renewed. Here's how it works:

Can you renew remotely? Yes — if you arranged a power of attorney during your first visit, we can manage the full renewal on your behalf. Since the car needs to physically pass the ITV, we collect it, handle the inspection, renew the insurance and government paperwork, install the new plates, and have it ready for you.

That said, most clients combine the renewal with their annual trip to Europe. It's the most practical approach: we prepare everything in advance, and when you arrive we hand you the car with fresh plates, updated documents, and everything sorted. You just pick up the keys and go.

What does the insurance cover?

Insurance is a critical topic for MT plate owners. Here's the full picture:

What's available in Andorra:

• Third-party liability — mandatory, covers damage you cause to others
• Extended third-party — adds theft protection, windshield coverage, and roadside assistance

What's NOT currently available in Andorra:

• Comprehensive / all-risk coverage — covering damage caused by the driver to their own vehicle is not offered by Andorran insurers for MT plates at this time

Can you get full coverage? Some clients have independently found supplementary insurance policies in their home countries or through international insurers to cover what the Andorran policy doesn't. However, this varies by country and individual circumstances, and is something clients arrange on their own.

Geographic coverage: The insurance has no geographic limitation. You're covered anywhere you drive the car — the international green card (carte verte) confirms this and is recognized worldwide.

What if you have an accident abroad? You contact your Andorran insurer and follow the standard claims procedure. Andorran insurance companies routinely handle international claims — it's a well-established process, not an edge case.

What about storage, tolls, and fines?

Where to park your car when you're not in Europe

Clients store their cars wherever works best for them — there's no obligation to keep it in Andorra. Some leave it at a secure storage facility (in Andorra or elsewhere in Europe), others park it at their second home in Europe, and some keep it with friends or family. We can help you find secure storage options if you need them.

How do tolls work?

Tolls in Europe are simpler than most people think:

• Barrier tolls (France, Spain, Italy): You pay with a credit card at the barrier. No pre-registration needed
• Vignette systems (Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic): Buy a sticker when you enter the country — usually available at the border in shops or gas stations, payable by card or cash
• Electronic tolls (Portugal Via Verde, etc.): You can register with local providers if you use them frequently. Having MT plates is not a problem

What about traffic fines?

Your MT plate registration documents include your home address in your country of residence. Any fines or correspondence will be sent there, just like with any other European-registered car.

Special cases: UK residents, Swiss, and mixed couples

UK residents (post-Brexit)

Since the UK left the EU, British residents are eligible for MT plates. However, there are two important limitations:

1. No right-hand drive vehicles — Andorran law does not allow the registration of right-hand drive cars. You'll need to buy a left-hand drive (European spec) vehicle
2. Cannot drive in the UK — MT plates cannot be used in your country of residence. So this is perfect for UK residents who want a car for European holidays, but not as a way to have a cheaper car for daily UK use

Swiss and Norwegian residents

Fully eligible. Neither Switzerland nor Norway is in the EU, so their residents qualify for MT plates. The same residence restriction applies — you cannot drive the car in Switzerland or Norway respectively.

Mixed couples (one EU, one non-EU)

The car can only be registered in one person's name, and that person must be the non-EU resident. However, the car can be driven by third parties — anyone with at least 2 years of driving license and aged 25 or older is covered by the insurance. So the EU-resident partner can absolutely drive the car.

Selling, cancelling, or changing your MT-plated car

Selling the car

You own the car outright, so you can sell it to:

• An Andorran resident — they'll register it on regular Andorran plates
• Another non-EU resident — they can get their own MT plates
• A buyer outside Andorra — we can help with the export process

Cancelling your MT plates

There's no cancellation process or cost. MT plates have a one-year validity, so if you don't renew, they simply expire on their own. You can sell the car at any time — before or after the plates expire, it makes no difference. You can also register it in another country or export it. We can assist with any of these options.

Switching to a different car

MT plates are tied to a specific car, owner, and year. They cannot be transferred from one vehicle to another. If you want MT plates on a new car, you go through the registration process again for the new vehicle and let the old plates expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does MT stand for on Andorran plates?
MT stands for Matrícula Turística (Tourist Registration). It's Andorra's official system for allowing non-EU residents to register vehicles in their personal name. The plates are issued by the Andorran government and recognized internationally.

How long does it take to get MT plates?
Once the car is in Andorra, the registration process takes just 1–2 business days. The total process from choosing your car to driving away takes 4–5 weeks, including sourcing the car from Germany and transport.

Do I need to come to Andorra every year to renew?
Not necessarily. If you set up a power of attorney during your first visit, we can handle renewals remotely on your behalf. Otherwise, you can come to Andorra each year — most clients combine it with their annual European trip. Either way, we prepare everything so you just pick up the car and go.

Can someone else drive my MT-plated car?
Yes. Any person aged 25 or older with at least 2 years of driving license experience is covered by the insurance and can drive the car. This is for personal, non-commercial use — the car cannot be rented out for profit.

Can I register a right-hand drive car on MT plates?
No. Andorran law prohibits the registration of right-hand drive vehicles. This affects UK-spec cars specifically. British residents can get MT plates, but they must purchase a left-hand drive (European spec) vehicle.

Is there an age limit for the car?
For cars imported specifically for MT plates, the maximum age is 6 full years from the date of manufacture — so from January 2020 onwards in 2026. If the car is already registered in Andorra, there is no age limit.

What insurance do I get with MT plates?
Andorran insurers currently offer third-party liability and extended third-party coverage (adding theft, windshield, and roadside assistance). Comprehensive all-risk coverage is not currently available through Andorran insurers for MT plates, though some clients arrange supplementary policies independently.

Can I drive my MT-plated car to Morocco, Turkey, or other non-EU countries?
Yes. There is no geographic limitation on where you can drive. Your insurance includes an international green card that confirms worldwide coverage. The only place you cannot drive is your own country of residence.

Updated February 2026. YourCarInEurope.com has over 10 years of experience registering vehicles on MT plates in Andorra for non-EU residents worldwide.

Want to know exactly how much it would cost to get your own car on MT plates? Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote within 24 hours — or browse our car search tool to see real prices, all-inclusive.