Latvia
The Latvian ELV law and what it changed
End-of-life vehicles EPR in Latvia has been in force since May 2004 under the End-of-Life Vehicles Management Law, transposing Directive 2000/53/EC.
It is structurally different from every other Latvian EPR stream: there is no NRT tax-or-scheme choice, no central producer register, and no listed PRO.
The surprise for a foreign producer is that "no scheme to join" does not mean "no duty." Compliance runs through take-back and treatment, not filings and fees.
| Role | Covered? |
|---|---|
| Vehicle manufacturer selling into Latvia | Yes |
| Professional importer of new or used vehicles | Yes |
| Used-car dealer reselling domestically | No |
| Parts supplier | No |
Where the Latvian ELV money goes
Producers or their authorised representatives may contract with the Ministry of Climate and Energy (KEM) to run a take-back system. Owners hand vehicles to licensed treatment companies, which depollute, dismantle and issue a scrapping certificate.
The targets have applied since 2015: at least 95% of a vehicle's weight must be reused or recovered, and at least 85% reused or recycled. The last owner hands the vehicle in free of charge regardless of scrap value.
No register fee or scheme membership fee is published. The NRT does not apply to vehicles (they are absent from Annex 6).
Latvia's vehicle pipeline
A new EU ELV Regulation cleared the European Parliament on 18 June 2026 and awaits formal Council sign-off. Once in force it will add motorcycles, trucks and buses to the scope and introduce recycled-content rules.
No specific Latvian AR route is documented for ELV. The professional importer that first places the vehicle on the Latvian market carries the duty. For other Latvian EPR streams such as batteries, the AR route is well established.
Frequently asked questions about Latvian ELV EPR
Key questions for vehicle producers.
Who has to register for end-of-life vehicles EPR in Latvia?
Vehicle manufacturers and professional importers that first place vehicles on the Latvian market. There is no central ELV producer register. Compliance runs through a take-back contract with KEM.
How much does end-of-life vehicles EPR cost in Latvia?
No register fee, scheme fee or NRT rate is published for vehicles. The producer bears the cost of free take-back and treatment through the KEM contract.
What happens if I sell without registering?
Without a compliant take-back system the producer is in breach of the ELV Law. The practical lever is the scrapping certificate: without it the vehicle stays registered and the owner cannot de-register it.
Which register covers end-of-life vehicles in Latvia?
There is no central ELV producer register in Latvia. Producers contract with KEM directly. This is unlike batteries and electronics, which use the Elektroregistrs system.
