Lithuania to ban entry of vehicles with Belarusian license plates

July 17, Pozirk. On July 18 Lithuania will stop allowing vehicles with Belarusian license plates to enter its territory, the Lithuanian Customs Department has announced.
The ban would apply to all Belarus-registered passenger cars regardless of the nationality of their owner or driver, it said, citing the European Union Council regulation 2024/1865 of 29 June 2024.
Latvia cited the same regulation a few days ago, banning the entry of vehicles with Belarusian license plates starting July 16.
The regulation, however, is not categorical and gives member states enough room for maneuver not to impose an all-out ban.
It provides that the competent authorities may authorize the entry of vehicles owned by Belarusians with valid visas or resident permits and driving the vehicles into the EU for strict personal use.
Lithuanian Customs Department said that Belarusians with valid visas or residence permits can enter Lithuania in their vehicles until August 16, provided the vehicle is intended for personal use and not for sale. This clause does not apply to company-owned cars or vehicles used for commercial purposes.
Those Belarusians, whose vehicles are already in Lithuania, have until January 18 to take them out of the country or register the vehicles in Lithuania.
In six months, driving vehicles with Belarusian license plates in Lithuania will be considered illegal and punishable by a fine or confiscation.
The ban does not apply to diplomatic vehicles, the Customs Department noted.
The Lithuanian foreign ministry has not yet commented on the new regulations.

Opposition politician calls on Latvia to reconsider ban on Belarusian cars
- PoliticsŁukašenka makes excuses for not releasing PačobutThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka comments on Statkievič’s disappearanceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SportŁukašenka changes financing of sports federations and clubsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecuritySix Belarusian-registered aircraft remain under US sanctionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian teen released as witness in Warsaw drone caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian television broadcasts interview with Russian occupation officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityNausėda: UAV that flew into Lithuania was stray Russian drone targeting UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics
- EconomyBiełstat: industrial inventories up 36 percent in January-AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, Society
- Economy
- Politics, SocietyNew ideology manuals push Belarus “peace and stability” narrative, attack UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- EconomyBelarus' GDP posts modest growth in January-AugustThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: jailed journalist Poczobut faces health issuesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityZapad-2025 drills posed no threat to Lithuania – NausėdaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsJournalist Siemčanka moves from Belarus to WarsawThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus sees industrial dip, retail surge in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+