World record number of used cars imported during 2004

Importers still have to pay excise tax of up to 65% of the car's value, but with old cars being imported and lower than actual values reported for tax purposes, this has proven not to be a significant an obstacle. As a result, despite the economic recovery, new car sales fell by 10% yoy and were almost 50% lower than in 1999. Used car imports were additionally boosted by the Finance Ministry's plans to introduce a new tax on such vehicles in 2005, which would be charged depending on engine capacity and emission standards, meaning that imported jalopies would carry a heavy price tag. Poland's performance in importing used cars has far outpaced that of Iraq, which had been isolated from the world for 15 years and where 170,000 used cars were imported last year. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 26) T.J.