The Romanian Auto Register (RAR) has officially stated that it does not recognize the provisional type-approval for Tesla FSD Supervised granted by the Dutch authority RDW. In a detailed response to an inquiry, RAR Technical Director Cristian Bucur explained the legal and regulatory reasons why vehicles with the system cannot be used on public roads in Romania.
The Dutch RDW granted a provisional EU type-approval for Tesla FSD Supervised in April 2026 under Article 39 of Regulation (EU) 2018/858, which covers "exemptions for new technologies or concepts." However, this approval is explicitly valid only on Dutch territory.
According to RAR, a full EU-wide type-approval requires authorization by the European Commission. This process is currently ongoing, but until it is completed, other member states are not obliged to recognize the Dutch decision.
RAR has received the complete approval dossier from RDW and is reviewing it. Despite this review, the authority has made it clear that recognition of the provisional approval is not automatic.
The main obstacle is Romania's national road traffic legislation. The Romanian Road Traffic Code (Government Emergency Ordinance No. 195/2002) makes it illegal to release the steering wheel while driving. RAR states that "such a vehicle cannot be used on public roads in Romania." The installation of FSD Supervised is considered a structural modification that is not legal as long as the approval is not recognized.
RAR has already raised the issue with the relevant Romanian authorities, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Discussions have taken place in the Interministerial Council for Road Safety.
The authority points to a potential conflict between harmonized EU vehicle type-approval legislation and national public road traffic legislation. However, amendments to the legislation to allow FSD Supervised would require a parliamentary proposal or a government initiative from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Rejection of EU-wide Harmonization
Romania's refusal illustrates the fragmentation within the EU regarding the acceptance of autonomous driving technologies. While the Netherlands, and now also Belgium, Denmark, and Estonia, have approved FSD Supervised, other countries like Romania remain skeptical.