Mihai Caragață, SOS Romania deputy elected in 2024, was surprised coming to Parliament with a Mercedes GLE SUV worth approximately 123,000 euros, although his wealth declaration only lists a Dacia 1300 manufactured in 1980.
In the declaration of wealth submitted in June 2025, the deputy from Ialomita did not mention the Mercedes GLE. About this car, Caragață explained to Hotnews.ro: “The car is owned by the company, I am the majority shareholder. I use the car as usual, it is the company car, but I am the majority shareholder, I deal with the company’s shares, it seems normal to me”.
The deputy claims that the car was purchased before entering politics and that the VAT deduction was made during the period in which he was an administrator. “Now I no longer deduct VAT on repairs or insurance, given that I own car services and car washes”he added.
The Auto Gold Bussines firm from Ialomița, where Caragață is a sole associate, reported in 2024 a turnover of 2.7 million lei and a profit of 202,407 lei. The MP collected dividends of 145,000 lei, according to his wealth declaration.
And other SOS MPs use luxury cars “on company basis”
Deputy Vlad-Andrei Vodra, elected on the SOS Romania lists from Bihor, was filmed driving another Mercedes GLE SUV. Only two cars are listed in his wealth declaration: a Fiat and a VW, both from 2013. About the Mercedes, Vodra stated: “The car is on a company, the company appears in the asset declaration. The company is called Auto Vest. I guarantee it’s fine. 2,000 euros pay rent for the car”.
The documents consulted by Hotnews.ro show that the Auto Vest company is owned by Avram Stănosoiu Constantin, not Vodra, who is associated in other companies, including AVV Parts Logistics.
The two SOS MPs are not the only ones who use luxury cars that do not appear in their wealth declarations. A PSD deputy from Cluj also drives an SUV worth over 100,000 euros, without being entered in the official documents.
MPs luxury car rules
According to the legislation, parliamentarians are not obliged to include in their asset declarations vehicles registered to the companies in which they are shareholders or associates. However, their use must be justified: either VAT is not deducted at the time of purchase, or documents certifying the legal use of the car are required. The constitution states that asset declarations are not public, but must be submitted to the National Integrity Agency.
