Car prices Germany vs Poland: where used cars are cheaper
Car prices in Germany vs Poland compared for dealers: which segments are cheaper where, excise and VAT effects and when cross-border buying pays.
· 7 min read
Comparing car prices in Germany vs Poland, young mainstream used cars are advertised for less in Poland: median asking prices for 2019–2021 Golfs, Octavias and Focuses were 13–19% below German levels in October 2026. But Polish cars had 20,000–40,000 km more on the clock, and Polish excise applies to every car brought in. Like for like, the real gap is much smaller.
Car prices in Germany vs Poland: the headline numbers
According to listings tracked by MyCarDealer in Germany and Poland in October 2026, the median asking price of popular three- to six-year-old models was clearly lower in Poland:
| Model and years | Germany: median price | Germany: median km | Poland: median price | Poland: median km | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VW Golf 2019–2021 | €16,900 | 92,000 | €13,700 | 130,000 | −19% |
| Škoda Octavia 2019–2021 | €16,500 | 114,000 | €14,370 | 140,000 | −13% |
| VW Tiguan 2018–2020 | €20,430 | 110,000 | €17,640 | 132,000 | −14% |
| Ford Focus 2019–2021 | €12,500 | 100,500 | €10,290 | 136,500 | −18% |
The samples are very different in size. Germany had 330 to 1,100 listings per model in the period, Poland between 39 and 73, so the Polish medians move more with each car. They also mix engines and trims. Use the table to understand the market, not to price a single car.
Why Polish prices are lower: mileage, mix and income
Most of the headline gap is explained by what is being sold, not by the same car being cheaper. Three factors stand out.
Mileage. Polish listings for every model in the table had a median of 22,000–38,000 km more than German ones. Mileage is one of the biggest drivers of used-car prices: in our high mileage car value analysis, a three- to five-year-old Octavia diesel had a median price about €2,600 lower in the 150,000–200,000 km band than in the 100,000–150,000 km band. Correct for mileage and a large part of the gap disappears.
Engine and trim mix. The mix of engines, gearboxes and equipment differs between the two markets. German listings include a large share of well-equipped ex-fleet and ex-lease cars, which pushes the median up. A median Golf in Germany is simply a different car from a median Golf in Poland.
Local purchasing power. Prices are set by what local buyers can pay. Lower average incomes keep Polish retail prices for mainstream cars below German levels, and Polish dealers price accordingly.
There is also history. For years, Poland has imported large numbers of used cars from Germany and other western markets. Many "Polish" cars are therefore ex-German cars that have already paid the import costs, which ties the two price levels together.
For car dealers
Know your margin before you buy
MyCarDealer compares any car from an auction or listing with the market in your country and shows the net margin after VAT, transport and costs – and the maximum bid.
Request accessHow Polish excise changes the comparison
Polish excise duty is the cost that decides most Germany-to-Poland deals. Cars brought into Poland and registered there pay excise of 3.1% for engines up to 2,000 cc and 18.6% for engines above 2,000 cc, with reduced rates for qualifying hybrids. The two-step structure creates very different economics:
- Up to 2,000 cc. Golf, Octavia, Focus, most Tiguans, the C-Class with four-cylinder engines and most mainstream diesels pay 3.1%. On a €15,000 car that is roughly €465 – manageable.
- Above 2,000 cc. Six-cylinder BMWs, Mercedes and Audis, large SUVs and many sports cars pay 18.6%. On a €40,000 X5 that is around €7,440 – a cost that kills most deals unless the car is far cheaper in Germany.
The asymmetry matters for direction. A car going from Poland to Germany pays no German registration tax, so Polish stock competes directly in Germany if the price, mileage and documentation are right. A car going from Germany to Poland must earn the excise first. Our Poland car excise duty guide explains the procedure and the hybrid rates in detail.
VAT: margin scheme or qualifying car
VAT treatment changes the comparison as much as the price. Standard VAT is 19% in Germany and 23% in Poland. Between VAT-registered dealers, two cases apply:
- Margin-scheme car. Bought from a dealer under the margin scheme (Articles 311–325 of the VAT Directive 2006/112/EC), the price includes German VAT on the seller's margin, which you cannot recover. You resell under the margin scheme in Poland at the Polish rate on your margin.
- VAT-qualifying car. Bought net as an intra-Community supply, you account for Polish VAT on the acquisition and can deduct it, then charge Polish VAT on the full resale price.
Comparing a German net price for a qualifying car with a Polish gross retail price is the most common mistake in cross-border calculations. Compare like with like: net with net, or margin-scheme price with margin-scheme price. The VAT margin scheme across borders guide covers the details.
Is it worth buying in Germany to sell in Poland?
It can be worth it for specific cars, not for the average car. Germany-to-Poland deals usually pay when:
- The car has an engine up to 2,000 cc, so excise stays at 3.1%.
- It has low mileage and full service history – something the Polish market values because so much local stock has high mileage and uncertain history.
- It is a model or specification that is scarce in Poland, for example well-equipped hybrids, premium estates or young cars with factory warranty.
- The German price is a trade or auction price, not a German retail price.
Germany-to-Poland deals rarely pay when the engine is above 2,000 cc, when the German car is a retail-priced mainstream model with average mileage, or when the VAT status is unclear. Registration in Poland also requires the usual inspection and documents, so budget time as well as money.
Is it worth buying in Poland to sell in Germany?
Occasionally, but the barriers are trust and mileage rather than tax. German buyers are cautious about cars with Polish history because of past odometer fraud and unclear damage records. A Polish car with a verified mileage history, complete documents and a reasonable kilometre reading can sell in Germany at a German price, with no registration tax to pay. Check the mileage readings in Poland's free Historia Pojazdu service before buying; our guide on how to import a car from Poland covers the rest.
How to calculate a Germany–Poland deal
Use this order for every car:
- Find the like-for-like market price in the destination country – same model, generation, engine, year (±2) and similar mileage. Not the national median.
- Deduct VAT correctly for the car's status (margin scheme or qualifying).
- Add costs: transport, Polish excise if the car is registered in Poland, inspection and registration, preparation.
- Set your target margin and work back to the maximum purchase price.
MyCarDealer does steps 1–4 for the dealer's own country: it values the car from comparable listings, calculates net margin after VAT, transport and other costs, and gives the maximum bid. You can try a free valuation on one car.
Frequently asked questions
Are used cars cheaper in Germany or in Poland?
Advertised prices for young mainstream used cars are lower in Poland – 13–19% for the Golf, Octavia, Tiguan and Focus in our October 2026 data. But Polish cars had considerably higher mileage, so for the same car with the same mileage the difference is much smaller.
Which segments show the biggest price gap between Germany and Poland?
Small and compact mainstream cars showed the biggest gaps, with the Golf and Focus around 18–19% cheaper in Poland. Part of this is mileage and specification. Premium cars with large engines behave differently because of the 18.6% excise above 2,000 cc.
How does Polish excise change the comparison?
Cars registered in Poland pay 3.1% excise with engines up to 2,000 cc and 18.6% above, with reduced rates for qualifying hybrids. That makes small-engine cars viable imports into Poland and largely rules out large-engine cars unless the German price is far lower.
Is it worth buying in Germany to sell in Poland?
For low-mileage cars up to 2,000 cc with full history, bought at trade prices, often yes. For average retail-priced cars or large engines, usually not, because Polish retail prices are lower and excise adds cost.