How to import a car from Germany: a dealer's checklist

Step 3: Verify the car and the seller

Check the car as if you will never see it before it arrives, because often you won't.

1. VIN. Match the VIN on the listing, the photos, the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Teil II, and the CoC. Check the stamped VIN in the body, not only the windscreen plate.
2. Mileage. Ask for the last HU report (Hauptuntersuchung) and the service history. Digital service records at the brand dealer are harder to fake than stamps. Check that the readings rise steadily from one record to the next.
3. Damage. Ask directly whether the car has had accident damage ("Unfallfrei?") and get it in the contract.
4. Seller. For a trade seller, check the VAT number in VIES and the company in the commercial register. Pay by bank transfer to an account in the company's name.

Step 4: Collect the documents

A German used car should come with:

• Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (registration certificate, part I) and Teil II (the former Fahrzeugbrief, proof of title);
• the invoice with the correct VAT wording;
• the certificate of conformity (CoC), if the seller has it;
• the latest HU report;
• service book or digital service printout, both keys, and the purchase contract.

Under Directive 1999/37/EC (Article 5), your registration authority must ask for Part I and, where issued, Part II of the German certificate and will withdraw them. Missing Part II is a serious problem: re-registration is then possible only in exceptional cases after confirmation from the German authority. Do not pay in full without it.

If the CoC is missing, order a duplicate from the manufacturer before transport; our certificate of conformity guide explains how.

Step 5: Get the car home: transporter or export plates

Most dealers move German cars by truck; driving on export plates suits single cars over short distances.

	Car transporter	German export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen)
What you arrange	Carrier, pick-up slot, CMR note	Plates at a German registration office, insurance, driver
Requirements	Car released by seller	Valid HU for the whole plate period, insurance confirmation valid abroad
Validity	n/a	Expiry date printed in a red field, maximum one year
Added km and wear	None	Full distance
Best for	Several cars, long routes, non-runners	One car, short route, own driver

German five-day short-term plates (Kurzzeitkennzeichen) are designed for use in Germany; insurers and German authorities advise using the red-field export plate for driving abroad. Costs and options per route are in our article on car transport in Europe.

Step 6: Register the car in your country

Registration follows national rules, but the EU framework is the same: the German registration certificate is recognised for re-registration (Directive 1999/37/EC, Article 4) and a valid German roadworthiness certificate must be recognised if it is still valid under your country's test intervals (Directive 2014/45/EU, Article 8(3)).

The national step that costs money is usually the registration tax:

• Netherlands: an RDW inspection, then BPM on the depreciated value (rest-BPM), calculated by the statutory depreciation table, a trade price list or a valuation report.
• Belgium: the regional registration tax (BIV in Flanders), based on emissions, Euro standard and age.
• Poland: excise duty of 3.1% for engines up to 2,000 cc and 18.6% above, with reduced rates for hybrids.
• Spain: the registration tax (IEDMT) of 0% up to 120 g/km CO2, rising to 4.75%, 9.75% and 14.75%.

Step 7: Calculate the landed cost

How much it costs to import a car from Germany in total is the sum of everything until the car is ready for your forecourt. Build it like this:

Item	Example (margin car, Italian dealer)
Purchase price in Germany	€20,500
Transport (assumed quote)	€750
Registration, plates and paperwork at home (assumed)	€900
Preparation and valeting	€400
Landed cost	€22,550

Against an Italian median asking price of €22,900 for this model, that leaves almost nothing once the margin VAT and a negotiating discount are deducted. The same car into the Netherlands or Austria would look better on paper, until registration tax is added. This is exactly the comparison MyCarDealer runs: it finds cars in Germany and shows their margin after VAT and transport in your own country. You can test one car with the free valuation.

Frequently asked questions

What documents do I need to import a used car from Germany?

You need the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Teil II, the invoice with the correct VAT wording, the latest HU report, and in most countries the certificate of conformity. Keep the purchase contract, payment proof and service history with them.

How does VAT work when a dealer buys a car in Germany?

A margin car is invoiced gross under § 25a UStG and you pay no VAT on arrival. A VAT-qualifying car is invoiced net to your VAT number; you declare VAT at your own rate and deduct it. Cars under six months old or with up to 6,000 km are always taxed in your country.

How much does it cost to import a car from Germany in total?

Add the purchase price, transport, registration tax and fees in your country, any missing documents such as a CoC, and preparation. Registration tax varies most: it is small in some countries and a major cost in the Netherlands or Poland for larger engines.

How do I get a German car home: export plates or transporter?

A truck is usually cheaper per car for several cars or long distances and adds no kilometres. Export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) suit a single car on a short route but need a valid HU and insurance valid abroad for the whole period.

Which cars are most worth importing from Germany?

Models where German supply is large and your home price is clearly higher after registration tax. Check this model by model: in October 2026 premium saloons were notably cheaper in Germany than in the Netherlands or Austria, but close to Belgian and Italian prices.