Is it cheaper to import a car from Germany? Country by country
Is it cheaper to import a car from Germany into the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain or Poland? Real price gaps, registration taxes and transport costs.
· 8 min read
Is it cheaper to import a car from Germany? Sometimes, but far less often than dealers assume. Germany has the biggest choice of used cars in Europe, yet for many popular models German asking prices are level with, or above, those in Belgium, Italy or Poland. Importing pays when the price gap for that exact model is larger than transport, registration tax and paperwork combined.
Are used cars really cheaper in Germany?
Used cars are not uniformly cheaper in Germany; the gap depends on the model and on the destination country. German prices tend to be competitive for German premium and volume models with large supply, but other markets often beat them on specific cars.
Here is what listings tracked by MyCarDealer showed in October 2026, as median asking prices for 2019–2021 cars (only countries with at least 20 listings shown):
| Country | VW Golf | Škoda Octavia | BMW 3 Series diesel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | €16,900 (1,105) | €16,500 (537) | €20,490 (317) |
| Netherlands | €21,450 (173) | €15,939 (327) | – |
| Belgium | €18,950 (455) | €15,999 (218) | €18,900 (128) |
| Italy | €18,800 (317) | €13,900 (105) | €22,599 (94) |
| Sweden | €16,318 (171) | €16,309 (86) | €22,274 (86) |
| Spain | €16,990 (58) | €15,490 (31) | €22,621 (26) |
| Austria | €15,999 (28) | €16,690 (43) | €25,190 (26) |
| Poland | €13,696 (39) | €14,369 (73) | – |
For 2018–2020 VW Passat diesels, the German median was €16,490 (324 listings), against €12,990 in Belgium, €15,400 in Italy and €14,124 in Poland.
What this tells you:
- The Golf is clearly cheaper in Germany than in the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy.
- The Octavia and the Passat diesel are not: Belgian, Italian and Polish dealers would usually pay more in Germany than at home.
- The 3 Series diesel is cheaper in Germany than in Italy, Sweden, Spain and Austria, but not than in Belgium.
These are asking prices, which include each country's VAT and, where it applies, registration tax. The mix of mileage and equipment also differs by country, so treat the table as a map of where to look, not as a buying price. For a specific car, value it like for like; see used car valuation for dealers.
Which registration taxes reduce the saving
Registration taxes decide whether a German price gap is real. In several markets the local price already contains a tax that you will pay on the import too.
| Destination | One-off tax on an imported used car | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | BPM (rest-BPM) | BPM of the car reduced for depreciation using the statutory table, a trade price list or a valuation report; electric cars pay a fixed amount since 2025 (€667 that year, indexed annually) |
| Belgium | Registration tax (BIV in Flanders, TMC in Wallonia and Brussels) | Regional formula; in Flanders based on CO2, Euro standard, fuel and age |
| Spain | Registration tax (IEDMT) | 0% up to 120 g/km CO2, 4.75% up to 160, 9.75% up to 200, 14.75% above, on the depreciated market value |
| Portugal | ISV | Engine and environmental components, reduced for age |
| Poland | Excise duty (akcyza) | 3.1% up to 2,000 cc, 18.6% above; 1.55% and 9.3% for qualifying hybrids |
| Czech Republic | No registration tax comparable to BPM | Registration fees; an extra levy for old, low Euro-standard cars |
Read the table together with the price data. The Golf is €4,550 dearer in the Netherlands than in Germany, but a petrol Golf imported into the Netherlands pays rest-BPM, so the true saving is the gap minus that BPM. In Poland a 2.0 litre Octavia pays 3.1% excise; a 3.0 litre BMW pays 18.6%, which kills most import deals on larger engines.
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 much transport from Germany adds
Transport typically adds a few hundred euros per car on a truck, and more for long routes, single cars or awkward pick-up points. Distance matters, but so do how many cars you move at once and whether the carrier has a return load.
A practical way to judge it: put your transport quote next to the price gap. If the gap on a €17,000 car is €800 and the truck costs €700, the remaining €100 will not cover registration, paperwork and the risk of buying unseen. A gap of €2,500 on a premium car with low registration tax is worth the effort. Options and cost drivers are covered in our article on car transport in Europe.
Country by country: where importing from Germany pays
The answer differs for each destination, so here is how it typically works out.
Import car from Germany to Netherlands
Dutch asking prices are high, but BPM explains much of the gap. Importing pays most on cars where the rest-BPM is low relative to the price difference: older cars, low-CO2 petrol cars and, since 2025, electric cars with their small fixed BPM. Budget for the RDW inspection and the BPM return before registration.
Import car from Germany to Belgium
Belgium's prices for many volume models were at or below German levels in October 2026. Importing makes sense for specific premium or high-spec cars, not as a general strategy. Remember the regional registration tax differs between Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.
Import car from Germany to Spain and Portugal
Spain charges registration tax by CO2 band on the depreciated value, so low-emission cars under 120 g/km import with no IEDMT. Portugal's ISV can be heavy on diesels and larger engines. Distances from Germany are long, so transport takes a bigger share of the gap.
Import car from Germany to Czech Republic and Poland
Neither has a BPM-style tax on most cars, but Poland's excise is high above 2,000 cc. Local prices for Škoda and VW models are often below German levels, so the opportunity lies mainly in premium brands and well-equipped cars.
Import car from Germany to Sweden
Swedish prices for German premium cars were noticeably higher than in Germany in October 2026, while the Golf and Octavia were level. Sweden has no BPM-style one-off registration tax; instead every import goes through an origin check (ursprungskontroll) at Transportstyrelsen and a registration inspection. That makes the gap on premium models closer to a real saving, minus the paperwork and the time it takes.
Which segments give the best import margin
The best import margins come from cars where German supply is deep and your domestic supply is thin. In practice:
- German premium saloons and estates with popular engines and good equipment, especially into Sweden, Italy, Spain and Austria.
- Low-CO2 cars into countries with emissions-based taxes, where the tax on the import is small.
- Cars with specific equipment that is rare in your market (automatic gearbox, all-wheel drive, towbar, estate body).
Avoid models where your own market is already cheap, large engines into excise-heavy markets, and anything where the VAT status is unclear. Before buying, read our checklist on how to import a car from Germany and check the documents in our certificate of conformity guide.
MyCarDealer shows the price of the same car in your country next to the German offer, after VAT and transport, so you see the real gap instead of the headline one. You can try it on one car with the free valuation.
Frequently asked questions
Are used cars really cheaper in Germany than in other EU countries?
Not across the board. In October 2026 a 2019–2021 VW Golf was cheaper in Germany than in the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy, but Škoda Octavias and VW Passat diesels were cheaper in Belgium, Italy and Poland than in Germany. Always compare the exact model.
Which registration taxes reduce the saving?
The main ones are the Dutch BPM, the Belgian regional registration tax, Spain's IEDMT, Portugal's ISV and Polish excise duty. They are charged on imported used cars too, so a price gap that exists because of the tax is not a saving.
How much does transport from Germany add?
Usually a few hundred euros per car by truck, more for long distances, single cars or non-runners. Get a quote before you bid and compare it with the price gap; if transport takes most of the gap, the deal does not pay.
Is it cheaper to import a car from Germany to the Netherlands?
It can be, but much of the Dutch price premium is BPM, which you pay on the import as rest-BPM. Importing works best for cars with low rest-BPM, such as low-CO2 or electric cars, and for older cars.
Which segments give the best import margin?
German premium saloons and estates, low-CO2 cars into countries with emissions-based taxes, and cars with equipment that is rare in your market. Volume models that are already cheap at home rarely pay.