Germany is one of the leading car manufacturing countries in the world. Well-known German car brands Mercedes Benz, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen (VW), Porsche, Opel, Maybach, MAN are produced here . Prices for locally produced used cars are the lowest here. We will consider how to buy a car in Germany and remove it from registration in this article.
Sites for buying and selling cars in Germany
Here is a list of the most popular sites for buying and selling cars in Germany.
| Sites for buying and selling cars in Germany: |
|---|
| https://www.mobile.de/ |
| https://www.autoscout24.de/ |
| https://www.auto.de/ |
| https://www.autouncle.de/ |
| https://hey.car/ |
| https://www.12gebrauchtwagen.de/ |
How to buy and deregister a car in Germany and take it to another country
To export a car from Germany, you need an export license plate. This is also often called a customs or export mark. What documents you need and what you need to know about costs, insurance and taxes.
- Export license plates are valid for a maximum of twelve months
- Special car insurance and a valid TÜV sticker are required
- It is necessary to present the car for identification
An export number plate – also called a customs or export number plate – is required if the vehicle is being exported from Germany permanently . The number plate is white with black lettering and a red vertical stripe on the right. A combination of numbers, read from top to bottom, indicates the expiration date.
An export license plate can be obtained from the relevant vehicle registration department or from the road department and.
Export license plates: Documents you need
- Passport or ID card
- Power of attorney , if it is represented by another person, and a valid identity card or passport of the authorized person
- Confirmation of special liability insurance . In most cases, you can get this insurance from a ‘tag maker’ at the vehicle registration office. Insurance can be issued for a maximum of twelve months.
- Confirmation of registration, parts I and II (rights and letter)
- Proof of a valid inspection
- For deregistered vehicles: decommissioning (decommissioning, deregistration)
- If available: old license plates
The preliminary registration certificate of part I (vehicle registration certificate) will be withdrawn or canceled, the preliminary registration certificate of part II (vehicle registration certificate) will be updated.
In addition to the new, temporary registration certificate, Part I, an international registration certificate can be issued on request (approximately 10 euros). This makes sense if the vehicle will be exported to a non-EU country .
The vehicle registration office may require the vehicle to be presented for identification.
Export license plate/Customs license plate
The export license plate is the official German license plate for exporting cars.
The most striking feature of the export number plate is the bright red border on the right side. This field contains three numbers that represent the expiry date of the export license plate insurance. The day is at the top, followed by the month and year. Thanks to the visible display, it is clear at a glance whether the export license plate is valid.
As a rule, export license plates also bear the abbreviation of the registration area, i.e. ” HH ” for Hamburg or ” M ” for Munich . Then the seal of the relevant body and number is placed. At the end is a letter that is constantly assigned by the relevant approval authorities. Unlike normal vehicle number plates, these number plates do not have an inspection sticker, identification letters or a blue Euro frame.
Unlike domestic German license plates, export license plates can be approved for a period of 9 to 360 days. The period is usually determined by ordering license plate export insurance, which, unlike the eVB short-term license plate, can only be sent by letter. These are classic dual cards together with an international insurance card.
If the vehicle is exported to a non-EU country, a VAT refund is possible. This works if the car dealer or seller shows sales tax on their invoices and if the car has been assigned a so-called traffic reference number. This can now be used to prove that a vehicle with export number plates has indeed left the European Union. Then the seller can return the money.
Prices for export license plates in Germany
- Here’s how much a short-term number plate costs to move a car within the EU: The cost of applying may vary slightly from city to city. You can expect to pay around €10 in fees. In addition, the production of license plates costs from 20 to 40 euros per pair.
- Here’s how much an export license plate costs for moving to non-EU countries: The fee for applying for an export license plate can range from 30 to 50 euros. You also need to pay transport tax. The longer the validity period, the more expensive the tax becomes.
- about 45 euros for the admission fee (administrative fee)
- Vehicle tax (depending on the car)
- The cost of insurance depends on the seller and the period for which you want to apply for a customs license plate . For example, if you need an export number plate for 30 days, the cost of insurance can be around 90 euros.
Do I need to return the license plate back to Germany?
The export number plate does not need to be returned to the vehicle registration office. This license plate belongs to the owner.