There are a lot of rules when it comes to shipping your car to Germany and it is different if you are shipping it from within an EU country or outside an EU country.

If you want to move to Germany and become a resident, you may be able to bring your own car in without paying import taxes or customs if certain conditions are met.

To escape the duty and tax you are be required to prove:

that you have actually given up your residence in the non-EU foreign country you are coming from
that you are establishing a new residence in Germany
that you have been residing outside Germany for at least 12 consecutive months (this can be waived if the reasons for your earlier return are beyond your control)

Documents indicating the end of your lease/employment, the sale of your residential house, or a statement from your employer stating that you have been moved to Germany can all be used to establish that you have given up your residence outside of Germany. A leasing agreement, communications with your German employer, a registration receipt from the local Registry Office (Einwohnermeldeamt), and a residence permit granted by the local authorities can all be used to verify that you are establishing a new residence in Germany.

A motor vehicle may be imported tariff and import tax free only if it has been registered in your name as the only owner and personally operated by you for at least six months at your former location before moving to Germany.

Foreigners staying in Germany for a limited time are permitted to drive their imported vehicles in Germany with their home licence plates and registrations for up to 12 months as long as the registration does not expire.

In order to register the imported car/vehicle you need the following:

passport or other identification
proof of official address registration in Germany
customs clearance papers
export permit
proof of ownership
original vehicle registration papers
certification from the German Federal Motor Vehicle Registry indicating the vehicle has not been registered in Germany before
proof of insurance
proof the vehicle has successfully completed the safety and roadworthiness inspection and emissions control test

If you want to import your car to Germany from within the EU then there are a different set of rules, the rules also differ if car is new or old

Importing a new car within the EU

New cars that are bought in a different EU country and imported into Germany are subject to 19{cc65922836f1bcfc708e8279988eae83cba3d70b1dd21d58b85b675d1622b208} VAT (USt). A vehicle is defined as “new”: if:

It has been in use for less than six months, or
It has been driven for no more than 6.000km.

Importing a used car within the EU

You do not have to pay VAT on an old car that you bring into Germany from another EU nation. (An “old” car is one that has been in service for more than six months or has travelled more than 6.000 kilometers.) However, you must register the vehicle in Germany and pay the corresponding registration fees, insurance, and vehicle taxes.

Importing a car from outside the EU

If you bring a car to Germany from outside the EU, you are liable to pay an import duty of 10{cc65922836f1bcfc708e8279988eae83cba3d70b1dd21d58b85b675d1622b208} of the car's value, plus VAT , this doesn’t apply if they are planning to reside in Germany.

Transport paperwork

For the transport itself, several documents will be necessary, the most important of which is the sale bill. You should find the information mentioned below on the purchase invoice:

The seller.
The buyer.
The car’s manufacturer.
The type of car.
The price.
The VIN or vehicle identification number.
The Signature and date.

Licence/number plates

Depending on the state you live in, the plates may stay with the car or go back to the previous owner when you change ownership. In the latter situation, you must purchase plates before bringing the vehicle to the shipping port. You can get a one-day permit from your dealer if the port is near enough. Otherwise, you'll have to go to the DMV.

You must submit your US licence plates to the German regulatory body. Any other European country is in the same boat. If you want to save the licence plates as mementos, you can take them off before the shipper arrives and pack them in your baggage.

Importing your car to Germany can be put into a 10 step process:

1) Find out if the car meets your country’s compliance regulations.

Many countries have regulations about types of cars that can be driven within that country.

2) Register the car if you’re within the EU.

you must register the vehicle in Germany and pay the corresponding registration fees, insurance, and vehicle taxes

3) Complete the necessary paperwork.

Cars that do not automatically fulfil your country's compliance rules or safety requirements may require a special declaration form to be submitted before they may be temporarily imported.

4) Work with a registered importer for the best results.

A qualified vehicle importer can assist you in determining if the automobile you want to import complies with compliance and safety laws, as well as filling out the essential documentation.

5) Find a reliable shipper.

You're ready to have your car transported to you once you've established that it fulfils compliance rules or that you'll modify it to satisfy them.

6) Buy insurance for protection.

Damage can occur in any shipping process, so you’ll want to have protection in place if the damage occurs during shipment.

7) File the car with customs.

Customs and border protection agencies require entries to be filed on vehicles at the time of their arrival.

8) Pay the necessary fees and taxes.

For the importing of foreign cars, various nations have varied tax requirements. Learn about the import automobile tax rules in your country.

9) Inspect the car upon its arrival.

A reliable shipping company will usually check the car for scratches and dents, and record this information, prior to starting shipment.

10) Register your car locally.

To drive your imported car, you will need to have it registered according to your state’s regulations.

Why choose Alpha Worldwide to import your car to Germany?

World wide acclaimed car shipping reputation:

Our clients give us glowing testimonies for the excellent customer service

we provide as per as the impeccable packing and safety techniques we

have demonstrated in the past.

All-round Professional service:

We create solutions for your unique needs, and can ship any type of

vehicle, in different units and packaging. We also provide assistance to

ensure a hassle free shipment delivery for you.

Affordable and Tax Free:

Premium services, at affordable rates to provide the ultimate hassle-free

shipping experience for our esteemed clients.

We hope you find this guide useful. To get additional information about shipping

your vehicle to Germany, please contact our team for a free consultations

Shipping cars to France

Importing foreign cars to France:

There are various conditions and formalities to be met if you are planning to import a car to France. The simplicity of the process might vary depending upon the type of vehicle, country of origin, make and age of the vehicle.

The conditions for Registration:

It's not an obligation to register a foreign vehicle in France unless the owner is resident in France. A resident is someone who is domiciled in France for more than six months per year or who is employed in France. Once you become a resident in France, it is mandatory to register your vehicle within one month.

But any vehicle which has been driven on road for more than six months requires a legit registration under purview of the EU legislation and for those vehicles which have not been registered yet can only be driven legally by the resident of the country when the owner is a passenger.

Importing an EU vehicle to France:

The deal with importing a vehicle from another European Union country is that it comes with less paperwork provided that these valid documents are given on time:

Vehicle’s original registration document from where it was bought and providing a receipt of sale to centre des Impots.
There are two ways to identify whether the car is of recognised type:

Presenting a vehicle identification number (VIN) given by the manufacturer when the cars are produced in series.
Getting an Attestation RTI from DREAL, an organisation responsible for vehicle testing imported cars before they can be registered in France.

In the case of a car being 4 years old, it has to obtain a Roadworthiness certificate by passing côntrole technique, the French Roadworthiness test. The roadworthiness certificate from any other EU country is also accepted.

Importing a non-EU vehicle to France:

The formalities in such cases become a little complex as the tax requirements and registration demands increased authentication but if you get through these steps in order it won’t feel as difficult as like you thought:

There is no requirement of paying any customs duty or additional taxes on the vehicle imported provided that all the relevant taxes are already paid at the country of origin and it has been registered for over six months and also they were a resident of a non-EU country for at least 12 months.
Vehicle’s original registration document from where it was bought and providing a receipt of sale to Center des Impots. A Fiscal certificate will be issued and certain fees and charges have to be paid depending upon the age and mileage of the car.
Register the vehicle online via the Agence Nationale Des Titres Sécurisées - ANTS

Procedure to make an Online registration of your vehicle:

All the vehicles you own/belong to you have to get registered mandatorily within one month of you becoming a resident in France.

The ANTS is a central agency which looks after all the vehicle registration and issues the Certificate d’Immatriculation which is also popularly known as the Carte Grise.

Login to the ANTS website via France connect
Select Je souhaite fair une autre démarche

Once you are on the Autre demande,

Select:

Immatriculer un véhicule pour une première fois en France under Catégorie

Then Select:

Immatriculer un vehicule en provenance de l’etranger under Sous-Categorie

The following documents will need to be provided ( scanned copies or photos) :

Proof of identity
Proof of residence (property title deeds, rental contract, utility bill, insurance certificate)
A copy of the foreign registration certificate or proof of ownership of the vehicle
Copy of the attestation de conformité (issued by the manufacturer or their agent) OR a certificate of conformity issued by DREAL (Direction régionale de l'environnement et l'aménagement et du logement) OR Attestation RTI (Réception à Titre Isolé) from DREAL.
A copy of the certificate of purchase and customs clearance certificate (issued by the Centre des Impots)
French Côntrole technique certificate if the car is more than four years old; this must have occurred less than six months previously (two months if a contre-visite or re-test is required)
Certificate de dédouanement 846 A
Cerfa Form13750*07

Compliance with the DREAL authority:

The DREAL (Directions Régionales de l’Environnement, de l’Aménagement et du Logement) is the authority responsible for vehicle testing imported cars before they can be registered in France. An individual has to be in person at the DREAL’s office for verification.

To find a regional DREAL office visit the French Government website and select your region (in French)

Take:

The vehicle
Proof of identity
Proof of residence (property title deeds, rental contract, utility bill, insurance certificate)
A copy of the foreign registration certificate
A copy of the certificate of purchase and customs clearance certificate (issued by the Centre des Impots)
Driving licence
Cheque book to pay the fee

The vehicle will be inspected and verified that the make, year and chassis number correspond to French homologation standards, la fiche d'homologation. This process can take two or three weeks. If the car conforms to these standards, there will be a fee to pay, varying on the vehicle.

Important information to be noted before importing a car to France:

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from the manufacturer.
déclaration d’impôt (Tax Return) document to be obtained from local Hotel des Impots (Local Tax Hotel)
Certificate d’immatriculation to be duly filled and send it to the DREAL office

Why choose Alpha Worldwide to import your car to France?

Worldwide wide acclaimed car shipping reputation:

Our clients give us glowing testimonies for the excellent customer service we provide as per as the impeccable packing and safety techniques we have demonstrated in the past.

All-round Professional service:

We create solutions for your unique needs, and can ship any type of vehicle, in different units and packaging. We also provide assistance to ensure a hassle free shipment delivery for you.

Affordable and Tax-free:

Premium services at affordable rates to provide the ultimate hassle-free shipping experience for our esteemed clients.

We hope you find this guide useful. To get additional information about shipping your vehicle to France, please contact our team for a free consultation.

Auto-Delivery: The process of shipping an automobile as freight from its origin to its customers.

Auto Shipping: The transport of an automobile from the seller of the vehicle to the buyer.

Auto Transport: The process of physically moving or shipping an automobile as a freight.

Auto Transporting: It's a process of shipping or delivering the vehicle to a prescribed location.

Bill of lading: Documentation used to ensure that a company or fleet receives their vehicle for shipment.

Car-hauling: It's about relocation and buying and selling of vehicles in and out of the state. Basically there are established companies which serve the need to transport vehicles just more than a few hundred miles and get the job done which makes it cost-effective and saves time.

Carnet de Passage: The Carnet de Passage en Douane, or CPD, is the international customs document which covers the temporary admission of motor vehicles. The CPD is still required in numerous countries around the world for the temporary admission of automobiles.

Co-loading: To load more than one automobile on a single transporter. This essentially reduces shipping costs for both the company and the customer.

Cut-off time: This denotes the absolute latest time a shipment can be delivered to its location.

Dealership Auto transport: These are transportation services specifically provided to the dealerships which give orders in bulk. The two main factors it takes into account are the amount of cars to be shipped and timely delivery regarding the shipment.

D.O.T : Department of Transportation is more like a government body which was established by an act of congress on October 15, 1966. The D.O.T oversees federal highway, air, railroad and maritime and other transportation administration functions.

Enclosed car hauler: These haulers are used for shipments which require special elements for protection. Luxury cars are generally shipped in an enclosed hauler and are loaded in an enclosed semi-trailer, truck or rail car.

Freight: Goods which are transported and held for the purpose of transporting to a destination

New/Finished Vehicle logistics: Terminology used to describe management, planning and shipping services for automobile transport for manufacturers and others in the automotive industry

P.O.D : Proof of Delivery, it's more like a documentation that showcases receipt of auto shipment

Single Vehicle Shipping: Evidently its a term which is used to denote that only one vehicle has been shipped from one destination to another

Tracking: To keep a track of the shipment once the car has been sent from the origin

Transit Time: The total time it takes for the vehicle from the Origin to the vehicle’s arrival at the destination

VIN: Vehicle Identification Number is a unique registered code used to identify an individual motor vehicle

We hope this came across as handy information for you to understand the commonly used jargons in the automotive industry. However, if you do have any further queries, please feel free to reach out to our customer service team who would love to provide you with a free consultation.

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