Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

Moving to Germany for 6 Months, Bring Car?

Options
  • 12-11-2008 12:29pm
    #1
    MeatProduct
    Registered Users Posts: 1,005 ✭✭✭


    I'm heading off to Germany to live/work there for 6 months and I'm debating if I should bring my car or not. Car would be great to bring all my gear with me but it's going to cost a good bit more than just flying over. However I will need a car while in Germany as I'm staying in the Blackforest region in the countryside, 'tis a bit isolated. So I'd need to buy one if I flew over.

    I've got my car for sale here but no one is buying and this is what got me thinking I along these lines, can't sell it, might as well bring it.

    I've read the thread about the general driving regulations, etc. for going on holiday there but are there other things I should be concerned about since I'll be living there for half a year?

    Is my Irish license good to go there?

    Does my Irish car TAX and Insurance cover me there?

    Any advice much appreciated.

    Nick

    PS: My car is a 1998 Honda Prelude 2.2 VTec


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,625 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    MeatProduct wrote: »
    I'm heading off to Germany to live/work there for 6 months and I'm debating if I should bring my car or not. Car would be great to bring all my gear with me but it's going to cost a good bit more than just flying over. However I will need a car while in Germany as I'm staying in the Blackforest region in the countryside, 'tis a bit isolated. So I'd need to buy one if I flew over.

    I've got my car for sale here but no one is buying and this is what got me thinking I along these lines, can't sell it, might as well bring it.

    I've read the thread about the general driving regulations, etc. for going on holiday there but are there other things I should be concerned about since I'll be living there for half a year?

    Is my Irish license good to go there?

    Does my Irish car TAX and Insurance cover me there?

    Any advice much appreciated.

    Nick

    PS: My car is a 1998 Honda Prelude 2.2 VTec

    Your licence - assuming full - will be grand, its an EU licence so valid till it expires

    Your insurance is unlikely to cover more than 90 days outside Ireland.

    I've no idea how long Germany allows temporary imports in situations like this, unfortunately.


  • Options
    #3
    MeatProduct
    Registered Users Posts: 1,005 ✭✭✭MeatProduct


    MYOB wrote: »
    Your licence - assuming full - will be grand, its an EU licence so valid till it expires

    Your insurance is unlikely to cover more than 90 days outside Ireland.

    I've no idea how long Germany allows temporary imports in situations like this, unfortunately.
    Right, with my pathetic German I shall attempt to contact a German insurance company to see what the dealio is. Massive props for the advice ;)

    Nick


  • Options
    #4
    peasant
    Registered Users Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    MYOB wrote: »
    I've no idea how long Germany allows temporary imports in situations like this, unfortunately.

    I'm not sure about that either.

    but as you will be working there, you will need a social security number which you can only get if you have a registered address.
    Unfortunately having a registered address also means that your car has to be registered in Germany. There is a "grace period" for this afaik, but I have no idea how long that is.

    Registering your car in Germany carries no taxes or VRT, but a lot of hassle and fees.


    to register a used EU car in Germany you will need to have the following:
    Bei Einfuhr eines Gebrauchtfahrzeuges:

    Ausländische Zulassungsbescheinigungen (Fahrzeugpapiere) im Original
    EG-Übereinstimmungsbescheinigung
    (ggf. Datenbestätigung zum Nachweis der technischen Daten)
    Fahrzeug zur Überprüfung der Fahrzeug-Ident-Nr.
    Eventuell ausländische Kennzeichen
    Eigentumsnachweis mittels Kaufvertrag im Original
    ggf. Nachweis über gültige Haupt-/Abgasuntersuchung, wenn diese nach deutschem Recht fällig gewesen wäre
    Versicherungsbestätigung
    Teilnahmeerklärung zum Lastschrifteinzugsverfahren
    Personalausweis oder Reisepaß
    ggf. Vollmacht des Fahrzeughalters


  • Options
    #5
    MeatProduct
    Registered Users Posts: 1,005 ✭✭✭MeatProduct


    Well that's really a big nuisance Peasant. I just contacted my insurer (AA) and they said I would be covered there for 35 days after which time I would need to have a policy with a German insurer. He also said I wouldn't need to get my car registered for that but that he was not an expert on German requirements.

    I really don't want the hassle of registering my car in Germany and then in Ireland again when I come back (guessing I won't have to pay VRT though).

    Looking like I'll just get a flight over there and buy a ****ty little runabout like the GT-R or something like that ;)

    Thanks for the advice,

    Nick


  • Options
    #6
    peasant
    Registered Users Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    If you have any no claims bonus, get a certificate from your insurance that confirms it. Otherwise you will be stung with a fairly high insurance rate and you can forget about that GT-R ;)


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    MeatProduct
    Registered Users Posts: 1,005 ✭✭✭MeatProduct


    peasant wrote: »
    If you have any no claims bonus, get a certificate from your insurance that confirms it. Otherwise you will be stung with a fairly high insurance rate and you can forget about that GT-R ;)
    Well it's no GT-R but not bad for the price! And a car I can bring back with me to Ireland since it's RHD. I'm presumming it's registered in Germany. Will ask my g/f to give me a translation. Is there anything majorly wrong with it? Looks like a really really good price for a 2003 Skyline?!?

    Nick

    Edit: Ah... English plates, feck
    Edit of the edit: Ah, just noticed that it's not the 2003 model, must have been a typeo


  • Options
    #8
    galwaytt
    Registered Users Posts: 12,761 ✭✭✭✭galwaytt


    just contact the German Embassy in Dublin.......

    Other things to consider: there are no cheap banger runabouts in Germany. They don't 'do bangers', as it were........

    If you find a German insurer to take you on, there may be a RHD penalty.....seeing as you're now on the wrong side of the road......!

    Ode To The Motorist

    “And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road” 



  • Options
    #9
    MeatProduct
    Registered Users Posts: 1,005 ✭✭✭MeatProduct


    galwaytt wrote: »
    just contact the German Embassy in Dublin.......

    Other things to consider: there are no cheap banger runabouts in Germany. They don't 'do bangers', as it were........

    If you find a German insurer to take you on, there may be a RHD penalty.....seeing as you're now on the wrong side of the road......!
    Will do, I'll give them a bell on the morrow and get everything on the down low ;)

    Yeah, having a spot of bother finding a banger there. Found a few 95+ Skylines though and the above skyline is a 2003 but UK reg so I'd have to go through all the hoops to get it registered there but I'd have a fine car I could bring back with me.

    I hadn't heard about a RHD penalty, as it is I'd be looking at a 70% insurance rate in Germany, I wonder what % the RHD penalty adds to that...

    Nick


  • Options
    #10
    joeperry
    Closed Accounts Posts: 527 ✭✭✭joeperry


    If your gona buy a car in Germany you neeed to start browsing,this is my favourite site for browsing ,they have an English language version too

    www.autoscout24.de

    PS. it might be worth getting something 4 wheel drive,also winter tyres and snow chains are essential.


  • Options
    #11
    mickdw
    Registered Users Posts: 23,260 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    It would be an idea to buy an expensive car rhd in germany and then attempt to take it back with you when returning home without paying the vrt on it. Im not sure is the rule 6 months or a year that you need to own the car abroad before you are vrt exempt


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #12
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,625 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Year there, 6 months owning the car. And has an burden of proof.


  • Options
    #13
    MeatProduct
    Registered Users Posts: 1,005 ✭✭✭MeatProduct


    joeperry wrote: »
    If your gona buy a car in Germany you neeed to start browsing,this is my favourite site for browsing ,they have an English language version too

    www.autoscout24.de

    PS. it might be worth getting something 4 wheel drive,also winter tyres and snow chains are essential.

    Hi Joe, thanks for that. Been looking at that site today, 'tis a good one. About the 4 wheel drive, kinda considering a HiLux but they do seem a bit more expensive than here...

    Nick


  • Options
    #14
    MeatProduct
    Registered Users Posts: 1,005 ✭✭✭MeatProduct


    mickdw wrote: »
    It would be an idea to buy an expensive car rhd in germany and then attempt to take it back with you when returning home without paying the vrt on it. Im not sure is the rule 6 months or a year that you need to own the car abroad before you are vrt exempt
    This would be great Mick. A year is a stretch though. Can't say I'm very impressed with the prices there. An S2000 costs more there than it does here and so do most of the cars I've looked at. Even witout the VRT I don't think I'd make much money off it.

    Unless I do go for a more expensive car as you suggest but I really don't have €15,000+ to be throwing around at the moment.

    Nick


  • Options
    #15
    mickdw
    Registered Users Posts: 23,260 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    MeatProduct wrote: »
    This would be great Mick. A year is a stretch though. Can't say I'm very impressed with the prices there. An S2000 costs more there than it does here and so do most of the cars I've looked at. Even witout the VRT I don't think I'd make much money off it.

    Unless I do go for a more expensive car as you suggest but I really don't have €15,000+ to be throwing around at the moment.

    Nick


    Yes I was thinking more like 40 to 50k price range. Anyway if you need to live there for a year, its not going to work.


  • Options
    #16
    MeatProduct
    Registered Users Posts: 1,005 ✭✭✭MeatProduct


    What if I bought a car in the UK on the way over to Germany, got it registered in Germany there would be no VRT equivalent right?

    Thanks,

    Nick


  • Options
    #17
    helimachoptor
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 21,640 Mod ✭✭✭✭helimachoptor


    MeatProduct wrote: »
    What if I bought a car in the UK on the way over to Germany, got it registered in Germany there would be no VRT equivalent right?

    Thanks,

    Nick

    If so.. thats a good idea...


  • Options
    #18
    MeatProduct
    Registered Users Posts: 1,005 ✭✭✭MeatProduct


    helimachoptor wrote: »
    If so.. thats a good idea...
    I can get you 1 too :)


  • Options
    #19
    peasant
    Registered Users Posts: 17,819 ✭✭✭✭peasant


    MeatProduct wrote: »
    What if I bought a car in the UK on the way over to Germany, got it registered in Germany there would be no VRT equivalent right?

    Thanks,

    Nick

    No VRT in Germany.

    But ...I'm not entirely sure that you would get out of your VRT obligations in Ireland on your way back ...after all you were only out of the country for half the required period.


  • Options
    #20
    MeatProduct
    Registered Users Posts: 1,005 ✭✭✭MeatProduct


    peasant wrote: »
    No VRT in Germany.

    But ...I'm not entirely sure that you would get out of your VRT obligations in Ireland on your way back ...after all you were only out of the country for half the required period.
    Yeah, could try and work something out there for the right car. Might just stay a year or come to some other arrangement. There's some GT-R's that are looking might tasty there on Autotrader in the UK. Can't believe how cheap the RX-7's are, a fine looking car.


Advertisement