Buying a car in Germany

Our man in Havana

I am looking at buying a car in Germany and then taking it home to Bulgaria.

Can anyone explain the procedures with regards to obtaining the necessary export plates and paperwork? Will a dealer do the paperwork for you or are you left to your own devices i.e. go sort it all out your self?

Thanks
H

voojeq

If you buy a car from a private individual you sign a purchase contract (Kaufvertrag), if from dealer, car bill (Rechnung). Before leaving, have prepared a form of bilingual contract of sale or invoice. Otherwise, after returning to home country you will have to bear the costs of translation of the document by a sworn translator.

With the car we should get:

Brief (Fahrzeugbrief or Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II) - a vehicle card

Fahrzeugschein or Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I - proof of registration

Abmeldebescheinigung - proof of vehicle check-out

Two sets of keys

From these documents we go to the German department of communication (Strassenverkehrsamt), where you can buy export boards. There are plates with a yellow or red stripe. If the car does not have a valid technical check, there will be required 5-day plates with a yellow stripe. To receive the plates with a red stripe car must have a valid technical check , but the advantage of these plates is that they are valid for longer. If you want the plates with a red stripe, and there is no valid technical check then to go to Tüv-u or umbrella of DEKRA and perform technical check, indicating that the car will be exported from Germany. In process of making the plates with a red stripe you will also need a visit the office with your car. If the 5-day period of validity of the plates is long enough then it's usually a good idea to opt for a plate with a yellow stripe.

Then you must purchase the compulsory car insurance (OC) for the journey to your country. At present, the border is not checking for that. You only need to have all documents prepared for possible inspection.


Sorry if there's mistakes or ****ty english i just translated that from polish :pac:

Seweryn

voojeq wrote: »

If you buy a car from a private individual you sign a purchase contract (Kaufvertrag), if from dealer, car bill (Rechnung). Before leaving, have prepared a form of bilingual contract of sale or invoice. Otherwise, after returning to home country you will have to bear the costs of translation of the document by a sworn translator.

With the car we should get:

Brief (Fahrzeugbrief or Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II) - a vehicle card

Fahrzeugschein or Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I - proof of registration

Abmeldebescheinigung - proof of vehicle check-out

Two sets of keys

From these documents we go to the German department of communication (Strassenverkehrsamt), where you can buy export boards. There are plates with a yellow or red stripe. If the car does not have a valid technical check, there will be required 5-day plates with a yellow stripe. To receive the plates with a red stripe car must have a valid technical check , but the advantage of these plates is that they are valid for longer. If you want the plates with a red stripe, and there is no valid technical check then to go to Tüv-u or umbrella of DEKRA and perform technical check, indicating that the car will be exported from Germany. In process of making the plates with a red stripe you will also need a visit the office with your car. If the 5-day period of validity of the plates is long enough then it's usually a good idea to opt for a plate with a yellow stripe.

Then you must purchase the compulsory car insurance (OC) for the journey to your country. At present, the border is not checking for that. You only need to have all documents prepared for possible inspection.


Sorry if there's mistakes or ****ty english i just translated that from polish :pac:

Spot on there. The number plates with the red stripe are the Export plates that are given only, when the car leaves the country, while these with the yellow stripe are temporary plates, that allow the car owner to get the TUV (NCT Test) sorted.
You will get your temporary insurance on the spot. Make sure you fill in the pink certification document with the VIN number of your car.

And Good Luck with your German car .

Our man in Havana

Just an update.

I went to Frankfurt last month and collected the new wagon. The dealer was very helpful and took me down to the registration office to complete the paperwork and get the plates with the red stripe. The process cost around €200 and took around 30 mins.

I am off to the Bulgarian registration office tomorrow morning to get the BG plates. I expect to be there for several hours.

Seweryn

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Just an update.

I went to Frankfurt last month and collected the new wagon. The dealer was very helpful and took me down to the registration office to complete the paperwork and get the plates with the red stripe. The process cost around €200 and took around 30 mins.

I am off to the Bulgarian registration office tomorrow morning to get the BG plates. I expect to be there for several hours.

Congratulations. What car did you buy ?

Our man in Havana

A 1995 Toyota Rav 4.

Lovely motor, well cared for and not a problem on the 2000 KM drive back to Bulgaria.

shawnee

What would you pay for a 95 rav 4 in Germany. I would say you'd buy them much cheaper in Ireland at present. Not lhd of course but just curious.

Seweryn

shawnee wrote: »

What would you pay for a 95 rav 4 in Germany. I would say you'd buy them much cheaper in Ireland at present. Not lhd of course but just curious.

Would you buy a LHD car to use in Ireland just because it is cheaper?
( I would )

shawnee

Seweryn wrote: »

Would you buy a LHD car to use in Ireland just because it is cheaper?
( I would )

Not really, hard enough to sell rhd in this country ,no need to buy lhd. Was just curious about prices in general in Germany. I think certain car models particularily over 2 litre are cheaper here than anywhere at present

keithclancy

Cars aren't that cheap in Germany, but in General they look after their cars very well.

Think I may buy my next car over the Border and import it, even after the BPM (registration tax) you still have a lot more choice (Even if you have to travel 600km to pick it up)

MuppetCheck

keithclancy wrote: »

Even if you have to travel 600km to pick it up

that's half the fun of a new car.

Our man in Havana

Right, done the Bulgarian registration today. A rather complex procedure that only took an hour thanks to the rather helpful police inspector who helped me through the whole process. So that is the lot done until the insurance is due next year.

As to buying in Germany. In Bulgaria cars are barely maintained if at all. Drive it until it stops is the mantra here. The same car in Bulgaria would have the stones driven out of it with not a bit of care. The price would be double that in Germany also. The Bulgarian vehicle inspector remarked on how well maintained my car was despite its age. No need to go up on the brake tester or over the pit.

I know you could probably get the same car in Ireland cheaper but after you factor in the costs of making it LHD compliant and the fact a RHD here is taking your life in your hands I am happy to pay German prices.

keithclancy

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Right, done the Bulgarian registration today. A rather complex procedure that only took an hour thanks to the rather helpful police inspector who helped me through the whole process. So that is the lot done until the insurance is due next year.

As to buying in Germany. In Bulgaria cars are barely maintained if at all. Drive it until it stops is the mantra here. The same car in Bulgaria would have the stones driven out of it with not a bit of care. The price would be double that in Germany also. The Bulgarian vehicle inspector remarked on how well maintained my car was despite its age. No need to go up on the brake tester or over the pit.

I know you could probably get the same car in Ireland cheaper but after you factor in the costs of making it LHD compliant and the fact a RHD here is taking your life in your hands I am happy to pay German prices.

+1

When I see in an Ad "Original Nederlands Auto" it usually translates to "Complete sh!tbox without service history"

The tests are much more stringent in Germany especially since all parts have to be TUV certified.

kupus

Havana can you get Vat back on the sale or was it just a straight buy with cash and away you go?
When you buy the car does the insurance come with the car or is it the Irish case of insurance meaning you had to get your own insurance?

CiniO

kupus wrote: »

Havana can you get Vat back on the sale or was it just a straight buy with cash and away you go?

Why would he be able to get a VAT back?

When you buy the car does the insurance come with the car or is it the Irish case of insurance meaning you had to get your own insurance?

Our man in Havana said he paid €200 euro for temporary registration with a red stripe. That included insurance for the temp registration period (usually few weeks).

tossy

Great thread "Our man in Havana" good to read something a little different on here - post up some pics of the chariot and health to enjoy.

Our man in Havana

kupus wrote: »

Havana can you get Vat back on the sale or was it just a straight buy with cash and away you go?
When you buy the car does the insurance come with the car or is it the Irish case of insurance meaning you had to get your own insurance?

It was a cash deal with a dealer receipt.

The insurance comes with the plates. There were no plates on the car when I bought it so that mean a trip to the Stadt offices where I got a set of 30 day plates for €175 when all the various charges were added in. The insurance is valid throughout the EU for the 30 days. Before the 30 days are up you have to register it properly which I did today. There were 6 days left on the plates but sometimes things don't go smoothly at the police station making a second trip necessary.

The charges broken down were as follows:
Insurance €100
Plates €15
Stadt seals €35.50
Stadt Tax €24

So that totals €174.50.

Our man in Havana

tossy wrote: »

Great thread "Our man in Havana" good to read something a little different on here - post up some pics of the chariot and health to enjoy.

I will do tomorrow once the snow stops.