Importing a car to Germany
Importing a car to Germany does not have to be hard, though duty’s and taxes are expensive by world standards – everyone has to pay the same! There are many opportunity’s to be had from Japan with excellent future classic cars such as Mercedes Benzes and Porches found in quality and low ks that simply can not be found in Germany.
The two cities where cars can be imported into are Hamburg and Bremerhaven – around 800 € Shipping from Japan to one of these Ports.
See below for a cost breakdown example for a German Import from Japan –
DOCUMENTATION NEEDED
Application form to the German Department of Motor Vehicles
Proof of identity and residence e.g. passport and residence registration receipt. Only residents and resident companies may register a car, either by themselves or through an authorized representative, who must submit a letter of attorney.
US title or MSO*
Customs clearance certificate (Zollbescheinigung) stating payment of or exemption of relevant taxes and duties.
Department of Motor Vehicles information
Vehicle fact sheet
Necessary certificates and the emissions certificate
Refitting of the vehicle to meet German standards*
Application for the German vehicle registration document
TUV presentation and inspection (inspection of road worthiness)
Drawing up of the German title and approval of the exception authorities*
Emissions tests (AU), required for used vehicles with petrol driven motors with catalytic converters built after the 1st of July 1969 and diesel engines after the 1st of January 1977.
Here is a example of import costs for a Porsche 911 –
Price of the car fob
+ transport und service fee
= calculation basis
+ 10 % duty
+ 19 % tax
+ around 2.000 Euro for rebuild headlights etc.
+ around 1.000 Euro for transport, individual approval and registration
So for a car which costs 4.000.000 JPN, this is the calculation:
fob price
transport + service fee etc. 2.700
10 % duty
19 % tax
Rebuild, approval, registration
Total
We get asked all the time about Import Laws and Taxes for clients home Country. As we are based in Japan – We are not Experts in your Country’s LAWS! Please take the above as advice, but before importing a car, please confirm with your local authority to confirm the information.