Anyone bought a Westy in Europe and kept it there for traveling?

[ZsZ]

As you have to pay the insurance and taxes and do government car inspections usually yearly above the citizenship/visa/residency issue, I think renting/leasing is the best solution.
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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008

[Abscate]

We will need some good Foreign service people to rebuild in3 years. I can tell you diplomatic status can be fun.

There is no such thing as ex-CIA.
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.ssS!

[WestfaliaMike]

I lived in germany for almost 10 years, to buy, you need to have a permanent address. Then you have car insureance and TUV inspection (safety) which require the same. I did visit germany, from the US a couple years ago, I had no problem renting a pretty nice Mercedes (they didn't offer vanagons lol). I traveled down to Switzerland ( did some hiking in the Alps.) to buy you need to prove permanet residence. Make sure your passport is up to date expect to be stopped at borders. Not 100% but if you stay two years I believe you need a visa...have fun!
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1981 Vanagon Westfalia
1983 Vanagon Passanger (Parts Vehicle)
2016 Passat TSI

[Steve M.]

You could always join the military and get stationed there!
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[dobryan]

[crazyvwvanman]

Renting VW camper vans or other such is expensive. If you want to take a short couple week camping trip, sure, renting one works. If you want to travel for 2 or 3 months in summertime, check the camper rental rates and get ready for a shock.

The OP posted a link to a place that has T4 and T5 Californias for rent.
I asked for one for 2 months, this coming June and July.
A VW Camper rental quote was about $9000 for just those 2 months, with tax.

There are some cheaper outfits as well as more expensive ones. Going in the off-season saves some serious money if you can manage it. Airline tickets, camper rentals, campground charges, everything is more in the summer. Avoid July/August to save money and to avoid the worst of the crowds.

Mark

[dobryan]

Mark,

If it is OK can you share your general costs for shipping, insurance, etc for the westy for your recent European adventure? (PM is fine if that is better). Basically costs other than normal travel expenses. And do you know how long you would have been able to keep a US registered westy in Europe?

I need to suss out the costs of having a Spanish friend register a European purchase of a westy for me vs shipping one from the US.

Thanks!
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[crazyvwvanman]

Camping travel in Europe is great and I just wish we had started doing it sooner. We shipped a Westy over and have used it for 3 summers, about 10 weeks each time. Once the van is over there it costs almost nothing to keep it there to use it again and again. I am not offering step by step guidance, just giving some general info.

Shipping to Europe from an East Coast port is less than West Coast.
We shipped roro from Jacksonville Florida to Belgium for $1000 in freight. Maritime insurance is extra and with customs clearing fees at the other end together added about $700. I don't know what it would cost today, that was 3 years ago. Shipping is higher for a return trip. Once I have done it I'll know more.

Liability insurance is required everywhere while using a vehicle. Don't get stopped by a cop or try to cross certain borders without it. A tourist driving their own vehicle registered in their own name can get a tourist policy. Make sure that whatever your vehicle arrangements are that you have this aspect covered.

Also, there are time limits to how long a tourist can be in the EU so check that out when planning long trips.


Mark

[SyncroChrick]

Dave O,

I think the consensus is that it is doable, but don't expect a step by step guide or recipe book. Everyone's situation is different.

You have to figure what works for you and what you are willing to compromise on, and have some friends to help.

If you are on Instagram, check @lostworldexpedition - they bought a Sprinter in Germany (through some family's help) and have been traveling for many summers.

As I said we have a C320 AMG Benz registered in the UK that we drove all over Europe and had a blast. It is under our name and registered at a friend's address but these last years insurance has become a problem for the UK (rest of Europe is fine). It's RHD which some people may not like but you can get LHD in the UK. I plan to go do one last trip with it and take it down to West Africa as part of a charity rally. Cars are really cheap in the UK (check ebay.co.uk).

I also think that shipping from USA may be the best option. Register your van in a state/county with more "flexible" registration qualifications and just leave the van there for as long as you want. You occasionally see Porsche in Hungary or Croatia with Montana plates...

There are a couple insurance company that specializes in insurance for foreign vehicles (tourist) based in Bruxelles or Luxembourg. It is not cheap, even for an old vehicle.

As Mark said, avoid July/August, camping may be very difficult during these weeks. Europe is fantastic and I also wish I had done more travel there earlier in my life - especially in Eastern Europe. There is so much to do and see everywhere, in the summer you don't even need a guidebook, you just roll in any town and there is always something happening.

Hope you get to do it!

[dobryan]

OK. I have been contacted by a sambanite who has done variations of this for the last 20 years. After talking for him for an hour I have made up my mind on which direction to take....

The cost of registering, inspecting and the repairs needed, and insuring a vehicle in a European country is very high. So high that I will save a lot of money and hassle if I ship over my US registered bus and use it for occasional vacations. So that is what I will do.

I am going to buy and build a westy/camper here in the US and ship it to Europe. I will store it outside Amsterdam, likely at this place.
https://www.caravanstallingdewit.nl/
(They have better rates and this guy highly recommended them, his bus is there now.)

I want a high top camper and they are hard to find in the US and are usually expensive, so I will look for a non-rusty tin top passenger Vanagon and add a NAHT hard top and a partial westy interior.

Now I know what I will be doing this fall/winter. I want to ship it over in the late spring 2019.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[hans j]

We might be stallmates! I'm planning on doing the same thing. Just bought an 86 tintop to convert to syncro, tdi, and hightop camper for the task. We will use it 1-2 times a year over there. I don't trust buying a van over there to keep, and I don't want to work on it all the time we are there. Plus it can remain permanently registered in Utah due to it's age with no inspections. Purchase insurance as we go, and find a place near Amsterdam where we get non stop flights in. Pick up van, unwind and buy food and then it's an 8 hour drive to mom in law's house in Germany.
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1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[dobryan]

[Waldemar Sikorski]

Well, late as usual but...
I'm still stuck in Poland and this is not something to change in a foreseeable future. I don't know what it would cost to register a European bought t3 but mandatory yearly insurance for my Carat is $100 - $150 and mandatory inspection is currently $50.

[WestfaliaMike]

Check this website out where you you can rent them in Germany for a long period

http://tour-europe.de/
_________________
1981 Vanagon Westfalia
1983 Vanagon Passanger (Parts Vehicle)
2016 Passat TSI

[dobryan]

[Tobias Duncan]

There has got to be a way to make this work. I have been wanting to buy a nice joker in europe and tour for six months and then bring it back. I have an extra westy here that I was planning to sell in the spring to help finance a purchase there. I guess I could just ship this one over like dobryan is doing... then what ? Sell it over there when I am done?
Ship it back here and then sell it?
Also this way I never get my Joker

[Steve M.]

Another potential problem would be if you have done a "big brake" job or put tires on it that are not original size that came from the factory.
The brake problem would be passing the safety inspection in Germany if you needed to get an inspection there. That might be true for most countries and something you need to check on as they are pretty stringent on the safety inspections. Your brakes must meet regulations and not an "unknown" or untested modification.
The original size tire I know for a fact is a definite law in Italy. Original size wheel and tires only on cars registered in Italy.

You might get away with it being an American registered vehicle, but I am not sure of that.

So you something else to be aware of and find out the facts on from authorities if you have modified the vehicle. (not hearsay from a long term tourist!)

You know the easiest way to find out what you can do is contact the authorities in the EU and ask.
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[surfer6900]

Check out Live.Travel.Play on Facebook.
Recently met them in the UK in August '18
They are from Canada but are taking an extended tour around Europe.


I think they shipped their Westy, but I'm sure they'd have some helpful tips.

[dobryan]

[danfromsyr]

Slipping this in here Dave, as sometimes signatures change and the link would go away..
not saying you will change your signature but it's best if the link is just posted into this thread..

we're all expecting more great threads from you once you actually get this in Europe for travel.. then maybe a new signature link will be in order.

so here
dobryan: Building a bus for travel in Europe https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371