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tjet 
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2014
Posts: 3533
Location: CA & NM
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 Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 7:12 pm Post subject: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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My son is attending college in Germany under a student visa. He will be there a few more years. He really wants a VW, ideally an older bus (T2, T3). Right now he relies on public transportation.
I've been thinking about buying one for him. What kind of hurdles might he encounter on purchasing / registering / insuring / etc, a 30+ year old vehicle there? Is the vehicle inspection process difficult?
I will either do a paypal transaction, or transfer the money to him.
Thanks! |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3028
Location: MD
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| Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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Asking on reddit.com/r/de might be a good idea.
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Steve M.
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Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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I suggest talking to someone currently in the military or the ex-pats websites would have the info you need.
I was over in Europe, most of the countries including Germany.
He just needs to talk to the local registration office, I know they will speak English!
It's really not a big deal. It's just like buying a car here.
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Steve M.
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Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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https://www.simplegermany.com/buying-a-car-in-germany/
an ex-pat website.
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ALIKA T3
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Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 6351
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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| Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 11:26 pm Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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Hello!
make sure the TUV inspection or whatever needed is up to date on the vehicle and that it`s up to date with emission standards to be able to drive in some cities, if required for the vehicle.
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Steve M.
Samba Member
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Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 2:20 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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That is a very good point. The emmission standards are very strict over there.
My own Syncro was registered in Berlin and had the LPG fuel system installed.
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Abscate
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Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22648
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 5:14 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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| Quote: |
| Is the vehicle inspection process difficult? |
The process is simple.
Passing the inspection...... 
It’s Germany. There are reasons people have bumper stickers
Till TUV will us part
Jalopnik had a great article on TUV recently. There probably isn’t a car on US roads more than 3 years old that could pass first time
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ZsZ
Samba Member
Joined: December 11, 2010
Posts: 1645
Location: Budapest Hungary, Europe
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 6:27 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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You need a permanent residence to have a car registered on your name.
https://www.quora.com/Can-a-foreigner-buy-a-car-in...=104174659
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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
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Steve M.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 6:39 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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Unless your a member of the military. So there is a solution - get your kid to enlist!
The civilians working on a base in Europe were also driving cars they owned so they were probably included in the NATO agreement.
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0cean
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Joined: February 29, 2012
Posts: 1149
Location: California
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:00 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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Short of it is dont do it.
The problem is all the glass in the van and other random items that are a little differiant. Germany standerds are very differiant then amerian and it wont pass inspection for importing or regustration. Buy in germany or buy a differiant type of vehicial in germany.
Also, germany has very high taxs on old vehecials to prevent to many old cars on the road.
If these restrictions whent inplace, every other german home would have a 66 mustang. 
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Cluster Rebuild:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569920&highlight=
Left for Dead the Resurrection Story Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=613669
(Number of Different Donor VW Vans Body Parts Used: 12)
(Number of completely different vehicles parts used: 3) |
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Steve M.
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Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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| 0cean wrote: |
Short of it is dont do it.
The problem is all the glass in the van and other random items that are a little differiant. Germany standerds are very differiant then amerian and it wont pass inspection for importing or regustration. Buy in germany or buy a differiant type of vehicial in germany.
Also, germany has very high taxs on old vehecials to prevent to many old cars on the road.
If these restrictions whent inplace, every other german home would have a 66 mustang. |
Excuse me? Please explain all the imported Syncro 16's imported into the country from Germany that easily passed American standards.
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ZsZ
Samba Member
Joined: December 11, 2010
Posts: 1645
Location: Budapest Hungary, Europe
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:20 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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| Steve M. wrote: |
| 0cean wrote: |
Short of it is dont do it.
The problem is all the glass in the van and other random items that are a little differiant. Germany standerds are very differiant then amerian and it wont pass inspection for importing or regustration. Buy in germany or buy a differiant type of vehicial in germany.
Also, germany has very high taxs on old vehecials to prevent to many old cars on the road.
If these restrictions whent inplace, every other german home would have a 66 mustang. |
Excuse me? Please explain all the imported Syncro 16's imported into the country from Germany that easily passed American standards. |
DOT and EU (and DIN) regulations are differ in a lot of ways. The main problems usually are the lamps. DOT standard lamps are not approved in europe as the light projection shape (headlamp) and colors (blinkers, brake lights) are different.
Much easier to approve european in the US.
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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008 |
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0cean
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Posts: 1149
Location: California
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:22 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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American standerds are not the same as TUV. I read it wrong anyways. Sounds like hes purchasing in germany. I wouldent buy one because traveling on the autobahn in a vanagon would be to hard and dangrous. Cars passing you going over 100 and a vanagon doing 60-65. To much stress and to much gas money. Get a truck with a poptop tent.
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I'm not a mechanic, I just play one on the internet
Cluster Rebuild:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569920&highlight=
Left for Dead the Resurrection Story Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=613669
(Number of Different Donor VW Vans Body Parts Used: 12)
(Number of completely different vehicles parts used: 3) |
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0cean
Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2012
Posts: 1149
Location: California
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:24 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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| ZsZ wrote: |
| Steve M. wrote: |
| 0cean wrote: |
Short of it is dont do it.
The problem is all the glass in the van and other random items that are a little differiant. Germany standerds are very differiant then amerian and it wont pass inspection for importing or regustration. Buy in germany or buy a differiant type of vehicial in germany.
Also, germany has very high taxs on old vehecials to prevent to many old cars on the road.
If these restrictions whent inplace, every other german home would have a 66 mustang. |
Excuse me? Please explain all the imported Syncro 16's imported into the country from Germany that easily passed American standards. |
DOT and EU (and DIN) regulations are differ in a lot of ways. The main problems usually are the lamps. DOT standard lamps are not approved in europe as the light projection shape (headlamp) and colors (blinkers, brake lights) are different.
Much easier to approve european in the US. |
Both front and back glass are differiant also. Have to be replaced. There may be a differiance in gas tanks also, but i could be wrong about that.
_________________
I'm not a mechanic, I just play one on the internet
Cluster Rebuild:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569920&highlight=
Left for Dead the Resurrection Story Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=613669
(Number of Different Donor VW Vans Body Parts Used: 12)
(Number of completely different vehicles parts used: 3) |
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ZsZ
Samba Member
Joined: December 11, 2010
Posts: 1645
Location: Budapest Hungary, Europe
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:31 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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| 0cean wrote: |
| American standerds are not the same as TUV. I read it wrong anyways. Sounds like hes purchasing in germany. I wouldent buy one because traveling on the autobahn in a vanagon would be to hard and dangrous. Cars passing you going over 100 and a vanagon doing 60-65. To much stress and to much gas money. Get a truck with a poptop tent. |
Driving on a german autobahn is not as scary IMO.
Keep right and give way to faster cars are strict rules, but the faster cars are aware of the slowers who still need to overtake the trucks which are allowed only 80-90 kmph speed. The usual speed is ~120-130 kmph.
For me it was more pleasant to drive on a german autobahn than local hungarian highways as we have 130 kmph speed limits but the inner lanes are dominated by premium cars @150kmph and the wont let you overtake trucks
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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008 |
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ZsZ
Samba Member
Joined: December 11, 2010
Posts: 1645
Location: Budapest Hungary, Europe
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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| 0cean wrote: |
| ZsZ wrote: |
| Steve M. wrote: |
| 0cean wrote: |
Short of it is dont do it.
The problem is all the glass in the van and other random items that are a little differiant. Germany standerds are very differiant then amerian and it wont pass inspection for importing or regustration. Buy in germany or buy a differiant type of vehicial in germany.
Also, germany has very high taxs on old vehecials to prevent to many old cars on the road.
If these restrictions whent inplace, every other german home would have a 66 mustang. |
Excuse me? Please explain all the imported Syncro 16's imported into the country from Germany that easily passed American standards. |
DOT and EU (and DIN) regulations are differ in a lot of ways. The main problems usually are the lamps. DOT standard lamps are not approved in europe as the light projection shape (headlamp) and colors (blinkers, brake lights) are different.
Much easier to approve european in the US. |
Both front and back glass are differiant also. Have to be replaced. There may be a differiance in gas tanks also, but i could be wrong about that. |
Marker lights are not present on european cars
Emission equipments are different, eg. Charcoal canisters on gas cars were not compulsory until EURO2 regulations starting at 1996
_________________
Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008
Last edited by ZsZ on Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:36 am; edited 1 time in total |
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0cean
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Ahwahnee
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Joined: June 05, 2010
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Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:45 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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I would never suggest someone skirt regulation, but...
I have a friend who keeps a car in Europe for annual summer visits. He found it convenient to register it in Spain. He also stores it there when not in use.
Sorry, no details but just saying there may be some less onerous options available. |
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hans j
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Location: Salt Lake City UT
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 9:34 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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Driving on the autobahn isn't bad at all. Big trucks (LKW's) are limited to around 100-110 kph which is good speed for a T3. I preferred driving on the side roads anyway.
Registering is hard because he's not a permanent resident. He will have an address which is a good start, but it's only temporary.
With public transport as good as it is, you can get "almost" anywhere you want to go without a personal car, it's just not as convenient.
I have the option of buying and registering a car in Germany, but I'm choosing to build one here and send it over and keep it registered in USA. It's going to be cheaper in the long run.
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0cean
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Posts: 1149
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:34 am Post subject: Re: Buying and registering a car in Germany |
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You can import an american spec car for a short period of time. I Cant remember how long, yet it can run american tags and have euro insurance. Maybe something to look into.
Or just buy an old audi and tent it. Thats what i did when i lived there. Whent everwhere in germany and austria in an audi 90.
I would get a subaru diesel forester with a poptop tent on the roof. That would be epic.
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Cluster Rebuild:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569920&highlight=
Left for Dead the Resurrection Story Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=613669
(Number of Different Donor VW Vans Body Parts Used: 12)
(Number of completely different vehicles parts used: 3) |
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