Purchasing a Vehicle in Germany
 

Does anyone have any experience buying and registering a vehicle in Germany without being a resident?

I would like to purchase a Land Rover Defender; I was going to buy one in South Africa, which is easy, but am now thinking I'd like to buy a left-hand drive vehicle, so I'm looking towards Europe.

The thing is, I can't import this vehicle to the US because it won't meet safety regulations, so I need to leave it registered in the country I purchased it from as I travel through Africa and possibly South America, possibly for multiple years. So:

1) Is purchase and registration easy if you aren't a resident? Looks easy for export, but I haven't seen much info for actually leaving it registered there.

2) Is renewal of registration easy for a non-resident, particularly if the vehicle is out of the country and not available for inspection? Also, is the registration annual?

3) Any other suggestions on picking up an inexpensive LHD Defender?

4) Any recommendations on expediters or purchasing services (not being a German speaker)

Thanks!

I have a purchase agreement issued by the ADAC (German Auto club) which is used when buying a second hand vehicle . It explains pretty much what needs to be done. I have it in English and German . send me a PM with your email and I can send these to you. You can get transit plates in Germany, any dealer worth his salt will do this for you. I think you can have them for up to 3 months by which time you have long left the country anyway so what do you care. I think you main challenge will be insurance but here again ADAC may be able to help. have a look at ADAC - Ihr Partner in allen Fragen rund um die Mobilität. (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club) - Mitgliedschaft - Pannenhilfe - Routenplaner - Tests - Versicherungen - Kreditkarten - Finanzierungen - Autovermietung - they have an English version of some of their site.

Hard Road Ahead
 

Wow! You are making it hard for yourself! Trying to purchase a vehicle from Germany and not being able to speak the language is a tough one to get around so think long and hard about it.
The next think to think long and hard about is the purchase of a Land Rover.
All I can say is good luck! I think you are going to need bucket loads!

You must be a legal and registered resident in Germany to register a vehicle there. If you can achieve that the rest is easy. Sorry, I'm not sure about the legalities involved in registering a residence for a person who on the face of it doesn't have the right to live in the country.

Not sure of the exact terms but I've bought vehicles in Germany & am not a German speaker nor do I have residency.

The car has been re-plated in my name with German plates and used my French address. Not sure of the rules if you are resident outside the EU ... but if you had an address within the EU you could be OK.

Kira

Are they not Zoll plates? The ones with the red stripe on one side?

John

Yes, I had temporary import plates giving me insurance in Germany (only) for 5 days; technically need changing within 15 days of arriving in France ... took me 2 months but had French insurance.

Kira

I think he is looking foe a more "permanent" plate.. Mind you, there is a guy near me that has had his van on German export plates for at least 2 YEARS!

Lots of people run vehicles in Europe with plates that should have been changed ages ago. Look at all the Brits in France/Spain with what a really, illegal cars. To be legal in another EU country, a vehicle should be legal in its HOME country and then for a max stay of six months.
Just seems the police cant be arsed to do anything about it... until the accident occurs:biggrin3:

John

I think if you've moved to France on a full time basis then officially it's only one month.
I suspect the police don't bother because there are so many and a lot of them are holiday makers or holiday home visitors and there's the language barrier as well so no they can't be arsed.
A lot of Brits. seem to believe that it's alright and simply carry on regardless, at least until they have an insurance claim.

Residents in France have 15 days to change, I know this having been threatened by gendarmes - you should get onto WW plates whilst doing the rest. Insurance companies give 6months tops (Macif will anyway!)

Kira

I have bought and sold in Germany. To echo other contributions,

1. language is not a problem (there are always friendly English speakers to hand).

2. temporary registration for export is easy, but it is short term. Long term, it is impossible without residence. Forget it.

OPTIONS

1. You could go illegal - with an expired plate. Not advised really. Someone somewhere will spot the date on that plate. Lots of German cars are finding their way to Africa at the moment, so it is well possible that the locals know the registration regulations. It depends on your attitude to risk. IMO, no: you'll already have enough on your plate without the potential mega-hassle of an illegal car. Think confiscation, huge bonded transport costs, being stuck for months paying fines, even jail, ouch. Some countries are sharper than others - Panama and Costa Rica I recall caused a couple of travellers problems with dodgy papers.

(BTW, insurance is not an issue once you're out of the EU - you get it on borders or not at all. It is worthless but obligatory.)

2. Idea: If you are determined to buy in Germany, you could do this and then register in UK. I think this is a viable option - maybe others could comment.

In the UK - unlike Germany - the plate stays with the vehicle for the life of the car, all other things being equal. Once registered in your name you get the ownership documents and no renewal is needed. You will need a carnet for Africa, and, speaking the language, this is another reason to have a UK vehicle.

The paperwork for registration is simple and cheap. The system is efficient. Ditto for carnets.

3. Make your life even simpler. Buy a LHD vehicle in the UK. They do exist you know, perfectly legally. Base yourself in the UK for a period, buy the car, get the paperwork up and going, then off you go. The time, hassle and money you save with this option will be well worth the "cost" of limited choice.

Hauling yourself around Germany asking for directions from blank faced pedestrians is draining. Contrast this with southern England: half the UK population live a few hours from London, and they all speak English. Lots of LHD expedition vehicles come up for sale on ebay and various overlander sites. I think this is your best bet by far. Get googling, put the word out, something nice will come your way I am sure.


Hope this helps,

Simon

Hi there, a newbie here......

I would get an old British Army Landrover as some were LHD for use in Germany. Most will have been refurbished before selling. 2.5 N/A (normally aspirated - no turbo) diesel is the pick of the bunch.

L. Jackson - for Ex. MOD and NATO Disposals
P.A. Blanchard & Co. : Ex Military Landrover Specialists, Trailers, Ex MOD Spares, Surplus Stores & Equipment
EX MOD NATO DISPOSALS
.: The County And Defender Centre Ltd :.
Land Rover Ex MoD Links

It will be far easier getting a vehicle in the UK, purchasing is dead easy, all you need is an international driving licence and a UK address to register the vehicle from. Exporting is a doddle as well.

Personally I would go down the Toyota Landcruiser route, unless you are going serious, serious offroading.

The temporary export plate "Zoll-Kennzeichen" is the best thing that can happen to you. You don't need a residence, you are allowed to drive in the EU for max. 3 months and the car is automatically insured.

Then you can go through Africa and South America with this plate as long as you want. You just need to buy insurance locally.

Language will not be a problem in Germany. Most used car dealers are non-Germans. You will get along with English.

Have a look at mobile.de - Deutschlands größter Fahrzeugmarkt. Suchen, kaufen oder verkaufen Sie Neu- und Gebrauchtwagen or AutoScout24 Europas Automarkt für Gebrauchtwagen und Neuwagen

Old Landrover Discoveries and Range Rovers are a particularly good bargain in Germany at the moment. And their used cars are in better shape than in most other countries.

Check this thread where I posted up-to-date information on this topic: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...=export+plates

For a "normal" ie. local rego you need to have a local address in Germany. But for an "export rego" you do NOT need to be a German resident.

Unfortunately this is only valid for max 1 year. The date is visible on the number plate. The insurance can be obtained at the office of registration or at any other insurance company.

Hans

Buy in Britain
 

Unless a German vehicle is vital I too would re-iterate the above comments and buy a landy in the UK where they are ubiquitous.

You can buy LHD/RHD and pretty much any version ever made. Ex. military vehicles are available from a few places but try here: Witham Specialist Vehicles and also at that site you will see that they sell new "export" landys which are world vehicles and cheaper than they can sell them in the UK. They will register them for you and arrange export for wherever you tell them to. Brand new they cost ~£14k and used from about ~£3k.