the registration has nothing to do with import/export

the registration is a thing about paper work
it's the basis for getting your certificate of roadworthiness, insuarance , etc.

import export > Taxes
i'm pretty sure it's the same for second hand cars imported into the US

One problem with exporting a car back to Germany is that the US warranty would probably not be honored.

> the registration has nothing to do with import/export

> the registration is a thing about paper work
> it's the basis for getting your certificate of roadworthiness,
> insuarance , etc.

The question is, would you be able to (re-)register the car in Germany without paying import duties? I can't see why not.

I have recently exported a 944 to Germany. The process is:
1. Get a TUV
2. Insure it
3. Register it

Why would the process be any different with a US car?

Ben

Actually I did just this when I spent a year at college in London. I took my BMW motorcycle across on a ship with me. It had Michigan plates and insurance and an I had an international driving license. I never got pulled over, although I did get a lot of questions about the plates.

I know several people who did the same thing that Jim did. You get a lot of questions on the license plates but its legal. The big hurdle is to get insurance as a lot of companies do not want to mess with it. Taking care of a claim overseas could be a nightmare.

Did the same years ago with a BMW bike. Loved it.

The main issue is if the vehicle is not totally owned by you or paid off. I had a brand new BMW bike (R1100RS) that I wanted to take over when I spent 6 months in Denmark in 1999. BMW credit would hear nothing of it and said that I had to pay it off in full before it left CONUS.

Had a friend in Berlin who took a Ford Pinto over with Texas plates. Sure got a lot of looks but it was legal. Renewed the license through the mail and drove it for almost 5 years until it rusted out so badly they would not allow him to drive it anylonger...

Joe

forgot 1 step > get it across the border, through customs > pay import taxes, if you didn't do that, you're technically guilty of fraud

there's 2 things beeing discussed here
1 Custom/taxes

if you import any expensive thing, a car, a boat, a shipment of uncut diamonds.

then you will have to pay import taxes

the only way to get around this, usually is not telling anybody you actually imported the good, but with cars it would be a bit difficult since you will have to show some documents when you get to the second issue in this discussion.

2 getting the car on the road legally

getting it checked, certified
licence plate
road taxes
insurance

EDIT > you guys look at it from the wrong side of the deal
if you guys export, technically all you need to do is box up the car, drop it off at the docks and send the cars papers to the buyer. and await your payment if you didn't get it up front. both the taxes and the paperwork , is for the buyer, the importer to arrange... you guys shouldn't care about how the buyer insures his car, it's his responsibility, same with import taxes

it's like when Wayne sends me a parcel of Pelican parts...
i make my order, Wayne charges my visa, and sends everything over, with a shipment document that mentions whats in it...
UPS ships it, the parcel passes customes, and they will charge me extra import taxes depending on the value of the parcel.. if it's not expensive say below 300 $ , i noticed i don't get billed, but that might have been a coincidence ...

Cars for Export outside the EU ,are produced under Customs regulations , if you bring a US Car back to Germany it will be Taxed .
The Import Duties are 10 % of the Value and than on Top 16% Mehrwertsteuer ( Salestax ) for the Complete amount ( Salesprice +10%
Duty ) . With newer Cars the newer Emission rules take Place ,that can be a Problem ,beside the Lights,Speedos,Glass,Seatbelts,Tires etc.You better know exactly what you do or end up with a Car in Europe what can in worst Case Szenario not be used on the Street .
Harald

ok! well it sounds like I can get a great price for my 80 targa SC. Therefore it is now for sale. I will park it on the dock the day after the check clears.