Buying a car in Germany
Discussion
Hallo zusammen,
I'm gradually getting to the point where I am seriously considering buying a car over here and need some simple advice.
The internet hasn't proved very helpful, lots of sites seem to offer general car buying tips rather than those specific to Germany and the German system. As such, I'm still almost completely in the dark about it.
Having lived in the UK for most of my life and bought/sold/insured/taxed/MOT'd plenty of cars there, it seems like a bit of a different world here.
I've worked out that cars are often sold without their number plates (kennzeichen) which leads me to the question of test drives and actually leaving the sale with the car. E.g. in the UK if you buy privately, you would sort your insurance out before visiting the seller (assuming you're really sure you might buy it), pay your money, sign the V5 and off you go. New V5 arrives some days later all in your name. In Germany, how would it work? I know there are temporary red kennzeichen used for test drives but how would that work for a private sale? What about cars which still have their kennzeichen at the time of sale? And when you buy in a different area from the one in which you live? You'd need a new kennzeichen issued with your area code on, right?
Looking forward to learning about this...
I'm gradually getting to the point where I am seriously considering buying a car over here and need some simple advice.
The internet hasn't proved very helpful, lots of sites seem to offer general car buying tips rather than those specific to Germany and the German system. As such, I'm still almost completely in the dark about it.
Having lived in the UK for most of my life and bought/sold/insured/taxed/MOT'd plenty of cars there, it seems like a bit of a different world here.
I've worked out that cars are often sold without their number plates (kennzeichen) which leads me to the question of test drives and actually leaving the sale with the car. E.g. in the UK if you buy privately, you would sort your insurance out before visiting the seller (assuming you're really sure you might buy it), pay your money, sign the V5 and off you go. New V5 arrives some days later all in your name. In Germany, how would it work? I know there are temporary red kennzeichen used for test drives but how would that work for a private sale? What about cars which still have their kennzeichen at the time of sale? And when you buy in a different area from the one in which you live? You'd need a new kennzeichen issued with your area code on, right?
Looking forward to learning about this...
Hi Leo,
as far as I know, you either get temporary plates (red- or black with limited date) with insurance if you already have bought the car,
or you just go to the seller and let him do the test drive,
or drive yourself with him in the car (or leave cash at his place for security and go for yourself,
but if you have an accident on the test-drive it could be hairy).
However, when you have bought the car you make the contract at the seller´s place and then drive off
to your local hometown´s "Zulassungs-Stelle" (car registry office)ASAP.
When you have an accident, you are already insured even if you still have the old plates on,
if you are caught speeding/parking wrong the seller has the proof that the car was yours at that time.
You have to get an insurance first with the data of car, driver and location,
then you go with the certificate of insurance, the "Fahrzeugbrief" (sort of permanent ID paper for the car)
and the "Fahrzeugschein" (temporary paper with the last location of registration,
with name/adress of former owner and old number plate on it) to your local Zulassungsstelle.
Take a LOT of magazines with you, there could be some waiting time in (a) queue(s),
and check their opening hours (mostly 7-12am).
If the car still has TÜV (sort of MOT thing), then you are allowed to pick a license plate letter and number combination,
if this is still available, this costs ~20€ extra, if not they give you what´s coming up in their computer.
You leave the old Fahrzeugschein (no longer valid) and the Fahrzeugbrief (still valid) at the office
and get an official paper with your new reg number.
You then have to buy the plates at a special shop, usually located close to the Zulassungs-Stelle,
and get to the Zulassungs-Stelle office again.
In the meantime, they will have made your new Fahrzeugschein with your name, address and reg number,
and added your personal data to the Fahrzeugbrief, you will recieve both papers again.
You give them your new plates, they put the little stickers on with the new location of car and TÜV date,
then you have to mount these plates to your car and are allowed to drive off into the sunset.
Sometimes, they want to inspect the car before you get the little stickers,
so you have to mount the plates, get in line (another queue) with your car and then there is an inspection
at the Zulassungs-Stelle to see if there are any modifications on the car
that are not already in the reg papers (Fahrzeugbrief AND Fahrzeugschein).
(Look out before buying, if any mods are done, they have to be in the papers,
or at least there have to be papers included which allow you to get these mods registered.
If you get caught /have an accident with modifications that are not in the papers,
the insurance might be void.)
Well, I never wrote that it is easy,
and if I am wrong somewhere I hope someone with better knowledge helps out.
Regards,
Benni
P.S.:
As a foreigner, I think you also need a copy (maybe an original)of your "Meldebestätigung" (proof of residence)
as far as I know, you either get temporary plates (red- or black with limited date) with insurance if you already have bought the car,
or you just go to the seller and let him do the test drive,
or drive yourself with him in the car (or leave cash at his place for security and go for yourself,
but if you have an accident on the test-drive it could be hairy).
However, when you have bought the car you make the contract at the seller´s place and then drive off
to your local hometown´s "Zulassungs-Stelle" (car registry office)ASAP.
When you have an accident, you are already insured even if you still have the old plates on,
if you are caught speeding/parking wrong the seller has the proof that the car was yours at that time.
You have to get an insurance first with the data of car, driver and location,
then you go with the certificate of insurance, the "Fahrzeugbrief" (sort of permanent ID paper for the car)
and the "Fahrzeugschein" (temporary paper with the last location of registration,
with name/adress of former owner and old number plate on it) to your local Zulassungsstelle.
Take a LOT of magazines with you, there could be some waiting time in (a) queue(s),
and check their opening hours (mostly 7-12am).
If the car still has TÜV (sort of MOT thing), then you are allowed to pick a license plate letter and number combination,
if this is still available, this costs ~20€ extra, if not they give you what´s coming up in their computer.
You leave the old Fahrzeugschein (no longer valid) and the Fahrzeugbrief (still valid) at the office
and get an official paper with your new reg number.
You then have to buy the plates at a special shop, usually located close to the Zulassungs-Stelle,
and get to the Zulassungs-Stelle office again.
In the meantime, they will have made your new Fahrzeugschein with your name, address and reg number,
and added your personal data to the Fahrzeugbrief, you will recieve both papers again.
You give them your new plates, they put the little stickers on with the new location of car and TÜV date,
then you have to mount these plates to your car and are allowed to drive off into the sunset.
Sometimes, they want to inspect the car before you get the little stickers,
so you have to mount the plates, get in line (another queue) with your car and then there is an inspection
at the Zulassungs-Stelle to see if there are any modifications on the car
that are not already in the reg papers (Fahrzeugbrief AND Fahrzeugschein).
(Look out before buying, if any mods are done, they have to be in the papers,
or at least there have to be papers included which allow you to get these mods registered.
If you get caught /have an accident with modifications that are not in the papers,
the insurance might be void.)
Well, I never wrote that it is easy,
and if I am wrong somewhere I hope someone with better knowledge helps out.
Regards,
Benni
P.S.:
As a foreigner, I think you also need a copy (maybe an original)of your "Meldebestätigung" (proof of residence)
Benni said:
Hi Leo,
as far as I know, you either get temporary plates (red- or black with limited date) with insurance if you already have bought the car,
or you just go to the seller and let him do the test drive,
or drive yourself with him in the car (or leave cash at his place for security and go for yourself,
but if you have an accident on the test-drive it could be hairy).
However, when you have bought the car you make the contract at the seller´s place and then drive off
to your local hometown´s "Zulassungs-Stelle" (car registry office)ASAP.
When you have an accident, you are already insured even if you still have the old plates on,
if you are caught speeding/parking wrong the seller has the proof that the car was yours at that time.
You have to get an insurance first with the data of car, driver and location,
then you go with the certificate of insurance, the "Fahrzeugbrief" (sort of permanent ID paper for the car)
and the "Fahrzeugschein" (temporary paper with the last location of registration,
with name/adress of former owner and old number plate on it) to your local Zulassungsstelle.
Take a LOT of magazines with you, there could be some waiting time in (a) queue(s),
and check their opening hours (mostly 7-12am).
If the car still has TÜV (sort of MOT thing), then you are allowed to pick a license plate letter and number combination,
if this is still available, this costs ~20€ extra, if not they give you what´s coming up in their computer.
You leave the old Fahrzeugschein (no longer valid) and the Fahrzeugbrief (still valid) at the office
and get an official paper with your new reg number.
You then have to buy the plates at a special shop, usually located close to the Zulassungs-Stelle,
and get to the Zulassungs-Stelle office again.
In the meantime, they will have made your new Fahrzeugschein with your name, address and reg number,
and added your personal data to the Fahrzeugbrief, you will recieve both papers again.
You give them your new plates, they put the little stickers on with the new location of car and TÜV date,
then you have to mount these plates to your car and are allowed to drive off into the sunset.
Sometimes, they want to inspect the car before you get the little stickers,
so you have to mount the plates, get in line (another queue) with your car and then there is an inspection
at the Zulassungs-Stelle to see if there are any modifications on the car
that are not already in the reg papers (Fahrzeugbrief AND Fahrzeugschein).
(Look out before buying, if any mods are done, they have to be in the papers,
or at least there have to be papers included which allow you to get these mods registered.
If you get caught /have an accident with modifications that are not in the papers,
the insurance might be void.)
Well, I never wrote that it is easy,
and if I am wrong somewhere I hope someone with better knowledge helps out.
Regards,
Benni
P.S.:
As a foreigner, I think you also need a copy (maybe an original)of your "Meldebestätigung" (proof of residence)
and when you change address to another local authority, ditto the above...as far as I know, you either get temporary plates (red- or black with limited date) with insurance if you already have bought the car,
or you just go to the seller and let him do the test drive,
or drive yourself with him in the car (or leave cash at his place for security and go for yourself,
but if you have an accident on the test-drive it could be hairy).
However, when you have bought the car you make the contract at the seller´s place and then drive off
to your local hometown´s "Zulassungs-Stelle" (car registry office)ASAP.
When you have an accident, you are already insured even if you still have the old plates on,
if you are caught speeding/parking wrong the seller has the proof that the car was yours at that time.
You have to get an insurance first with the data of car, driver and location,
then you go with the certificate of insurance, the "Fahrzeugbrief" (sort of permanent ID paper for the car)
and the "Fahrzeugschein" (temporary paper with the last location of registration,
with name/adress of former owner and old number plate on it) to your local Zulassungsstelle.
Take a LOT of magazines with you, there could be some waiting time in (a) queue(s),
and check their opening hours (mostly 7-12am).
If the car still has TÜV (sort of MOT thing), then you are allowed to pick a license plate letter and number combination,
if this is still available, this costs ~20€ extra, if not they give you what´s coming up in their computer.
You leave the old Fahrzeugschein (no longer valid) and the Fahrzeugbrief (still valid) at the office
and get an official paper with your new reg number.
You then have to buy the plates at a special shop, usually located close to the Zulassungs-Stelle,
and get to the Zulassungs-Stelle office again.
In the meantime, they will have made your new Fahrzeugschein with your name, address and reg number,
and added your personal data to the Fahrzeugbrief, you will recieve both papers again.
You give them your new plates, they put the little stickers on with the new location of car and TÜV date,
then you have to mount these plates to your car and are allowed to drive off into the sunset.
Sometimes, they want to inspect the car before you get the little stickers,
so you have to mount the plates, get in line (another queue) with your car and then there is an inspection
at the Zulassungs-Stelle to see if there are any modifications on the car
that are not already in the reg papers (Fahrzeugbrief AND Fahrzeugschein).
(Look out before buying, if any mods are done, they have to be in the papers,
or at least there have to be papers included which allow you to get these mods registered.
If you get caught /have an accident with modifications that are not in the papers,
the insurance might be void.)
Well, I never wrote that it is easy,
and if I am wrong somewhere I hope someone with better knowledge helps out.
Regards,
Benni
P.S.:
As a foreigner, I think you also need a copy (maybe an original)of your "Meldebestätigung" (proof of residence)
as a foreigner, if you have registered (anmeldung - you surely have done this) I've only ever had to show my passport, not any meldebestätigung
no harm to be armed with extra paperwork whenever you deal with any beamter though
the insurance thing has changed a bit - you used to get a 'doppelkarte' from an insurance company, saying they would be insuring you - now they just give you a reference number/code that you give to the zulassungsstelle people - they can give you this over the phone now
also, technically Fahrzeugschein and Fahrzeugbrief are now called Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II and I respectively
never leave the large brief/Teil I in the car btw
no harm to be armed with extra paperwork whenever you deal with any beamter though
the insurance thing has changed a bit - you used to get a 'doppelkarte' from an insurance company, saying they would be insuring you - now they just give you a reference number/code that you give to the zulassungsstelle people - they can give you this over the phone now
also, technically Fahrzeugschein and Fahrzeugbrief are now called Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II and I respectively
never leave the large brief/Teil I in the car btw
Thanks for the detailed info Benni and the extras there Hugo. Great information but it sounds like a huge mission.
A couple of questions more now...
1. If buying the car without plates (I see many advertised like this), how can I drive it home or to the Zulassungsstelle or even insure it (surely the insurance company would need the Kennzeichen)? Some kind of temporary plates are needed, I guess? Are these the ones you mention in your first paragraph Benno? But there said you can get the plates with dates if you already bought the car...
2. Modifications - what sort of modifications are they concerned with? I'm not particularly interested in having a modified car but what if, for example, the wheels are not standard fitment, or something like that. Would they care?
LG,
Leo
A couple of questions more now...
1. If buying the car without plates (I see many advertised like this), how can I drive it home or to the Zulassungsstelle or even insure it (surely the insurance company would need the Kennzeichen)? Some kind of temporary plates are needed, I guess? Are these the ones you mention in your first paragraph Benno? But there said you can get the plates with dates if you already bought the car...
2. Modifications - what sort of modifications are they concerned with? I'm not particularly interested in having a modified car but what if, for example, the wheels are not standard fitment, or something like that. Would they care?
LG,
Leo
Edited by LeoZwalf on Tuesday 23 March 12:07
Hi.
If you are buying from a dealer, he will have red liscence plates for you to use on the test drive, alternatively if you have a mate who is a mechanic, he might be persuaded to lend you his (although this is not entirely legal).
If neither of these scenarios are the case, you can always get temporary plates from the zulassungsstelle, assuming this is your first car. I believe this costs around 30€. If you already own a car, after informing your insurance and the zulassungsstelle, and with the appropriate paperwork from them, you are allowed "one final drive" without licence plates, either to take your old car to the scrappy/wherever, or to get the new car home (I believe). Remember the plates belong to you, not the car.
As for modifications, if the car already has them at time of purchase, they should already be registered with TÜV, but if you are planning your own upgrades, I believe you only have to register things that modify your top speed or acceleration significantly, or your emmissions. For instance, new rims or a spoiler wouldnt need to be mentioned, but new exhausts would. Also there is a minimum ride height requirement (like everywhere) and I believe if you drop your car, or add skirts you have to notify them aswell.
Hopefully this helps, do take everything with a pinch of salt though, as although I live in Germany, I'm not an expert in remaining legal on the road
(currently paying off a "fahren ohne führerschein" ticket hehe)
If you are buying from a dealer, he will have red liscence plates for you to use on the test drive, alternatively if you have a mate who is a mechanic, he might be persuaded to lend you his (although this is not entirely legal).
If neither of these scenarios are the case, you can always get temporary plates from the zulassungsstelle, assuming this is your first car. I believe this costs around 30€. If you already own a car, after informing your insurance and the zulassungsstelle, and with the appropriate paperwork from them, you are allowed "one final drive" without licence plates, either to take your old car to the scrappy/wherever, or to get the new car home (I believe). Remember the plates belong to you, not the car.
As for modifications, if the car already has them at time of purchase, they should already be registered with TÜV, but if you are planning your own upgrades, I believe you only have to register things that modify your top speed or acceleration significantly, or your emmissions. For instance, new rims or a spoiler wouldnt need to be mentioned, but new exhausts would. Also there is a minimum ride height requirement (like everywhere) and I believe if you drop your car, or add skirts you have to notify them aswell.
Hopefully this helps, do take everything with a pinch of salt though, as although I live in Germany, I'm not an expert in remaining legal on the road
(currently paying off a "fahren ohne führerschein" ticket hehe)Leo
if you're buying from a reputable dealer, a test drive on their insurance is normal, and all the registration bumph can/will/should be done by him
If buying from a private person beware of any vehicle without a current plate.
German law covers you as any driver on his insurance provided the plate is valid (german 3rd party insurance MUSt cover ANY driver by law).
I'd always insist when buying a 2nd hand car, that there is a new TüV done by the seller (you can see if there are any defects on the 156 point check sheet).
DON'T part with any money UNTIL you've had all the TüV and registration done as the car could be a ringer (quite a lot coming from Poland, either crashed and written off or stolen then brought back into D from PL)
Registering the car yourself should be no problem provided you're a german resident. Just take your insurance number (given to you when you apply for the insurance, used to be a twin (post)card), the car paperwork, driving license and ID and they'll do it relatively quickly. You can even choose your number nowadays although the 1 and 2 digits are kept for 'bikes.
Get the plates made (usually there are shops directly by the Zulassungsstelle) and take them back to get the town/county stamp and the TüV. The old ASU is now incorporated in the TüV so there is no separate sticker for that.
Any further questions you can PM me direct...........John
if you're buying from a reputable dealer, a test drive on their insurance is normal, and all the registration bumph can/will/should be done by him
If buying from a private person beware of any vehicle without a current plate.
German law covers you as any driver on his insurance provided the plate is valid (german 3rd party insurance MUSt cover ANY driver by law).
I'd always insist when buying a 2nd hand car, that there is a new TüV done by the seller (you can see if there are any defects on the 156 point check sheet).
DON'T part with any money UNTIL you've had all the TüV and registration done as the car could be a ringer (quite a lot coming from Poland, either crashed and written off or stolen then brought back into D from PL)
Registering the car yourself should be no problem provided you're a german resident. Just take your insurance number (given to you when you apply for the insurance, used to be a twin (post)card), the car paperwork, driving license and ID and they'll do it relatively quickly. You can even choose your number nowadays although the 1 and 2 digits are kept for 'bikes.
Get the plates made (usually there are shops directly by the Zulassungsstelle) and take them back to get the town/county stamp and the TüV. The old ASU is now incorporated in the TüV so there is no separate sticker for that.
Any further questions you can PM me direct...........John
if the car is being sold 'without plates' so to speak, it has been deregistered - either the private owner has taken it off the road already, or a dealer has bought it and they wouldn't register it
the only way to drive this car away is to:
buy temporary plates - you can ask at the places that make plates at the zulassungsstelle - you tell them what car you are buying and they give you a plate with insurance for 7, 14, 30 days whatever - the date it runs out is stamped on the plate. some dealers can arrange this too, as they would do if you were exporting the car - but they'd need time to go to the zulassungsstelle too
or, easier way, just pay for the car, get the docs etc, the keys (you could leave the bloke one key if he needs to move the car or something) then go and get the plates and go back to pick up the car with the plates under your arm
the only way to drive this car away is to:
buy temporary plates - you can ask at the places that make plates at the zulassungsstelle - you tell them what car you are buying and they give you a plate with insurance for 7, 14, 30 days whatever - the date it runs out is stamped on the plate. some dealers can arrange this too, as they would do if you were exporting the car - but they'd need time to go to the zulassungsstelle too
or, easier way, just pay for the car, get the docs etc, the keys (you could leave the bloke one key if he needs to move the car or something) then go and get the plates and go back to pick up the car with the plates under your arm
Hugo a Gogo said:
I'm not sure I would let anyone take all the docs and register my car in their name BEFORE they'd given me any money for it JMGS
AGREED, just a way of filtering out those selling ringers and stolen cars in D! The large car marts which are springing up seem to have over 50% dodgy cars and the police and customs check them regularly and get a large haul!Gassing Station | Germany | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff