Registering Caravans,trailers and the like
Discussion
Uh -oh, it seems like I have been unwittingly breaking the law since coming to Germany over a year and a half ago. I need a bit of guidance in the right direction before end up in the klink....
When I moved I brought over our old caravan for family trips which has proven to be a great way of exploring the country. When I first brought it over I simply slapped on the same number plate as we had on our tow car - being a naive Brit I thought it would be just the same as in the UK, in other words you wouldn't need separate registration and plates for the caravan.
So I have pootled around like this for many trips without being pulled. On a recent journey back from Austria however we had a breakdown and I had to get he ADAC to come pick up the car and caravan. When the ADAC lady was taking my details she asked for the caravan registration details so I gave her the plate number, she said "What! The same as the car??" and I went "Hmmm....interesting"
Then on the rest of the way home I noticed that all other caravans and trailers have different registration numbers to the cars towing them. Opps. Can someone direct me to the info I would need to register my caravan at the local Kraftfahrzeugzulassungsstelle. Also I am assuming I am going to need some sort of importation process for the caravan - any ideas? It's a 2000 caravan so not worth too much and if this is going to be a real hassle to get it registered I may just cut my losses.
When I moved I brought over our old caravan for family trips which has proven to be a great way of exploring the country. When I first brought it over I simply slapped on the same number plate as we had on our tow car - being a naive Brit I thought it would be just the same as in the UK, in other words you wouldn't need separate registration and plates for the caravan.
So I have pootled around like this for many trips without being pulled. On a recent journey back from Austria however we had a breakdown and I had to get he ADAC to come pick up the car and caravan. When the ADAC lady was taking my details she asked for the caravan registration details so I gave her the plate number, she said "What! The same as the car??" and I went "Hmmm....interesting"
Then on the rest of the way home I noticed that all other caravans and trailers have different registration numbers to the cars towing them. Opps. Can someone direct me to the info I would need to register my caravan at the local Kraftfahrzeugzulassungsstelle. Also I am assuming I am going to need some sort of importation process for the caravan - any ideas? It's a 2000 caravan so not worth too much and if this is going to be a real hassle to get it registered I may just cut my losses.
You will need the caravan´s papers (V5?) that state the manufacturer, type, etc.,
and some documents that ensure it´s yours.
Then the caravan will have to pass a TUV or DEKRA inspection (like MOT but stricter?),
where they check the hitch, chassis, brakes, wheels, lights, gas installation etc.
I have no idea about "import papers", maybe say you brought it over for short time
and then decided to use it for a longer time ?
I never did stuff like this so I might be corrected.
and some documents that ensure it´s yours.
Then the caravan will have to pass a TUV or DEKRA inspection (like MOT but stricter?),
where they check the hitch, chassis, brakes, wheels, lights, gas installation etc.
I have no idea about "import papers", maybe say you brought it over for short time
and then decided to use it for a longer time ?
I never did stuff like this so I might be corrected.
Thanks Benni. I have been looking into this a bit more since my last post. I think the easiest thing may be to pay a local caravan dealer to prepare and get it through the TUV. It seems like I will need to get some modifications to the rear lights and gas system to make it compliant. I also need to first get it registered in the UK to prove it's mine - this is not a legal requirement in the UK so few people do it for older caravans. Fun, fun, fun.....
Knowing how pigheaded german burocracy can be, I'd also think about taking it back to GB to flog it and buying a german caravan here 2nd hand. With that you'll have at least the manufacturers certificate of compliancy and all gas fittings to german standard.
Alone the idiocy of the TüV gas check will probably mean you'll have to replace all gas pipes and fittings and maybe even buy all new gas plates and oven etc. They flatly refuse to accept anything which is not german standard on gas fittings (and bu99er EU law), (ask anyone who has bought a dutch 'van!!)
This can work out more than an old 'van is worth
Alone the idiocy of the TüV gas check will probably mean you'll have to replace all gas pipes and fittings and maybe even buy all new gas plates and oven etc. They flatly refuse to accept anything which is not german standard on gas fittings (and bu99er EU law), (ask anyone who has bought a dutch 'van!!)
This can work out more than an old 'van is worth
This is exactly my concern. I will run it by a local caravan shop and see what they say but in the end it may not make financial sense to go through the hassle, especially as we may be back in England in a year or so.
I wonder what the fine is for towing an English registered caravan.....
I wonder what the fine is for towing an English registered caravan.....
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