EU import calculator
What it costs to bring a car from Germany or another EU country
A car from another EU country pays no customs duty, but transport, registration taxes and fees come on top of the price. Choose where you buy and where you register – we work out the full cost for free.
Cost of importing
Fill in the details and click “Calculate cost”.
Car from the USA, Canada, Japan, the UAE or the UK? Use the non-EU import calculator
VAT on a car from the EU – when you pay it
There are no customs duties between EU countries, and VAT is settled only once:
- Used car from a private seller or from a dealer under the margin scheme – there is no VAT, or it is already in the price. You do not pay it again at home.
- Used car from a dealer with a full VAT invoice – a private buyer pays the VAT of the country of purchase in the price. A business can buy net and account for VAT at home.
- New car – up to 6 months since first registration or up to 6,000 km. VAT is then always paid in the country of registration, and the seller invoices at 0%.
Transport – carrier or on its own wheels
A car carrier is the cheapest option over a longer distance – you pay per kilometre and the car travels with others. A dedicated tow truck costs more but collects the car right away and carries only yours – the choice for cars that do not run.
You can drive home if the car runs. You need export plates from the country of purchase (e.g. Ausfuhrkennzeichen in Germany) or temporary plates from the registration office in your country – always with liability insurance. Add fuel and tolls along the way.
Taxes at registration
Each country has its own one-off tax at the first registration of an imported car – and it most often decides whether importing pays off:
- Poland: excise of 3.1% of the price up to 2,000 cc and 18.6% above (half for hybrids, 0% for EVs),
- the Netherlands: BPM, Austria: NoVA, Belgium: registration tax, Denmark and Finland: taxes on the car’s value,
- Germany, Czechia or Sweden have no such tax – only registration fees.
The calculator works it out automatically from the purchase price, year, CO₂ and power.
Documents to register a car from the EU
You usually need:
- the purchase contract or invoice,
- the foreign registration certificate (in Germany both parts: Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and II),
- proof of payment of excise or registration tax,
- a valid roadworthiness test in your country,
- translations of foreign-language documents if your office requires them.
Deadlines differ between countries – in Poland, for example, a car brought from the EU must be registered within 30 days.
Frequently asked questions
›Do I pay customs duty on a car from Germany?
No. There are no customs duties between EU countries, so a car from Germany, the Netherlands or France pays no duty. You do pay your own country’s registration taxes, such as excise in Poland or BPM in the Netherlands.
›Do I pay VAT on a used car from the EU?
Usually not – VAT is settled in the country of purchase, or there is none when buying from a private seller or under the margin scheme. The exception is new cars (up to 6 months or 6,000 km) – their VAT is paid in the country of registration.
›How much does it cost to transport a car from Germany?
It depends on the distance and the method. A car carrier is usually the cheapest over a longer distance, a dedicated tow truck costs more. The calculator prices it from the distance between the countries and per-kilometre rates.
›Can I drive the car home from Germany?
Yes, if it runs. You need export plates from the country of purchase or temporary plates from your registration office – always with liability insurance for the trip.
›What value is the registration tax based on?
Usually on the price you paid or on the car’s value, depending on the country – some countries also use CO₂ and age. If the price is far from the market value, the authorities may use the market value.
›Does a car from the EU need type approval?
Usually not – a car registered in another EU country already has European type approval, so a roadworthiness test is enough. Extra tests or modifications are only needed in unusual cases, e.g. after modifications or for a car originally from outside the EU.