Importing a car from the USA to Germany: duty, VAT and registration checks

To import a US auction car into Germany, you should budget for the auction price, buyer fees, shipping and insurance, then EU customs duty, 19% German import VAT, port handling, TÜV/compliance work, registration, plates, insurance and ongoing Kfz tax. Germany is relatively predictable on import VAT, but the vehicle can still become expensive if it needs technical modifications or has unclear salvage documentation.

Quick answer: what will you pay?

For a typical passenger car, the calculator treats the customs value as purchase cost plus transport and insurance to the EU border, applies a 10% planning duty rate for passenger cars, then applies 19% German import VAT to the VAT base. This is a planning model, not a customs ruling; the exact tariff classification and customs value must be confirmed for the actual vehicle.

1. Before you bid: decide whether the car is importable

A low auction price is not enough. Check the title type, VIN, damage photos, run-and-drive status, keys, odometer, engine displacement, fuel type and whether the car is likely to pass German roadworthiness requirements. Flood, fire, structural damage, missing airbags or non-standard lighting can make TÜV and repairs more important than the tax calculation.

2. Documents to collect

Keep the auction invoice, payment confirmation, bill of lading, freight invoice, insurance invoice, title/export document, VIN evidence and any repair or inspection records. These documents support the customs value, the import VAT base and later registration work.

3. Customs value and duty

Under EU customs practice, the import calculation normally starts from the transaction value plus freight and insurance up to the EU point of entry. Passenger cars are commonly planned under HS/CN 8703 with 10% duty for third-country imports, but the broker should confirm classification for unusual vehicles, trucks, classics, race cars or heavily modified cars.

4. German import VAT

German import VAT is 19%. The VAT base is usually customs value plus duty and VAT-taxable arrival costs where applicable. If your broker includes port handling or transport to the first destination in the VAT base, mirror that in the calculator so the estimate does not understate cash needed at import.

5. What Germany does not charge as a one-time registration tax

Germany does not have a Dutch BPM-style one-time registration tax in this calculator. After customs, the practical costs are TÜV, technical modifications, registration office fees, plates, insurance, repairs and ongoing motor vehicle tax. Kfz tax is a recurring tax and depends on rules such as fuel, engine size, CO2 and first registration date.

6. Compliance and TÜV risks

US-market cars may need lighting changes, rear fog light work, speedometer/odometer checks, emissions documentation, tire approval, noise compliance or individual approval. If the vehicle lacks EU type approval or has salvage history, ask a TÜV engineer or importer before bidding.

7. How to use the Vehistra calculator

Select Germany, confirm the final bid and currency, enter buyer fee, documentation fee, US inland transport, ocean freight and insurance, then add port handling, TÜV/compliance, repairs, registration and inland delivery. If the auction record has no reliable engine or fuel data, enter it manually rather than guessing.

8. Final checklist before payment

Before you pay or ship the vehicle, confirm the VIN and title, total auction invoice, freight quote, port of entry, customs broker, expected tariff classification, VAT cash requirement, TÜV path, repair budget, insurance availability and whether the car can be registered in the intended German state.