dubwarrior2
Part of things
"Open up, its the filth"
Posts: 576
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Ok heres one that has me stumped.
Of late, don't aske me why, but Ive taken a real shine to the old Mercedes 508 type vans.
Was thinking of maybe going overto Germany to buy one and driving it back.
What do you do about insurance?
I couldnt really arrange it before I went because Ive no idea what I'll be buying.
Can you arrange insurance with a Uk company while abroad to drive it home?
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zx
Part of things
Posts: 235
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You can insure the vehicle on its VIN number. Find a competitive quote here and then phone that broker/company later when you've bought the vehicle in Germany. You'll have a grace period of 14 or 28 days before you have to provide a reg / get it registered.
HOWEVER - the legalities of driving a foreign registered or unregistered vehicle across Europe and into the UK are likely to unstick you far more than insurance. If you were to be black and white about it, it's illegal to do so. I prefer the grey approach and you can find ways to interpret the rules differently, but if you don't want the hassle of convincing people or potentially getting impounded, you'll be better off going over with a truck or trailer and bringing it back that way.
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Last Edit: Aug 5, 2017 9:26:11 GMT by zx
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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You can insure the vehicle on its VIN number. Find a competitive quote here and then phone that broker/company later when you've bought the vehicle in Germany. You'll have a grave period of 14 or 28 days before you have to provide a reg / get it registered. HOWEVER - the legalities of driving a foreign registered or unregistered vehicle across Europe and into the UK are likely to unstick you far more than insurance. If you were to be black and white about it, it's illegal to do so. I prefer the grey approach and you can find ways to interpret the rules differently, but if you don't want the hassle of convincing people or potentially getting impounded, you'll be better off going over with a truck or trailer and bringing it back that way. Aye, find someone with the kit to do it and rooooaaaad trip! I'd happily do it for the cost of fuel and expenses with you, but I dunno if my car and trailer combo is enough? |
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Yep, as has been said really, get a big trailer, and go and get it with that.  BUT... Make sure you're trailer is fully up to spec. I got pulled over for having a wheel missing when the bearing broke up, they then made me get a TUV test on it which it didn't pass as it didn't have a hydraulic brake set up, they then fined me 400€ on the spot, plus the fee for the TUV which was 80€ i think. Then confiscated my trailer! I did get the car on it back after i paid a couple of hundred euros in storage fees, and i had to go back a couple of weeks later to collect it, i never got the trailer back! My advise would be to either hire a transporter or a trailer from a reputable hire company, you will have to leave them a huge deposit, but you'll get that back once you return their equipment. Then grab a friend, collegue, or lover, and have a roadtrip adventure and go and get it! Have fun! |
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As far as I am aware, when the car is sold in Germany the previous owner has to "de-register" it and they take the numberplate back. You can then register it on a temporary export plate, which is valid for two weeks and if I remember rightly, includes basic third party insurance cover.
Good luck with the paperwork in the German equivalent of a DVLA office - I suspect a friendly german speaking person to guide you and help with the forms would be useful.
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1986 Panda 4x4.
1990 Metro Sport.
1999 Ford Escort estate.
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mino
Part of things
Posts: 99
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Dave is mostly right, there are export plates you can get from every registration office, you can set the validity yourself and you'll have to buy insurance either online and beforehand or at a shop near the registration office that will also make the plates for you, insurance will probably be more expensive there.
One important thing is that the car needs to have a valid mot equivalent (Hauptuntersuchung) for the duration of the validity of the plates!
For the registration you'll get a code from wherever you happen to buy the insurance, this is what the office needs. Further you need a valid passport and the contract for buying the car.
Then you need to pay the taxes for the time, double the normal rate if I remember right. It makes sense to get the plates with as short a validity as possible therfore, shorter time means lower taxes...
Be aware that most registration offices will have limited opening hours like only half a day or so and won't be open on the weekends.
Sometimes you have to wait quite some time depending on which city it is.
Otherwise it's rather straight forward apart from the language problem...
Any questions just ask!
:edit: Paying the road tax apparently is quite complicated for foreigners nowadays. If you don't know someone with a German bank account it apparently takes some time to get the quote from the tax authority...only then you'd be able to pay the taxes and get the registration done.
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