I am buying a Land Cruiser in the Netherlands which was recently imported from Germany so the vehicle currently has no plates. I am planning to store the truck in Holland until I arrive (from the USA) in November to drive it down to Genoa for the ferry to Tunisia. Does anyone have advice on how to get registration plates for export so we can drive it down to Italy and thru the Sahara? We are planning to sell the vehicle in Niger.

Thanks,
tom

Can't help you if the papers have already been changed to Dutch, but if they are German it goes like this:

Check the papers to see whether the technical inspection remains valid until you get there. Look in your Fahrzeugbrief on the bottom of page 6. There should be one or more stamps for de-registrations. The last one indicates (in handwriting) the month and year when the next inspection is due (called HU in bureaucratese). You will also find this on the green slip stapled to your papers. This will be easier to read, cause printed, but I don't have one to look at right now.

If this date has passed when you get there you either need to transport the car to a testing station (you can't get temp plates for the purpose as a non-resident!) or try importing and registering it in Holland.

If it's still valid go with your AAA card to the nearest office of the ADAC in Germany and arrange third party cover. Explain to them that you still need to get export plates. They may send you to another insurance...

Take your insurance card, rego papers, passport and inspection certificate (if you had to get a new one done) to the nearest motor reg office. It helps to take along a German speaker.

Caveat: I have never done this myself (only registered vehicles as a resident), so it may not be complete or correct.

The subject of export plates has been discussed on this board before, so do a search.

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Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

__________________
Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

This from the ADAC website:

The vehicle must be presented at the rego office for registration. How you do this without plates I don't know. That's the theory, they may or may not demand that.

Just don't tell anybody that the car is in Holland! If asked pick a remote village in the district and say it's in storage there and that you don't have the old plates. They will probably relent...

Insurance for export is for a car

€80 for 15days, €160/month

for bikes €40 for 15 days, €55/month

max. 12 months, valid in all countries which are part of the Green Card arrangement.

Make sure none of the countries you want to travel through is crossed off the GC, though!!!

Good luck!

------------------
Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

__________________
Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

Hi,

If you only need the plates to drive threw europe it is very simple.

Drive your car to the VWE in Utrecht.
Give them the papers of the car and the car.
Handin an contract stating an byer lives in Tunis. This is eazely home made
Return after 3 working days.
pay 145 euro.

you wil get an Z(zevendaags)kenteken.
witch means 2 plates + papers witch are valid 7 days.
and an ensurance (europe) fore 14 days
thay even give you back your original german paper (fahrzeugbrief).
The best part of doing it this way is that you don't nead an tecnical certificat like APK or TUV !!!

Done this a few times (www.an.nl) driving cars to Afrika. In Marroko/Mauritanie/Mali they can not read (or just don't care about) de 7 days validation note on the papers. Take care you leave Holland/Europe within the 7+1 Days.

For details call VWE 0900-4676788
www.vwe.nl

chears Dohan

www.an.nl

thanks, an. that sounds like what i'll have to do. i'll just plan a few extra days in Holland on the front end.

when did you do your trip that's listed on your website?

Tom,

We left in 10 of July 2004. My car (the silver one) ownly had Denish papers.
And We'v done it in 1999 with an Belgum car.
Please phone the VWE for details, I don't no if all works the same for non Dutch pasport holders. VWE might even be able to schip the car to Tunis.

Are you selling in Afrika ?
The new owner wil have to import it in afrika and so get local plates

Regards Dohan

we are planning to sell the truck in niger. i'm not sure what you mean when you say that the buyer will need local plates - can you clarify?

i will contact the VWE for details. thanks for that lead.

your trip sounds like a great one. i'm impressed that you bought your HJ60s in holland for such a cheap price - i haven't been able find any listed on the used auto websites for less than about 3500 euro. any advice?

Tom,

I mean that in the past the byers of the cars had no problems using the VWE papers and plates importing the Car's in Mali.

It took us a long time finding the cars for that price. And we were willing to do work on the cars. i agree an ready to go HJ60 wil set you back at least 3500 euro. wel kown sites are www.mobile.de www.marktplaats.nl and www.dba.dk

The dutch gouverment is planing to cut the tax bennifit on closed 4x4's (grijskenteken.) this means an tax rase of 400% for 80% of dutch 4x4's. If the new plan is implemented in jan 2005 it is espected the prices of these cars will plummit.

Niger sounds nice, an hj60 should be worth 5000 euro there and an hj61 9000.

thanks for the info, an. much appreciated. you sound like you've done quite a bit of research on the vehicle sale and resale situation. i'd love to pick your brain a bit about this b/c we are right now in full LandCruiser purchase mode and trying to decide between the HJ60 and the HJ61. based on your predicted numbers in Niger, it seems like we could get a higher profit margin if we went with an HJ61.

could you send me your phone number and/or email address so we can continue the discussion?

thanks heaps.

cheers,
tom

Fine with me,

<img src="images/smilies/doh.gif" bo...en@hotmail.com