Canadian buying/registering car in Germany? Possible?
 

Hi!

I am looking to buy a vehicle in Germany (Sprinter 4x4).

Does someone know if it is possible for a foreigner to register in Germany, assuming we have a local address?

thank you!

Christian
www.2aroundtheworld.com

Hi Christian,
you must be a resident in Germany in order to register a car. Here is the paperwork you need to bring to the registration office in Stuttgart (other cities are similar):
http://www.stuttgart.de/item/show/319149/1
I will translate it for you:

• Personalausweis oder Reisepass (bei Privatpersonen)
  Bitte beachten Sie, dass ohne vorherige Wohnsitz-Anmeldung beim Bürgerbüro, keine Zulassung möglich ist
  Passport, including prove that you live in Stuttgart
• Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II (Fahrzeugbrief)
  Car papers part II (thats a European thing they are everywhere the same)
• Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (Fahrzeugschein)
  Car papers part II (thats a European thing they are everywhere the same)
• Referenznummer/ eVB Nummer Ihres Versicherer
  Insurance papers. You will get them from any car insurance
• Schriftliche Erklärung zum Lastschrifteinzug der Kfz-Steuer (siehe Formulare)
  A form that allows the government to pull the car tax directly from your bank account. That means you need a German bank account. Thats no big deal, there are also cheap ones or for free available but you need to be a resident to get them.
• HU -Untersuchungsbericht
  Car inspection papers. In Germany cars need to get inspected every 2 years for security
• Nummernschilder (bei Kennzeichenwechsel)
  Old number plates

Basically it comes down to if you are a resident or not. You need to register your car in the city that you are a resident of.
I hope that helps.
Cheers Patrick

Hi,

You will not get the prove that you live here without a permanend residence status. That will be your problem and you will probably need someone else to register the car for you on his name.

You can also use someone elses bank accound if he allows you to do so and also signs the paper.

You dont need to bring the old plates if the car was registered in a different city before.

If you want to leave germany to start a Africa trip with a cheap old car you can get "Ausfuhrkennzeichen" or if your car doesnt have valied TÜV and ASU anymore even 5 days valied "Kurzzeitkennzeichen" to leave the country with (but also here you need to have residence status):

Kurzzeitkennzeichen & Überführungskennzeichen - Kosten, Preise & Ausland

Greetings, Tobi

thanks guys for the information - looks like it may be a bit more challenging than expected.

Don't know if this will help you, but I am a Canadian who bought a car in England, and it was enormously easy - just needed an address there, none of the hassle above.

yes I heard England is simple and that's most likely the way we will go - I was just hoping to find a LHD Sprinter 4x4...