Forum

Hello.
Please forgive me-I speak little Deutsch!
I plan to bring a DS (1973) from France to Berlin.
Does anyone know what kind of fees I will have to pay to import/register/tax the car in Germany?
And if that is possible-Can anyone recommend a good yet cheap company to take out auto insurance with?
Danke.

Hi,

we live in the EU, we have seen appointments like Schengen + Maastricht. This means, NO ! taxes are to be paid. Simply nothing. Once a car is in the EU, it is there + no member country can ask for VAT or whatever.

I do import my cars from the USA to the netherlands cause they ask only 6% tax. The ugly germans ask 10 % TAX and 19 % VAT plus !

What kind of insurance do you look for: Just for the transfer, or for afterwards' everyday use ? In that case I highly recommend to register the car as "historic", you get a number plate which ends with an "H", and you pay only 190 Euros taxes /year (engine volume does not matter, even a 7 ltr ISO GRIFO would cost that), and then you could look around. Usually, Zuerich or Wuertembergische are good adresses for a general DS insurance. I have my SM registered at Zuerich Versicherungen, and IIRC I pay roughly ~100 a year for standard insurance.

Carsten

Many thanks Carsten.
I am looking for insurance when I get the car to Berlin.
Also I will want insurance when I drive the car from France (with the old French plates).
I have heard I just need to buy some special/temporary plates to bring it through Germany.
Which I am hoping might include some minimum insurance.
But I do not know yet where & how I should obtain these in Berlin.
Excuse my ignorance!

Why don't you take a trailer?

Here you are,nothing to it.

Hello.
Well:
I do not have a trailer.
And to hire a trailer & vehicle would surely cost a lot (?)
Thanks.

Hi,

Within the European Union there are no fees or taxes for bringing a car from one country to another one. However keep in mind, that unlike newer cars a DS does NOT have EU-homologation. You have to apply for a national, German homologation, which is (as far as I know) not a big deal. But you have to be prepared for technical modifications to your car to comply with the German Highway Code. If you cannot do this yourself, it's gonna become expensive. Probably you should see your local TUEV before you start the whole procedure or talk to somebody, who has done this before.

Don't take a trailer, if you are not familiar with towing a heavy trailer. And don't forget to check, if your driving license permits you towing a heavy trailer!

And finally: You can drive the car with it's original plates only if it is still registered and insured by the previous owner in France. The fact that there are still plates on the car, doesn't mean it is still registered! I don't know, if it's possible to get German temporary plates to bring a car from France TO Germany. Typically you should apply for these in France. Maybe the person, who sells the car to you can help you with a temporary registration.

Hello,

some hints about the insurance and Zulassung-thing:

The German temporary registration/insurance (Kurzzeitkennzeichen) is only valid in Germany and not legal for driving in France. Although it is sometimes tolerated - in case of accident/Police control it can (will) cause trouble.

So the best would be to get a temporary registration/insurance in France by the former owner / seller, so you could drive the car in France to the French/German border.

At the border you have to put the number plates of a temporary German registration OR put the car on a trailer.

You will get the Kurzzeitkennzeichen (5 Days) at your Zulassungsstelle in Berlin. To get one you have to present an insurance-certificate and an ID-Card.
Normaly the guys printing the plates can sell you such an insurance. You will find them in the neighborhoud of every Zulassungstelle in Germany. The cheaper way is to get this certificate directly from the company where you want to insure the car later. (see below)

The costs:

Stand-Alone Short-Time Insurance: about 45 - 50 €
Fee Zulassungstelle - I don't know - maybe 20€ ?
Temporary Number Plates : maybe 20€ ?

Most insurances will take a lower (normal) rate for the Short-Time Insurance if you sign the contract there later. You should check this out before and get the insurance-certificate for the Kurzzeitkennzeichen from them.
Often recommended here for Oldtimer-Insurance are for example: Württembergische Versicherung, Zürich and AXA.

About the registration in Germany most things have been said.

To get the (cheap) Oldtimer-Insurance you do not need to have the H-Kennzeichen. (Historic - Car Registration)

But you should definitely try to get it - otherwise the tax will be about 500€/Year (no catalyser) instead of 191 €.

Good Luck

Martin

I want to say-
Many thanks for the helpful answers.
I have wanted & waited 25 years to buy a DS.
So - here goes!

I also say GOOD LUCK to you !!

We all hope to see your GodDeSs soon (-:

Simon

Merci/Danke!