8/10/0
Why? Germany has magnificent roads, high-quality gasoline, cars constantly undergo the strictest technical inspections. Moreover, German stores and car markets can offer a huge selection of the most diverse cars from all over the world: from modest and inexpensive to luxurious collector limousines. Finally, Germany is not that far from us, which facilitates the delivery of your purchase.
So, you have arrived in Germany, settled in, and started searching for the car of your dreams. The most popular option among our compatriots is car markets, which offer a huge selection of cars. Buying an inexpensive car here is not difficult. Moreover, it is the fastest option. At car markets, there are both resellers who resell owners' cars and the car owners themselves.
One specific type of German car market is the "one-year-old" car market. The thing is that in Germany, auto plant workers, taking advantage of the benefits and discounts provided by the plant, change their cars for new ones every year. It is clear why such markets have many almost new cars with symbolic mileage. By purchasing such a used car that is in "excellent condition," you will save at least a third of the cost of a new one.
Alongside car markets, it makes sense to visit car dealerships. There are many of them in big cities. As a rule, they buy rare, expensive, and newer models there. Moreover, on the dealership's website, you can compare prices and configurations of the offered cars. Prices in car dealerships are slightly higher than at markets, but there is a guarantee that the car has no hidden defects. Just don't forget that you can also bargain in stores.
You can also buy a car through a newspaper ad. True, such a purchase will require a lot of time, expenses on phone calls and trips to inspect the offered car, as well as a lot of luck. To complete the purchase, you will need a foreign passport, driver's license, and a power of attorney if you are registering the car not under your own surname.
The procedure of paperwork for the purchase will take a little time. A sales contract is drawn up, you pay for the purchase and receive the vehicle registration document. Check for the document about the passed technical inspection. Note whether the car has been deregistered. If not, this must be done at the registration office.
To get license plates, you need to take out insurance for the car – export insurance is issued for periods of 9, 14, and 30 days. Having taken out insurance, you receive plates and an international permit. Every car in Germany must be insured. In the event of a traffic accident, if the car has full insurance, it will fully cover the damage caused to both another car and your car. If the car is insured only against damage to third parties, only damage caused to another car will be covered.
Money for the purchase can be brought in both euros and US dollars, but you will have to pay in the new European currency. There will be no problems with exchange. The best exchange rate is at Western Union branches, whose services in Germany are represented by ReiseBank. All banks are open Monday to Friday, but at train stations and airports, exchange offices are open on weekends as well.
According to European Union law, a foreign tourist leaving the internal market of EU countries is entitled to get back part of the amount paid for purchased goods. This part equals the value added tax, which in Germany is 16%. VAT refund on the car you purchased is possible only if the previous owner of the car was a German company, not a private individual. To obtain a VAT refund, you need to fill out an export declaration in triplicate. It is presented to customs when leaving the borders of the European Union. Only then will you get a stamp, and you will be able to get your money back.
So, you can be congratulated on your car purchase. However, it's too early to rejoice – you still need to deliver the purchase home.
You can deliver the car under its own power, driving it through neighboring countries. The main advantage of this method is cheapness. You spend money only on gasoline, food, and various duties. If you are an experienced driver, the driving time will be a couple of days. Unfortunately, this method is not without serious drawbacks.
First, it requires considerable endurance – you will have to sleep in snatches throughout the entire journey. Second, there is always a risk of getting lost. Also, do not forget that you may encounter criminal elements on the road. As a rule, you can buy them off with a few hundred euros, but you could also lose the car. If you still decide to get home under your own power – do not forget...
Simple rules that will help you preserve both health and money
Fill up with gasoline when leaving Germany, before the border with Poland. There is a gas station 50 kilometers before the border, where you can eat and get some sleep. On German territory, you are most likely not in danger.
If possible, do not leave the car unattended immediately after crossing the border. Do not tell casual acquaintances about the final destination of your route and planned stops – information can be transmitted via radios and mobile phones, and you risk being ambushed.
Cross the border with Poland after midnight local time. Also, do not forget that roads in Poland are narrow, and at night you will not be bothered by trucks and horse-drawn carts.
If you are running out of gasoline, before pulling into a gas station, look around: are there any suspicious cars nearby in which strong young men are "loitering"? If there are – better not risk it.
Be sure to have a first-aid kit, a warning triangle, and a fire extinguisher – this will save you from the favorite nitpicks of both foreign police and our traffic police.
Do not forget that at night, Polish police have no right to stop you outside a populated area. Real police officers will follow you to the nearest well-lit town.
It is better to stay overnight at guarded parking lots or motels.
Let us hope that the car has been successfully purchased and then delivered to the homeland. All that remains is to pay all customs duties, go through registration, get local license plates – and off you go!