Importing a car: Looking for others experiences

Post by **neil** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 9:50 pm

Has anyone imported a car since the change of the laws here? I am chewing over the concept and have looked at all the tax calculators blah blah blah, but what about the auxiliary costs such as import inspection, transport costs (variable, I know) and hotels, gas, stress. Was it worth it? How much did you save in the end?

This message does not apply to people who moved here with a car as that is different.

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deojuvame · Post by **deojuvame** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 11:29 am

This is probably completely unhelpful, but I have a friend who swears that he's going to buy a Toyota in Germany and drive it all the way back to Finland, because even if he pays taxes on it and everything, it's still cheaper than buying it here. I'll ask him more details about it when I see him again...

Just my half cent!

MinnaRaisanen · Post by **MinnaRaisanen** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 11:41 am

Here's my half cent to add to that...My bf was looking into buying a car in Germany and the truth of the matter is, if you can deal with the few pains in the butt that comes with such a purchase - it IS cheaper!! Same goes for motorcycles...

There. Now we have a full cents worth!

PeterF · Post by **PeterF** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 12:23 pm

Must be worth some good saving on the higher priced cars. I have heard it is approx 25% lower prices...

Judging by the large number of German quality cars with trade plates on that pass me on the way home from work ..obvioulsy off the car feery from Rostock to Hanko http://www.ferrywithaview.com/hanko-rostock.html

The majority seem to BMW/MBs etc..so If you are looking for that class of car..

The problem with buying Opel Corsa or cars in the less thasn 20K euro slot is the percentage saved on price is the same, but the cash saved goes in costs.
It will cost you probably 1K€ to go fetch a car..plus there is the Finnish tax to pay..probably another few K€ so low priced cars not worth the effort.
i.e. 25% saved on 20 K€ car is only 5K€..but 25% saved on BMW @ 80K+ € = 20K€:roll:

paulrenn · Post by **paulrenn** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 4:22 pm

My ex-neighbours got a newish Volvo recently from Germany. I can ask them about it, but won't be for a couple of weeks still. I'll post here anything that I find out.

I last crossed by ferry from Travemunde just after the tax rules changed. The boat was full of German cars alright...heading for Russia!!! I think I was the only non-Russian on board...apart from couple of bar staff. Was not a pleasant experience. I was bringing my new car over too but I never got around to registering it in Finland.

I will definitely be going the route of buying in Germany though in the future.

Geri Bush · Post by **Geri Bush** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 7:29 pm

Seems to be the thing to do. I have one on the ferry right this very moment. I even know people who have ordered new cars in Germany and chose the options they wanted. There are also people who will handle the adventure of finding, purchasing, and shipping the car to Finland.

If you're looking for a used car try http://www.mobile.de. Its in German but....

click on the "suchen" button and play.

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 12:17 pm

I moved here about 18 months ago, and have only just got both my car and motorbike both registered here!!
It wasn't easy either!!
I have owned both vehicles in the UK for years and brought the car over here when I first moved over. A couple of weeks later I drove the bike. When I went to customs to start the process, I was told within the space of 15minutes, that because I hadn't come to customs straight away, I would be liable for tax on both vehicles. (A 1996 Hyundai Coupe €9000 tax and a 1995 Kawasaki Sports bike €2500 tax) Hearing this I ran from the customs office shouting expletives.
I went back a week later with a Finnish friend (Highly recomended) and within 15minutes again I had got the car in tax free as part of my move. The bike would need to be taxed however. They did warn me to wait for a while since the tax laws were changing, so as it was coming close to winter last year I decided to wait till the spring. I eventually paid €1500 tax for the bike.
As for other costs, the registration and vehicle check costs about €100 if I remember. (One important thing, while the tax decision is pending, the registration is on a 3 month limit. If you go over this its another €30 - I went over by one day and still had to pay)
The temporary plates (red letters on white backgroud) cost €14 and are valid along with the temporary registration.
Once you've got your tax paid, head back to Katsastus with your paperwork, and for a further €30 or so you get your nice new plates.
My experience has been a very stressful one right from the word go. Getting two different stories from the same customs man lends weight to the observations that many officials don't always know their own rules. My Finn friend also asked why there was no documentation in English, and he told her that since Finland was a European country, Finnish was a European language and they didn't need any! He also wore a bad wig. I do not like this man

If you want to discuss this any further, PM me and we can arrange to talk.
Hope this helps.

kultary · Post by **kultary** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 2:47 pm

Geri Bush wrote:If you're looking for a used car try http://www.mobile.de. Its in German but....

Actually, if there are a list of countries at the bottom of the page. If you click on Great Britain, all of the words magically turn to English. Then, when you do your search, search in Germany.

Many of the ads are still in German, but at least it's to nagivate. Plus, they do provide a German -> English term list for some of the more common terms.

- Ryan

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 4:21 pm

Afternoon all. If anyone is interested I have a contact in Germany who is an exporter of cars. He is prepared to do some good deals I think. We are not far from buying a car from him.

Please get in touch and I will pass on his details to you.

John · Post by **John** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:13 pm

My everyday car is a german import, and it does save money if you buy prudently, cars for sale on the german domestic market are usually more honest cars as germany has strict consumer rights, export cars may have been repaired to a different standard.
Be selective in what you buy, not all things are cheaper and tulli take at least their share.
Here you have to pay for registration katsastus, tempory plates, winter tyres and heaters, and underbody sealant etc.
Its an interesting experience , but dont forget LHD are cheap in England as well and the process of bringing things from the UK is pretty easy with the ferry connections.

N.B.Winter tyres dont have to have studs just to be marked M&S is ok

adam@springsteel.net · Post by **adam@springsteel.net** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:08 am

Is there a website that lists what fees are involved with bringing in a car from Germany. Or can someone list them out here.

Thanks,

Adam

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:29 am

Auton maahantuonnista aiheutuvat kustannukset

Pakollinen autovakuutus Saksassa 80
Rekisteröintimaksu Saksassa 36
Rekisterikilvet 34
Pakolliset kulut Saksassa yhteensä + 150
Vaatimustenmukaisuustodistus 75
Siirtokilvet ja ajolupa 14
Auton rekisteröintikatsastus 126
Rekisterikilvet ja rekisteröinti 25
Pakolliset kulut Suomessa yhteensä + 240
Lentolippu Hampuriin, paluu laivalla auton kanssa 414
Auton vuokraus kaksi päivää + polttoaine/henkilö 80
Hotelli, kaksi vuorokautta (kahden hengen huone) euroa/henkilö 80
Ajo satamaan, polttoaineet 36
Matkakulut yhteensä + 610
Kaikki yhteensä + 1000
Talvirenkaat, vanteet, lohkolämmitin, pakkasnesteet + ?
Autovero +?

adam@springsteel.net · Post by **adam@springsteel.net** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 6:04 am

Hank,

thank you! Now that was very thorough. Though you forgot the cost of a night in Hamburg. Now my last ignorant question is what is the autovero percentage rate in this situation?

Thanks,

Adam

John · Post by **John** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 7:30 am

27-34% of the finnish price of a good example,
expect the bill to be a little higher than you expect.
Appeals are taking one year at the present rate.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:55 am

There is a list of car taxes paid by people on the Customs website. Or there used to be... they're 'redecorating' can't find !"#¤%...

OK http://mars.ton.tut.fi/cgi-bin/autohinta.pl

Nevermind the top part => go to the bottom

Lets find a "luxury import"

Tietokannasta löytyvät ajoneuvot
Chevrolet 4d Alero 2.4 1999

Vastaavan käytetyn ajoneuvon yleinen markkina-arvo 24800.00 EUR
Veronosuus 29.00 %
Autovero 7192.00 EUR
Arvonlisä- tai liikevaihtoverokanta vuonna 1999 22.00 %
Arvonlisävero 1582.24 EUR
Maksettava autovero ja sen arvonlisävero yhteensä 8774.24 EUR

So what does it cost in Germany? http://www.mobile.de
Chevrolet Alero 2.4 L, Limousine
EUR 6.500, VB
D-66121 Saarbrücken, EZ: 10/99, 64.500 km, 104 kW (141 PS), silber-metallic, TÜV: 10/04, 1 Hand Lederausstattung Alufelgen

So you buy a car for 7 grand, haul it here for 1, get winter tires etc for another and then pay 9 grand tax.

Thumb rule: double, as traditional.

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