How to? Buying a car from Estonia (ee)

network_engineer · Post by **network_engineer** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 1:19 pm

Hi all,

Okay, we do have quite a bit of information on how to buy a car from Germany. Any advice on the process for Estonia?

- In some of the advertisements I have seen, the price indicates 0% ALV, is that paid, ALV pending? What?
- Buying from Estonia: things to know, things to worry about, things to run from?

Thanks.

Kind regards.

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foca · Post by **foca** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 10:41 pm

network_engineer wrote:Hi all,

Okay, we do have quite a bit of information on how to buy a car from Germany. Any advice on the process for Estonia?

- In some of the advertisements I have seen, the price indicates 0% ALV, is that paid, ALV pending? What?
- Buying from Estonia: things to know, things to worry about, things to run from?
.

When it comes to VAT , it is same in any EU country - if a car was owned by a company or was financed by a bank ( with the later being the legal owner ) you can get vat reimbursed , or better say, it will be old for export with 0 VAT. If the car in question is owned by a private individual - no vat can be claimed back.

Buying in Estonia requires expertise and you must always use " see first pay later" approach. There is more probability to come across a car stolen in Germany . There are also many reposed cars there - ow may be lucky and get a very good deal. Though I would not advise buying a car which is more than 6-7 years old there - often old cars are not serviced there properly

network_engineer · Post by **network_engineer** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 11:31 am

foca wrote: can get vat reimbursed , or better say, it will be old for export with 0 VAT.

So, I guess this is for the seller, e.g. the bank can claim the VAT back.

Question: what is the implication for the buyer? E.g. if I buy the car that is shown as 0 VAT, how does it affect the buyer?

There is more probability to come across a car stolen in Germany

Sorry, this is unclear for me, did you mean higher chance of a stolen car in Germany? Or higher chance of a stolen car in Estonia?

Thanks.

Kind regards.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 11:49 am

network_engineer wrote:
foca wrote: can get vat reimbursed , or better say, it will be old for export with 0 VAT.
So, I guess this is for the seller, e.g. the bank can claim the VAT back.

Question: what is the implication for the buyer? E.g. if I buy the car that is shown as 0 VAT, how does it affect the buyer?

Are you company? Or rather are you VAT registered? If you are, you can deduct the VAT. If you are consumer, you'll pay the VAT, end of story.

faronel · Post by **faronel** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:06 pm

Are you aiming at buying a new car from a supplier (e.g. directly from X car brand shop) or a new/used car from hand-to-hand?

If first is the case, then it should all be easy... Pick your baby, sign the papers, buy the car.

If the second is the case, here is the biggest database on the cars that are sold in Estonia: http://eng.auto24.ee/main/mainindex.php

When you pick a car you like, you can just contact the person and agree upon meeting and seeing the car. If the person refuses providing you an access to the car, forget the idea. Just like it was said earlier, you are entitled to take a look at what you are buying. What I recommend is asking a friend who is really good with cars or pay an independent mechanic to come along and provide his/her assessment. Also, ask for car's registry number that can be used to look it up in a local car information register (e.g. is there a record of the car being in a card accident).
Bargain - the initial car price is always the desired selling price but car owners are open to negotiations. In fact, if you do not negotiate then congratulations, you bought an overpriced car.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 8:37 pm

They got loads of motors on sale in South Estonia. But you need to go there and see the car. They ship cars from Germany and can provide the service that they look for a car for you. But then you might end up with a lemon and a rolled over mileage meter...

network_engineer · Post by **network_engineer** » Thu May 02, 2013 12:40 pm

Pursuivant wrote:... ship cars from Germany .... a lemon and a rolled over mileage meter...

Thanks! Okay, so some of these might not be really Estonian cars, but ship-outs from Germany, + some value-added services, like meter-tampering?

Better off in Germany then?

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Thu May 02, 2013 1:26 pm

network_engineer wrote:
Pursuivant wrote:... ship cars from Germany .... a lemon and a rolled over mileage meter...
Thanks! Okay, so some of these might not be really Estonian cars, but ship-outs from Germany, + some value-added services, like meter-tampering? Better off in Germany then?

Just look at the population of Estonia. Small market -> small choice.

Unless you're after a 5 year-old premium car, the savings aren't that great.

foca · Post by **foca** » Sat May 04, 2013 11:59 pm

Upphew wrote:
network_engineer wrote:
foca wrote: can get vat reimbursed , or better say, it will be sold for export with 0 VAT.
So, I guess this is for the seller, e.g. the bank can claim the VAT back.

Question: what is the implication for the buyer? E.g. if I buy the car that is shown as 0 VAT, how does it affect the buyer?
Are you company? Or rather are you VAT registered? If you are, you can deduct the VAT. If you are consumer, you'll pay the VAT, end of story.

It has nothing to do with being registered or vat in you own country ( Finland for example). It only relates to the fact that you are exporting the car out from one country to another. You vat registration (being a company) in you home country will only play a role after you pay customs duties and import the car.

The practical implication for the buyer is that if the buyer intends to buy a car and export it the price goes to be x ( the buyer would have to deal with his country vat/ customs duty of course) if he buys it for the use in the country where it is being sold the price will be x plus vat. If the car is sold without vat 0 option it means that the price is x plus vat and you will have to del with vat/customs duties in your home country yet.
There are different systems of claiming vat in different countries , for example in Germany it can be done directly by the person who exports the car, in other countries it could be one through a local company that will Claim vat itself .

foca · Post by **foca** » Sun May 05, 2013 12:17 am

network_engineer wrote:
Pursuivant wrote:... ship cars from Germany .... a lemon and a rolled over mileage meter...
Thanks! Okay, so some of these might not be really Estonian cars, but ship-outs from Germany, + some value-added services, like meter-tampering? Better off in Germany then?

It is always better to do it in Germany ... The market is huge and choice is always much bigger. Though always contact the seller directly - never go to German car markets . These markets ( usually outside big cities on Saturdays and Sundays ) provide three categories of cars, 45000 km, 95000 km and 145 000 km irrespective of age .... So go to mobile.de find herr Shroeder and off you go.....

Calle Guerrero · Post by **Calle Guerrero** » Tue May 21, 2013 9:50 pm

Nobody seemed to mention this but, IF you want to drive the car in Finland, you'll have to get it registered and that means paying a !"#¤% of taxes on it. See www.tulli.fi for more on importation to Finland.

Lord of Manchester · Post by **Lord of Manchester** » Thu May 23, 2013 9:11 pm

Correcto, muy bien !!

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