How to buy a car in Germany for Belgium

It has now become popular to import cars from Germany to Belgium. Belgian motorists show great interest in both new and used German cars. In this article, we will explain why it is beneficial to import - cars from Germany and our experts will give recommendations on how to bring and register a German car in Belgium without any problems.

Features of the German automotive market

In Germany, the automotive industry is one of the key sectors of the economy. The auto industry employs at least 800,000 people. If we consider the German automotive industry in the context of the global automotive market, here Germany is among the top five world leaders in terms of the number of vehicles produced. The championship in the TOP-5 largest car-producing countries changes every year, but the leaders remain unchanged - these are Germany, the USA, Japan, China, and India.

German brands specialize mainly in the production of cars with an internal combustion engine. In recent years, under the influence of growing demand for electric vehicles, an active reorientation of production in this direction has begun.

How important the automotive industry is for Germany can be seen from the following information:

1. There are three major automotive concerns in Germany - Mercedes-Benz Group, Volkswagen Group, BMW Group.
2. The Volkswagen Group alone produces an impressive range of the world's most famous and sought-after car brands - Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda, Audi, Porsche, Bugatti, Bentley. These are cars of different classes and affordability, focused on different target audiences.

How to buy a car in Germany for Belgium

As mentioned earlier, the automotive sector is of great importance for the German economy, which is why road transport is one of the key products for export to other European countries. In Belgium, which borders on Germany, there are many official offices - representatives of famous German car brands. In addition, there are many car parks in Belgium that specialize in reselling different brands of used cars from Germany, so those who want to buy a used car have a lot of options.

So, if you want to buy a car in Germany for Belgium, you have 2 options - buying a new one and buying a used vehicle.

How to import a German car into Belgium?

When importing a car into Belgium from another country, you must:

1. Check the place of registration of the vehicle. If the car is registered in one of the EU countries, the WVTA number will be indicated on the registration certificate, which will be needed to check the car in Belgium. If the car is not registered in the EU countries, you need to make a request for an inspection.
2. Prepare a complete package of documents, which includes:

• certificate of registration of the vehicle;
• an invoice confirming the transaction indicating the cost of the car without VAT, full name and address of the participants in the transaction, a detailed description of the car (make, model, characteristics, year of manufacture, etc.), method of payment, date of import;
• documents proving the identity of the buyer;
• insurance.

You can bring a car from Germany to Belgium on your own. To do this, after buying in Germany, you will need to apply for transit or temporary numbers, make sure that the insurance is correct. If you do not know German and it is not possible to communicate with the seller in the same language, it is desirable that an interpreter be present at the transaction.

The second option for importing a German car is to use the services of a transport company.

Benefits of buying new cars in Germany

One of the advantages of ordering a new car from Germany is the possibility of personalization, that is, taking into account specific technical characteristics, electronic options, interior trim, etc. when ordering. In this case, it will take several months to manufacture and deliver a car to Belgium.

The customer does not have to wait. A suitable model can be found in showrooms among stock cars. In this case, the machine cannot be modified independently. However, such vehicles are immediately available for purchase.

Benefits of buying a used car in Germany

Increasingly, motorists are bringing used vehicles from Germany to Belgium, despite the fact that there are also many offers of used vehicles on the Belgian market. Reasons for the popularity of German cars:

1. Germany is the main country producing many modern cars in Europe.
2. Cars on the German market have better equipment, more luxurious design and equipment.
3. There are more used cars on the German market, if only because Germany is much larger in area and in population.
4. In Germany, there is more choice of cars with a powerful engine.
5. The cost of a used car in Germany is lower than in Belgium. One of the reasons is the large number of offers (competition), and the second is the reduced VAT on used cars (19% versus 21% VAT in Belgium).

Importing cars from Germany to Belgium involves certain risks for the buyer, especially if he does not know the language, rules and procedures for exporting / importing German cars. The first condition for a secure transaction is to find a reliable trading platform. You will find a large selection of vehicles at our vehicle auction — a company that helps drivers around the world find their perfect car.

How to register used cars from Germany in Belgium

You can enjoy driving a brand new German car upon completion of all official procedures related to registration, paperwork, and payment of taxes. And here the new owner has a lot of questions about taxes, registration, insurance, etc.

Our experts will answer all your questions and give recommendations on how to register the purchased car properly

Customs taxes and duties

When importing a car into Belgium from any EU country, including Germany, the car owner pays taxes and duties, which depend on the value of the vehicle and the level of CO2 emissions. When crossing customs, you need to request an E705 sticker.

As for paying VAT, here are the options:

1. When buying a car with a mileage of more than 6000 km, the owner does not pay VAT in Belgium.
2. If you bought a new car in Germany (from a showroom or with a mileage of up to 6,000 km or 6 or less months old), you will have to pay VAT in the amount of 21% of the cost of the vehicle.
3. VAT 21% must be paid when importing cars from countries outside the EU.

Technical control of a car from Germany

After paying taxes and customs duties, the imported car must pass technical control. Inspection in Belgium is carried out by appointment. Waiting for your turn can take 2-4 weeks. The cost of a technical inspection in Belgium costs approximately 80 €.

Documents required for passing technical control:

• driver's license;
• invoice for the purchase of a car or other document confirming the right to own a car (contract of sale);
• certificate of conformity;
• gray card issued in Germany.

Registration and replacement of numbers

After passing the technical inspection, the driver needs to contact the prefecture at the place of residence with a package of documents:

• any identity document;
• driver license;
• an invoice for the purchase of vehicles with a VAT mark (for a new car) or a sales contract (when buying a car from a private person);
• certificate of registration in Germany;
• The European Certificate of Compliance with current environmental standards is the main permit for the Belgian administration to register and register your car in Belgium.

The prefecture will then issue you new Belgian numbers and a certificate of registration. With these numbers you can travel freely to any EU country.

The total cost of registering a German car in Belgium is about 300€. Please note that the cost of registration may vary in different offices.

Insurance

Car insurance in Belgium is mandatory. To insure a car, we recommend that you study offers from different insurance companies and choose the most advantageous package of services. After that, you fill out a one-time form and send it to the selected insurer, who will complete the registration of the vehicle in DIV.

Before you buy a used car in Germany to Belgium, we recommend that you carefully study offers — compare prices, check the history of the car you are interested in. Be sure to understand the nuances of importing cars from Germany and calculate how profitable such a purchase will be in terms of material costs, the technical advantages of the vehicle.