How does car import from Germany work? —
twelve steps to the perfect car
From the moment you tell us what you need to the turnkey handover, we take care of everything — background check, inspection, transport, registration and all the paperwork. All you have to do is collect the car.
The sourcing process, step by step
Once you tell us what you need, a professional member of our team will contact you, and from then on we take care of everything on a turnkey basis.
Research
With us, there's no time pressure: take as much time as you like to search and decide. Browse the vast German used car market at your leisure, compare makes, models and equipment, and work out exactly what kind of car you want — whether you already have a specific model in mind or just a general direction. No rushing, no pressure: you move on when you're ready.
Selection
Once you've found the car you have your eye on — or at least have a clearer idea of what you want — it's time to start the search. Open our Car finder form and enter the make, model, year, mileage and every detail that matters to you. As soon as you submit it, we receive your request and take the process from there.
Start the car finder →Offers
We scour our partner platforms — mobile.de and others — as well as our current exclusive offers, and put together 5 results for you: the cheapest, an average-priced option and 3 more that best match your requirements. We send you the list by e-mail, and you can then choose 1–2 cars on our website — or let us know if none of them is quite right, and we'll send you 5 new ones.
Verification
We contact the seller and request all the information we need to check the car's history — its service book and any previous damage.¹
Price negotiation
In many cases the advertised price is already fixed and there's no room for manoeuvre — but wherever there's a chance, we negotiate the best price and terms with the seller as native speakers with in-depth market knowledge.
Quotation
We prepare a final, itemised quotation: the price of the car, registration fee, technical inspection and emissions test, registration check, transfer fee, vehicle registration certificate and number plate, as well as transport and handling costs — all items fixed in advance, with no hidden fees.
Contract and down payment
We send you the contract and the bank account details. You sign the contract with Caradvance GmbH. We then ask for a deposit of 30 % of the purchase price, and you can view a sample contract in advance, before signing.
View sample contract →Logistics and transport
We buy the car from the seller, take care of the necessary paperwork and then, with our professional transport partner and high-limit insurance, bring it to the Czech Republic — safely, right to your door.²
Viewing and balance payment
Once the car has arrived, you're welcome to view it and check everything if you wish — only then is the remaining 70% of the purchase price settled, and the final handover takes place after that.
Registration and inspection
We take over all the official paperwork: VAT and administrative formalities, originality check, technical and emissions inspection, traffic inspectorate, vehicle registration — quickly and without complications.
Insurance and liability for defects
You take out compulsory motor liability (PZP) and comprehensive insurance yourself with an insurer of your choice – PZP is needed before the vehicle is registered. A used car comes with a 1-year liability for defects.³
Turnkey handover
We hand the car over turnkey, with all the papers and the registration certificate in your name — from then on, all you have to do is drive.
From selection to turnkey handover
This is a general timeframe, but it depends on many factors: how flexible the seller we are buying from is, the paperwork and legal administration, the logistics themselves and also how quickly the official procedures in the Czech Republic go. We will keep you informed at every step of the process.
¹ It is important to note that not every car is in the international database, so the check may be limited in some cases.
² In some cases we drive the car to the Czech Republic on its own wheels, by road, so that we can test it ourselves and detect any faults on the way.
³ For used cars we are liable for defects for 1 year from handover of the car.
⁴ We do everything we can to hand over the car as quickly as possible; however, for reasons relating to the seller, transport or official procedures, the process may in some cases take longer than planned.
Let's get started — tell us what you're looking for.
Free of charge and without obligation. Our head of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Pavel Horemuž, personally guides you through the import.
The German car import process — what to expect
Many people ask exactly how importing a car from Germany works and what the costs of importing a car from Germany are. The process consists of twelve clearly separated steps: research, selection, offers, inspection, price negotiation, quotation, contract and deposit, transport, viewing and final payment, VAT and administrative formalities, vehicle registration and turnkey handover.
The German car import process looks simple on paper, but the details — registration tax, originality inspection, technical inspection, vehicle registration office — take a lot of time and legwork. We take over all the administration for importing a car from abroad and fix every cost in advance, item by item.
A German car import calculator can only give an estimate; we prepare a specific, individual offer for the selected car — no surprises on price, and the process is typically completed within 5–14 days.
FAQ about the process
How long does the whole process take?+
From selection to turnkey handover typically takes 5–14 days, depending on the car and the administration involved. We get to work as soon as you tell us what you need and keep you informed of progress throughout.
Do I have to travel to Germany in person?+
No. We find the car, vet it, inspect it on site and deliver it too — you simply take over a car registered in your name and ready for the road in the Czech Republic.
What happens if a fault is found during the inspection?+
If the car doesn't meet expectations, we don't buy it — we'd rather find a better one. The on-site expert inspection eliminates exactly this risk, before any decision is made.
What costs should I expect?+
In addition to the price of the car: registration tax, technical inspection, originality inspection, transfer duty, registration certificate/number plates/title document, transport and administration fee. Every item is fixed in advance, transparently, in an individual offer — with no hidden costs.
How much is the down payment?+
A down payment is usually required to reserve the car; the final, individual offer sets out all the terms and the payment schedule precisely.
Do I get a warranty on the imported car?+
Yes — for used cars we are liable for defects for 1 year from handover (under the purchase contract), for new cars 2 years; new cars are also covered by the manufacturer's warranty. You take out compulsory liability and comprehensive insurance yourself with an insurer of your choice.