How to buy a retro car in Germany (detailed instructions)

According to numerous requests decided to summarize my experience in buying classic and vintage cars in Germany in this article. Will be glad if my knowledge and experience is useful to someone and will allow you to avoid any errors.
The story is slightly long and detailed, so pour a mug of strong hot drink, get comfortable and begin.

1. Why buy a classic car in Germany?
Previously, we discussed that buying a vintage car a good investment.
What are the advantages of buying vintage cars in Germany compared to Russia or America?
* A huge choice of cost, make, model, and the ability to find is not available in RF options.
For comparison: at the time of this writing in Germany on sale (free on the website mobile.de) more than 500 proposals, Porsche 911 930 body. Not a German car? Please relatively rare for Russia, the guest — Volvo P1800 = 23 proposals, and how classic the Americans, asks the attentive reader? 486 variants of the classic muscle car, Ford Mustang is a good enough list for initial analysis. No American lines? 47 offers replicas of the iconic AC Cobra .
* The accuracy of the Germans and more honest attitude to the deal.
*Transport accessibility compared to the same purchase in the States or a trip to the conditional Khanty Mansiysk from the European part of Russia. The term of delivery and customs clearance of cars from Europe — from 3 days.

Where is the best place to buy a German vintage car?
A few options:
-Autohaus.
Full sizein Germany, a huge number of dealers (Autohaus) as expensive, which presents Museum-quality machines, and easier
We Examine Mercedes R129 BRABUS 7.3

-the exhibition.
Full sizepersonal experience to explore the machine better, and to negotiate the terms and price preferably on the last day, the difference may reach 10-30% in comparison with the initial price
Exhibition in Hamburg, October 2017

-from the hands of private owners
Full sizeinspection Horch 853 from a private collection

(in Germany there is a law on the responsibility of the buyer. Under this law, a private person, sold to another person, the vehicle shall be responsible for compliance stated in the deed information, including technical condition, within 6 months).

How best to organize the purchase of a retro car in Germany?
Options will be few:

Remote purchasing – selection and procurement of cars through the Internet, the instruction of the facilitator the hassle of the transaction, clearance and delivery. This is the most easiest way, but be prepared to pay the "feet" and provide a Commission on the transaction.

Personal control – when everything is done independently from A to Z. This is the most laborious and the most time consuming option. Visa, tickets, hotel, food, transportation to the place of inspection (e.g., the distance from Munich to Hamburg — more than 800km), the overhead. On the customs Deposit and nuances of the design will discuss below, but remember that they can intervene absolutely unexpected factors. For example, the owner can leave, "relatives," or in my experience was when the owner refused to sell the car in Russia.

Combined method – partially used when certain services in the process of choosing and buying a vintage. For example, the choice of car You make yourself, trusting the survey and design expert on vintage cars, and delivery in the Russian Federation entrusted to a third party and take the stress out of the design. This is the best option for the average motorist, which minimizes the risks and costs.

Step by step guide to buying a classic car in Germany.
First, the choice of the car.
To decide what You want to buy, take advantage of the budget buy and in what framework You can change the options.
(Make, model, equipment, condition; Estimated price of the car; Available the total budget of the purchase;
A preliminary decision where to buy, how to take and who will execute).

At this stage, be sure to answer this question:
If You will buy any particular car or You reserve the freedom to change the priority on the spot, even if you choose something at home beforehand.
It is necessary for further processing of Your trip, due to customs regulations.

Second: preparing to buy
The first thing to attend to the presence of:
— Passport
Visa
Guarantee for customs
What is it? At this point I propose to emphasize here.

Customs security Deposit

According to article 137 (part 11), 145 (p. 1, 5-6) of the Federal law № 311 ("On customs regulation"), a citizen of the Russian Federation, intending to bring in the border of the EAEU vehicle (V), is obliged to provide collateral (security Deposit) customs clearance, ie the guarantee of compliance with customs regulations.

The Deposit shall be paid to the customs office or is transferred to the account of the customs organization, in cash collateral (pledge assets) or guarantee (surety or Bank guarantee) form.

When you approximately know the brand, model and specifications of the machine you want to import – the amount of the Deposit will be calculated individually by the customs authority. If machine information is completely accurate, the amount of the Deposit will be equal to customs duties.
After making a Deposit shall be issued a receipt, and then (for 2 days) is added to the warranty certificate – both documents are on the border of the Russian Federation at import of the vehicle.

jpg width=960 height=1358 itemprop=contentUrl>Full sizecustoms receipt

Third: trip to Germany
After making the proper paperwork to get on the road. The timing count at least 4 days of travel and try to make day selection and purchase of the machine did not come for the weekend – the Germans work on Saturdays until 14:00, and on Sundays rested and most institutions are not working.

Transport. Aircraft to fly the most comfortable, safe and malacofauna, and the ticket price is not very bite. If You take the bus/train or move by car — be aware of scams, especially lying in wait for buyers. (Of course, now not 90-e years, but the crime rate in Poland is quite high).

Housing. It is advisable to pre-book a place in the hotel. But if You don't know in which city you'll sleep, try not to get to the days of some local town festivals or festivals (like Oktoberfest), because in this case it is possible to remain without sleep due to hotel occupancy. By the way, sleep in the car in the city under the laws of Germany impossible. To fine You can and a stick of sausage, a piece of bacon, or chocolate — the import of meat and dairy products are banned in the EU.

What to do with the money? According to the law without the Declaration allowed the transportation of up to $10 million from Russia. If you want to bring in more cash, please fill in the form or take another one (two, three...) persons, each of them relies on 10 thousand of cash without Declaration. (For reference: according to the General customs rules discovered not declared the amount in excess of these limits will be confiscated in favor of the state.) On the card, you can import and export any amount of money, but you will lose something on interest. By the way, in Germany, only the Autohaus like cashless payments, and the owners sometimes require cash, in euros, of course.

How to take money without the account of cost of the car?
Minimum: Road – from €400 (if by plane);
Visa – up to €100;
Hotel – an average of €50/day;
Food – €50 for a few days;
Fuel – from €200 (petrol in Europe is expensive);
Clearance – approximately €200.
Reserve — a minimum of €400.
Total — not less than €1500. If you save, you can invest in smaller amount. For example, instead of a hotel to use a hostel (€25) going to take not expensive (something bring your own), transport to Germany to choose the cheapest.

Fourth. The purchase of the machine.
How to choose and check the car I was telling you, in a special article – all the technical issues here are the same. Don't forget to bring your basic tool kit: a flashlight, a minimal set of tools, thickness gauge, gloves.
If you are not able to check the car properly, it will perfectly do for the local stations at reasonable cost. Anyway the test I recommend in any case because to claim later will be difficult.

But about documents will stay in detail.
In Germany the sellers of machines made to help the buyer of the documents. Do not hesitate to ask about the availability of a particular license or certificate.

Let us examine the basic documentation package. It includes:

— Kaufvertrag (bill of sale) – the equivalent of our contract of sale (DCT);
— Farzeugeschein/Fahrzeugebrief (registration certificate) – the equivalent of our passport vehicle (TCP) and certificate of registration (STS);
— Hauptuntersuchung – analog of the diagnostic card;
— Doppelkarte insurance – the equivalent of our CTP;
— Abgasunteruchung document about the environmental safety of the exhaust.

I will discuss some aspects:
Contract-prodigyy document is drawn up for similar to our principles: free format (can be hand-compiled, but it is better to print the form), the presence of third parties is not required.
Always insist on a standard form – better form ADAC.

The Contract Of Sale
German DCT consists of three parts:
The upper part indicates the information on the seller, buyer and car;
The middle part is a prescribed assurances and reservations. This part will show special attention, because here the sellers have the ability to be cunning, in case you don't know the language. This is the most random DCT, where the seller or the buyer may add their conditions;
The lower part is a receipt specifying the amount of the transaction and transferred to the new owner documents.
Attention! Before entering into check prep personal documents of the seller for conformity of the information with other documentation.

Technical passport Zulassungbescheinigung referred to as — (Farzeugeschein/Fahrzeugebrief)
The log contains information about the owner of the vehicle and the vehicle (make/model, color, VIN number, etc. the standard set).
Zulassungbescheinigung Teil 1 (small brief) is an analogue of our STS, which is presented by the police on the road.
Zulassungbescheinigung Teil 2 (the big brief) – this document is in addition to DCT, certifying the owner of the vehicle. For the police it is not needed and it is not recommended to store in the car.

Full size

Full size

There are other documents that will be required for the purchase and delivery of retro car:
International tolerance (Internationaler Zulassungsschein) is an analogue of STS, but only for transboundary movement. This book you need to present is Zulassungbescheinigung Teil 1 (small brief) after crossing the German border;
Ecorover exhaust (Abgasunteruchung) – required for receipt of transits, but not in all the lands.
Declaration of export of cars outside the EU (Ausfuhranmeldung) – need for customs and return to 19% VAT if it is stipulated in the deed or by law. Now issued in electronic form
Ferry documentation (Liner Way Bill and Anlieferschein) – issued water carrier if you decide to take the car ferry.

Fifth. The conclusion of the transaction.
a) the signing of the OST – after verification of documents and the examination, signed by the DCT is composed in 2. and preferably 3 copies – one is in German, the two of you. The signatures are placed under the middle part of the OST;
b) you transfer the money to the seller, he gives you the keys and documents together and sign the lower part of the DCT receipt. Since then, the car is yours, but it is still required to register;
C) insurance – before signing up to buy insurance in any insurance company, indicating to the Manager that you need to take out a car from the EU;
d) the registration of the vehicle – with effective insurance in your name you need to visit the German analogue of the STSI (Verkehrsamt), where, after the payment of fees, for a short time preregistered the car to you and issue all necessary documents. Today in Germany when selling a car it is usually in advance are removed from the account so that special efforts should not be, and the owner will not be required.
d) obtaining transit plates for the pickup outside the EU you will be given a special transits with red markings (there are still yellow) and a book of international tolerance. Also Verkehrsamt will be entered into an electronic database, export Declaration on your behalf.

Sixth. Shipping retro car in Russia.
To take a purchased car can be driven or carrier. Carriers weight – different types of railway and road trailers vying offer their services, you choose.
Cost of services for the delivery of a classic car from 1200 Euro in the structure of the Transporter.

Full sizecar shipping car Transporter

From Germany to Russia there are two popular route export or stretch:
Through Poland and Belarus, the main land route;
-Through Finland and Sweden using the ferry

Seven: customs clearance
When you get to the border of the Russian Federation, the Motherland will gladly meet You the hassle of customs clearance.
The list of required documents:
1)of the German registration certificate;
2)Insurance policy;
3)Export Declaration (verified electronically);
4)Customs receipt;
5)Guarantee certificate customs.
Then filled in the two forms of the customs Declaration:

Passenger (TD-6) – if the car enters on their own, then set it as accompanied baggage, if the carrier, as unaccompanied;
Transit (DCTS) – it custom prescribes the time frame of the arrival of the vehicle to the point of customs clearance, which can not be broken.

Of course, the nuances of customs clearance, you can write a separate article in the framework of today's story mentions two options for registration:
1. Cultural Value — tax-free = without obtaining a title = without the possibility of operation on public roads. (only for equipment older than 50 years).
2. Vehicle. With payment of appropriate fees and the possibility of obtaining title.
In this regard, it is worth remembering the Technical Regulations No. 609, in which You can ask to receive the Passport of the Vehicle: performance standards EURO5, button, GLONASS, payment of the recycling fee.
verbatim:
This regulation does not apply to:

item 4. a) vehicles of category M1, from the date of issue of which passed more than 30 years, with the original engine, body and subject — frame, saved or restored to original condition;

Conclusion

So, you now know how to drive from Germany retro cars. It is really difficult, but You can charge it to professionals. Migrated the hassle of well chosen car will pay back with interest.

Full sizetimeless Classic.
The continuation of the article — here
If You still have questions or You want to buy a old timer from Germany with a guarantee, write in personal mail. Examples of work:

Full sizeMercedes 190SL: buying in Germany, shipping, customs clearance

Full sizeMercedes Pagoda W113: Mercedes Pagoda sale, delivery, paperwork, cosmetic restoration

Full sizePorsche 911: buying delivery, customs registration, registration with the traffic police, repair and maintenance

Detailed specification of the purchase, delivery and customs clearance retro car with specific examples:
1. Ford Gran Torino
2. Porsche 911

The company "Antique Cars"(antiqcar.ru/): the car of Your dreams is our job!

Good luck on the road!