Buying a car in Germany and driving to UK!

[Biggss2]

Hi all, and good evening.

A question for both UK and German friends here on the forum,

I am somewhat desperate to buy a Golf MK3 GT TDI over in Germany, I am wondering what the implications would be driving the car over.

Im looking at something like this

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=270961815506


I look to buy (ebay.de) fly over, meet seller, pay for and drive back home. Insurance via VIN tag I guess I could arrange here.

Driving out of Germany what would the implications be? Last thing I would want to do is hand cash over for a car and be stuck at the docks!

Im thinking, Customs? export duty? de reg documents? german mot?

Does anyone have 1st hand experience with driving out of germany and to the UK, is it too much hassle?

As you can see Im being a bit ambitious in my venture for a golf 3 GT tdi (Wish I had bought one ive ever seen on ebay about 3yrs ago), but they're great cars buy my current MK3 daily is a bit worse for wear, they are great cars and I want one to cherish!

Any Help/suggestions would be hugely appreciated and most welcome.

Many thanks.

[s2_wot]

what's so special about the GT TDI? It's a 3 door, 90bhp golf or am I missing something?

[Biggss2]

110bhp and the rarity mate.

[s2_wot]

Ah I see, but the add you linked says 66KW (90 BHP) hence my confusion

FWIW having moved a couple of cars across from the UK to Ireland I would consider having it shipped over, you should easily save a lot in terms of time off, flights etc.

Edit: I meant to say I've owned 2 Mk3's in the past and thought they were excellent cars.

[david]

i think it's more or less straight forward as long as you have the correct document,there should'nt be any problem driving the car back to u.k.
i once sold my s2 to a german bloke,he had no problem taking the car back to germany on the ferry.just make sure you have current insurance to cover you.
i'm planning to do thesame in the vary near future.

[Biggss2]

Do you know what mate! Im wondering if there's 2 Variants, you might be right, and I may have not read into this as much as I should have

a clapped out one on ebay UK

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2510461233...84.m1423.l2649

hmm, with shipping and stuff, its a car, and the language barrier, ive never done anything this ambitious before to be honest, Im old fashioned lol fly over drive back. couple of days work, but if it works out well and for the right car id be prepared to do!

[Biggss2]

David, don't the german car need to be on export number plates or something to drive over, how about customs/fees etc would anything as such apply?

[Biggss2]

yea they are real good cars, can take a good beating.

[s2_wot]

loads of 3 door LHD 110 bhp golfs for sale on this link:

http://suchen.mobile.de/auto/search....t=TWO_OR_THREE

The 90 bhp AHU engined ones can definitely be chipped to 110 bhp, I'm certain of that. So you need to check the engine code is AFN to get an original 110 bhp which would be capable of say 130 bhp after chipping.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Golf_Mk3

I want one now

[david]

David, don't the german car need to be on export number plates or something to drive over, how about customs/fees etc would anything as such apply?

yeah,the guy did have something that looks like trade number plate.i think he was a dealer.
but can't see the reason why you cannot driver the car back to the u.k so long as you have an insurance and paper work as proof of purchase.

[Biggss2]

Lol ive started something now havent I! so im guessing 81kw would be 110bhp?

[Biggss2]

hmm, would be perfect to know of someone who has made this trip sucessfully, knowing what it involves warts and all! I see what your saying David, but that sounds too easy, ze germans wouldnt let you just waltz out of germany like that i reckon?!

[bartolomeus]

Biggss2, I'm from Romania and I bought lots of cars from Germany.
Since both Germany and United Kingdom are in the EU, you won't have to pay any customs.
About the number plates, you have 2 options:

1) The seller gives you his german number plates and insurance and you drive it to UK where you can go to a German Consulate and radiate/take it out (I don't know if it's the correct English word) from the Seller's name and then registrate it on your name;
2) The seller radiates/takes out the car from his name in Germany and then you can buy one month, 2 months or 3 months valability "Zoll Number" number plates - which they are valid in any country in the WORLD! Last time when I went to Germany, I paid around 100 Euro for one month "Zoll Number". These number plates are read.
Please be advised that if the car's MOT is expired, you will only be able to get 5 days "Zoll Number" number plates. These number plates are yellow.

Anything else you need to know?

[david]

hmm, would be perfect to know of someone who has made this trip sucessfully, knowing what it involves warts and all! I see what your saying David, but that sounds too easy, ze germans wouldnt let you just waltz out of germany like that i reckon?!

this is the reason why we have e.u. to make trading easy

[Biggss2]

Right bartolemus, that sounds spot on, so worst case scenario, I would have 5days to take the car out of the country, if it had no MOT, then Drive it over, get it MOT'd then re registered at the DVLA!

hmmm, whats a ferry back from germany cost anyone?

ive been thinking of doing this mission for a long time!

ive registered jap imports before at DVLA a long time ago, anyone know the specific de reg docs required from germany to register the car in the UK?

Thanks for your help guys, this plan will finally come together- soon