Cars from Germany to the Czech Republic: how to find one and handle the paperwork

This article is dated as shown. Laws, fees and prices have changed since then. Check the figures before you rely on them.

When buying a car in Germany for the Czech Republic, judge it by the total cost: the price of the car, inspection, transport, insurance, applicable taxes and registration. Compare this calculation with offers in the Czech Republic before choosing a car.

Where to buy a German car

You can look for a car at dealers, from private sellers and on classifieds or auction platforms. The country of sale in itself does not confirm the condition of the car or the accuracy of the mileage. If you need help from Destacar, agree the tasks, the scope of the checks and the cost of the support in advance.

How to register a car in the Czech Republic

No customs duty is charged when a car is moved between EU countries. VAT and national registration taxes are checked separately. For VAT purposes a car counts as new if it has no more than 6,000 km on the clock or is delivered within six months of its first registration. For a used car both opposite conditions must be met. These guidelines apply to a private buyer; a purchase on behalf of a company is checked separately. The validity of the plates, insurance, registration documents and costs in the Czech Republic are clarified for the specific car. The conditions "no older than five years", compulsory insurance for exactly 15 days and automatic double VAT should not be relied on.

The article of 01.08.2018 gave the following list for registration in the Czech Republic. It is kept as a description of that period, not as a current list of requirements:

• The earlier list named a passport, an extended visa with an address, the purchase contract, insurance, the COC and the VIN. This list does not confirm which documents a specific buyer needs today.
• The earlier list mentioned a technical inspection and safety and emissions checks. The checks and payments required for a specific car should be clarified before the purchase.

The article of 01.08.2018 described the process with a COC, technical protocols and two forms. The claim that cars from Germany usually already have a COC and need no separate assessment is not confirmed for a new purchase. The availability of the documents must be checked with the seller, and the registration procedure for the specific car clarified with the competent Czech authority.

How much it costs to import a car into the Czech Republic from Germany

The amounts from the article of 01.08.2018 are kept below. They are historical examples, not current registration fees in the Czech Republic.

• transit plates and an insurance policy in Germany: from 3,100 to 6,500 crowns;
• environmental fee in the Czech Republic: from 0 to 10,000 crowns, registration fee: 2,300 crowns;
• insurance: at least 5,000 crowns, the amount depends on the technical specifications, the model, the mileage and so on.

The procedure for paying VAT and any correction of the invoice must be settled before payment. Registration in the Czech Republic does not in itself mean an automatic tax refund.

Before buying, clarify the documents and the registration procedure for your chosen car in the Czech Republic. To discuss help from Destacar, send us the listing and describe your task. The cost of the support and the possible timeframe are agreed separately.

For your first enquiry, have ready the link to the listing, your budget and your main requirements for the car.