Calculate all taxes and duties when importing a vehicle to Germany from outside the EU.
Import Tax Components
Customs Duty
- Standard rate: 10% for passenger vehicles
- Reduced rates for electric vehicles (5%)
VAT (Mehrwertsteuer)
- Standard rate: 19%
- Calculated on customs value + customs duty
- May be exempt for vehicles over 10 years old (classic cars)
Environmental Levy (Umweltbonus)
- 2% levy on high-emission vehicles
- Electric vehicles may qualify for additional government subsidies
Electric Vehicle Benefits
Germany offers significant advantages for imported electric vehicles:
- 50% reduction in customs duty
- 10% reduction in VAT
- Federal subsidies of up to €4,500 for new EVs
Import Process
- Customs Declaration: Submit at the border/customs office
- Vehicle Approval (CoC): Certificate of Conformity for EU standards
- Technical Inspection (TÜV): Required within 10 days of registration
- Registration (Zulassung): Local vehicle registration office