Importing a car has many advantages. With so many strong car markets, importing a car means that you will be able to find everything you are looking for, without compromise. If you have already started looking into importing a car, you will probably be aware of the various fees that are associated with the process.
From tax to customs, shipping to registration, there is a lot to consider. For this reason, it is difficult to give you a figure for how much it costs to import a car in Europe due to the many variables.
However, it is possible for us to give you some pointers about what you need to consider financially in terms of importing a car in Europe, as well as tell you about some tools which can help you to calculate the costs. Try not to be too overwhelmed by all the information available online – as long as you do your research, you’ll be fine, and there are websites which make it a lot easier for you (more on that later!)
Why not start with this article to learn about car import fees?
Choosing your car
The first things you need to think about are, of course, the basic costs associated with buying a car. These include the basic cost of the car you are buying, the cost to transport it to your location, and the fees for the accompanying bureaucracy and administration. Obviously, car prices vary greatly depending on the model, the age of the car, the mileage, and so many other factors.
You probably have a budget for how much you are willing to spend on your new car, so shop around to find the best deal. Once you’ve chosen a car, we highly recommend having the car checked by an independent expert to make sure the quality meets the standard you expect, as you will most likely not be able to see the car yourself before you make your purchase. Of course, this means additional costs, but it is not worth the risk to go without.
Documentation and Warranties
So, you’ve had your car checked and have decided you want to go ahead with the purchase? You will need to complete all the necessary paperwork if you are buying directly from a dealer.
Unfortunately, this often comes with processing fees, so it is important to find out from the seller exactly what this will cost you, as there are many factors that contribute to this cost. Overall, you need to make sure that nothing is hidden from you when you agree to make the purchase, as this stage sometimes involves hidden costs if you do not ask the right questions.
Your next step is to investigate warranties for your new car. It is best practice to have a warranty on any purchase you make, but of particular importance when you are making a significant online purchase. Some sellers will automatically add a warranty onto the car, but now and then you will need to sort this out independently. It is best to shop around to find the warranty that best suits your circumstances.
Transport
Once you have chosen your car, the next thing to consider in terms of import fees is transport. In many cases, when you import a car, it will have to be transported quite a distance to reach you. Many companies offer this service, so compare the prices of several companies to work out which one is the best value for your specific transport requirements. It is also important to look at the levels of insurance that each service provider offers, so that you are covered in case anything goes wrong on the journey.
Additional Costs
Other fees you need to be aware of are various tax fees (which vary depending on the country you are importing from and to), possible CO2 tax, and fees for vehicle documents. Again, these often come with additional bureaucracy processing costs so make sure to do your research into how this works in your country.
Calculate Fees in Advance
Taking all these costs into consideration makes it a bit difficult for you to conclude what the ultimate price is. Therefore, you can check out websites such as Novora.at that will assist you in doing so. All you need to know is some details about the vehicle you are importing and it will take a few minutes to do the calculations.
Why does this matter?
Knowing the exact price will make it easier to prepare everything without breaking the bank. Perhaps you miscalculated along the way and the vehicle turns out to be more expensive than you initially planned, putting you in an uncomfortable position.
Furthermore, the cars that are built in Asia, and specifically those that come from the US have different standards when it comes to engines and emissions compared to those from the EU. This is something to take into consideration as you try to import a vehicle.
Conclusion
To sum up, the price of your car is the most important one and it takes a large chunk of the total price of the import. Furthermore, you will need to pay for some paperwork that make all this possible. In a majority of cases, you will need to pay for the transport fees as well. There’s highly likely that you will need to contact one of the car shipping companies, and that is a whole new area of expenses.
Last but not least, there are some additional costs to consider and we have listed these above.
We hope you have found this helpful, but we also know that there is a lot to think about and you might feel overwhelmed by all this information.
