Does anyone have experience exporting a Porsche back to Germany, and what is entailed with being able to register it over there?

I'm thinking about shipping a car there and having a friend register it and keep it for me in his warehouse in Munich. Then we could go driving in Europe when I visit him, or when I'm over there for a week or two at a time on business. He has an '09 997S.

If you have any experience with this, or can send me a link to information on the subject, I would appreciate it!

 

I dont know the process for Germany, but I was contemplating moving to Japan for a few years. I found out that once the car was imported to Japan there was no way the car would be able to be registered here in the US again...don't know why but thats what I was told. Im sure there has to be some sort of VAT tax for importing a car that you didn't purchase in Germany. I would talk to a importer of US vehicles to the EU and see what the response was.

Dave

 

No way to register again here in the U.S.? Better check that info again. I've done it with two cars and know of a couple of others who have as well. Specifically, taken a BMW and Mercedes from the US to Japan and then brought them back here. It's a hassle but possible!

 

I was interested back in 05 with an 04 BMW M3 I owned. They told me I could do it if I got a temporary registration that didn't last more than 3 months. After that it would be next to impossible to register the car again here in the US. Not going to do it now..but I will look into it again.

Dave

 

The question is "who" told you? If it's some clerk in some office, the guy/gal is full of it and doesn't want to do his job. Specifically, you have to ask what law or regulation does not allow the registeration to occur. I had my car over in Japan for almost a year. It was sent from NYC, where I was living at the time, to Europe, where I drove it any number of places and then finally sent to Japan while I worked. When I departed, had it sent back to NYC, sat in customs for a bit, got it out and registered fine. I would never do it again. The time, frustration, expense, etc etc, just not worth the headache. Instead, I'd suggest trying to get a short lease or what ever. But, incidentally, you don't need a car in Japan for the most part, unless you want to visit the country side and then, just rent a car. They are pretty reasonable.

 

It was a clerk in a shipping office..good to know thanks. I go to Japan twice a year..you're right you don't really need a car in Japan. In fact most Japanee dont even drive their cars to work with the excellent public transportation. I just got back form Japan 2 days ago...hell of a trip. A typhoon, 2 earthquakes and my youngest, Kenji-5yrs. old broke his arm. I still would have loved the drives through Hakkone in my 04 E46 M3 at the time.

Dave

 

If you register a US car in Europe, why send it back anyway? It's far more expensive there. Sell it and buy a new one in US when you're back!

A 997 is actually a European standards car with minimum make up to meet US regulations (unlike BMWs for example). Rear fog light, windows, all lights but headlights are already marked with the E sign. Mirrors are compliant. Remove the 2 rear bumpers and you have room for a long European plate. US pollution standards exceed EU4. Only 2 things though, you'll need EU mufflers or you won't meet the noise standards and you'll need to rewire the side light into a turning light. he rest is pointless paperwork and unecessary frustration.

Whether it's worth the pain or not pretty much depend on your personal situation (export, temporary use, expat going back home, etc) in other words whether or not you have to pay the infamous VAT German (19%) or French (20%), the horrendous Dutch or Swiss carbon taxes, import duties and so on.

 

Many fewer headaches to sell the car before you move and buy a new one when you are settled....

 

Maybe in Europe it makes sense to sell and buy again. But in countries such as Taiwan (where I'm from), the cost to buy a Porsche equals the price to buy an Enzo in the US...

 

Agreed, thats why I was thinking of importing my new at the time 04 BMW M3. I bought the car for $55K US but the same car in Japan was over $88k.

Dave