Buying, registering and maintaining a car in Germany: instructions for Ukrainians
Ukrainian refugees in Germany are forced to re-arrange their lives and lifestyle in a new country. Find out how to buy and register a car in Germany without losing your temporary protection
Most Ukrainians who have been granted temporary protection in Germany use their own cars with Ukrainian license plates or public transportation in the country. However, the opportunity to buy a newer car at a reasonable price makes you think about buying a car at the place of temporary residence. We will tell you all about the peculiarities of buying a car in Germany for Ukrainian refugees further in the article.
Jobs in Germany: the most popular vacancies for expats - find here.
Read here how to find a job for English-speaking foreigners in Germany.
Temporary protection status in Germany: benefits and legal advice - more details here.
We would like to remind you that cars with Ukrainian license plates in Europe must have an international insurance policy - a Green Card. It is important to take out a policy only with a licensed insurer. The most convenient way to do this is online. On Visit Ukraine, you can take out insurance for a period of 15 days to 1 year. Choose the required period and buy a licensed car insurance policy here.
How to buy a car in Germany: documents required
According to standard rules, to buy a car, you must have with you
- driver's license;
- a foreign passport (it is better to prepare an official translation of the Ukrainian passport, as the Zulassungsstelle (MREO) may request it when registering a car).
If you plan to buy for a third party, you must provide an official power of attorney from them, translated and notarized.
Please note! The requirements for the buyer and the list of documents required may differ from state to state in Germany.
Upon completion of the purchase/sale procedure, the buyer must be issued the following documents:
- Vehicle registration certificate (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I);
- "Brief" for the car (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II);
- Purchase and sale agreement (Kaufvertrag). It must contain the note "kein Unfallschaden", which indicates the serviceability of the vehicle and the seller's warranty;
- A document confirming the removal of the car from the register (Abmeldebescheinigung);
- Certificate of technical inspection (TÜV);
- Insurance policy (Doppelkarte);
- Certificate of emissions (environmental friendliness) of the car (ASU Abgasuntersuchung).
How to register a car in Germany?
After the sale is finalized and all documents are received, the purchased car must be registered and registered, a license plate must be obtained, and a special sticker must be purchased that displays the emission level. This will cost about 100 euros. The car must be re-registered after the purchase, as driving a vehicle that is not registered is subject to an administrative penalty.
Car registration takes place at the MREO (Zulassungsstelle). Ukrainians can make an appointment with a specialist online for a certain time, or come in person and take a turn. You need to have a complete set of documents that you received when buying a car and an insurance policy. When registering a car for a new owner, a new license plate is issued, and it can be made on the spot in the commercial department.
The license plate must have the appropriate stickers attached to it, indicating the federal state where the car was registered and the environmental level of emissions.
Car maintenance in Germany
Car insurance is mandatory in Germany. It should be noted that it is impossible to get a license plate in Germany without a car insurance.
The price of car insurance ranges from 150 to 1200 euros, and depends on the type of car, engine size, driver's experience, the period for which the car insurance is issued, and other factors.
Car inspection must be carried out at any authorized service center (Werkstatt) every two years. Usually, a car inspection costs from 80 to 150 euros.
In Germany, you also need to pay a transport tax, the amount of which depends on the engine power and environmental friendliness of the car. On average, it will cost about 150 euros per year.
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Where to buy a used car in Germany: websites, car markets, car houses
You can search for a car in Germany both online on special resources and websites and offline. The most popular car markets are located in the cities of Essen and Cologne.
You can also buy a used car "live" through a car dealership. There are three types of car dealerships in Germany: official dealers, large resale companies, and private networks.
However, online sales are much more common in Germany, and therefore, websites usually offer a larger selection of cars to suit every budget and taste.
The most popular websites for finding used cars in Germany are:
- www.autoscout24.de
- www.mobile.de
- Webmobil24
- Autobild.de
- Gebrauchtwagen.de
- Quoka.de
- Kalaydo.de
- Ebay.Motors
- webauto.de
- motoso.de
- carstart.de
- pkw.de
- www.auto.de
Can I buy a car with temporary protection in Germany?
Yes, Ukrainian refugees have the right to buy a car in Germany, but its price should not exceed 7,500 euros. In some cases, the upper limit of the car price may be higher. In order to have the limit raised, a person must apply to the Jobcenter. Each such application is considered individually.
In particular, the limit may be raised in the following cases:
- a car is purchased by a large family with several children, and therefore a multi-seater car is required;
- the car is intended for transportation of a person with a disability (this applies to cases where the driver has a disability group, as well as if there is a need to place a wheelchair inside the car).
We remind you! Germany allows Ukrainians to come with pets. However, the simplified rules of entry with pets have recently been changed. Read about the updated rules for entering Germany with pets in our previous article.
Photo: Oneinchpunch/Depositphotos
Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip:
Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;
Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;
Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;
Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;
Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.
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The simultaneous stay of visitors in the hotel lobby not more than one person per 10 square meters of serviceable area is allowed.
Persons can visit hotels and stay there (outside hotel room) only if they wear respirator or face mask (including homemade mask), so that the nose and mouth are covered.
Hotel guests are obliged to keep the 1.5 meters distance.
Online check-in making in advance is recommended to avoid queues at check-in to hotel.
Meals in hotels are provided through meals delivery service to rooms upon prior order or at hotel restaurants situated inside or in open areas, provided the distance of at least 1.5 meters between seats at adjacent tables.
Not more than 4 clients are allowed to stay at the table (excluding children under 14 years old). Unless these tables are separated by a special partition;
Self-serve is not allowed.