Question 1

What does registering a car in Germany as a non-resident cost in total?

Accepted Answer

The service cost is a one-off registration fee of €500 plus the German correspondence address at €99 per month, billed as one annual payment of €1,188. That is €1,688 in year one and €1,188 in every following year. Insurance premium and German vehicle tax come on top, at cost.

Question 2

Does the price depend on how expensive my car is?

Accepted Answer

No. A small hatchback and a supercar pay the same: €500 one-off and €99 per month. The administrative work is identical, so the price is identical.

Question 3

When does the surcharge for non-German paperwork apply?

Accepted Answer

€400 one-off, and only when the vehicle has no German documents and they have to be created — an import needing COC retrieval, or a vehicle needing §21 individual approval. Cars that already carry German papers never pay it.

Question 4

Will the annual fee go up after the first year?

Accepted Answer

No. €1,188 in year one, €1,188 in year ten. There is no escalation clause, no annual review and no indexation in the agreement.

Question 5

How is the service fee billed — monthly or yearly?

Accepted Answer

The €99 monthly service fee is paid as a single annual payment, 12 months in advance. That means one payment per service year instead of twelve separate debits. The minimum term is 12 months.

Question 6

Do you mark up insurance or vehicle tax?

Accepted Answer

No. Insurance through our partners AXA and Zurich and the German vehicle tax (Kfz-Steuer) are passed through at cost, with 0% margin. We will show you the original insurer invoice on request.

Question 7

Roughly what will insurance cost?

Accepted Answer

The premium depends on the vehicle, its use and the driver profile, and it is calculated by the insurer — which is why we publish no flat figure. You get the exact premium with your firm quote, usually within one business day.

Question 8

How much German vehicle tax will I pay?

Accepted Answer

Kfz-Steuer is based on engine displacement, fuel type and CO₂ emissions and is collected by German customs. You can work out your own figure in advance with the vehicle tax calculator on this site.

Question 9

What does storage add to the cost?

Accepted Answer

Indoor storage near Berlin is €250 per month including utilities and supervised security, minimum term 12 months. TÜV / HU renewal is €200 per appointment and detailing €120 every four weeks.

Question 10

Is there an exit fee when I de-register?

Accepted Answer

No. De-registration is included in the service fee and takes ~15 minutes remote. There is no cancellation or closing charge.

Question 11

Is Model B (own-name registration) more expensive than Model A?

Accepted Answer

No — the service fees are the same for both. Model B does add external costs for an apostilled passport and a notarised power of attorney, which you pay directly to the notary and the authority.

Question 12

What is not included in the price?

Accepted Answer

Not included: the purchase price of the vehicle, the insurance premium and the vehicle tax (both passed through at cost), HU / TÜV outside the storage package, servicing and repairs, tyres and consumables.

Question 13

Are there hidden costs or later add-on charges?

Accepted Answer

No. Every service fee is published on the pricing page. External costs — insurance, vehicle tax, notary for Model B — are itemised separately in your quote before you commit.

The cost of German registration for non-residents — every question answered

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