How I Saved €3,500 by Importing a Car from Germany (And How You Can Too!)
- Roman Semendouev
- Mar 15
- 4 min read
🚀 Introduction: Why I Decided to Import a Car Instead of Buying in Spain
It all started when a friend in Portugal was looking for a second-hand car. He kept complaining about how expensive cars are in Spain compared to Germany, so he asked me if it was worth importing a car from Germany instead of buying from a local dealer.
This got me thinking—is the same thing happening in Spain?
I started researching, and what I found completely changed my perspective. The same car in Spain can cost €2,000 to €10,000 more than in Germany. Some models are not even available here!
So I asked myself: Why are people paying so much if there’s a cheaper alternative?
I decided to see for myself. I wanted to find out whether importing a car from Germany was really worth it or if it was too complicated.
What I discovered changed how I see the car market… and now I help others do the same.
🔍 Step 1: Comparing Second-Hand Car Prices in Germany vs. Spain
I started researching and comparing car prices. Here’s what I found:
💰 Audi A3 40 TFSI-E S-Line 2022 (11,700 KM)
• 🇩🇪 Price in Germany: €24,000
• 🇪🇸 Price in a Spanish dealership: €27,500 – €30,000
• 🇵🇹 Price in Portugal: €30,000+
Even after paying import taxes, registration, and ITV fees, I still saved €3,500!
🚗 Why Are Second-Hand Cars Cheaper in Germany?
✅ Larger supply & more competition in the German market
✅ Lower vehicle taxes in Germany
✅ Many Spanish dealers buy cars from Germany and resell them with a €3,000 – €6,000 markup
After seeing the huge savings, my next step was to travel to Germany and buy the car.
“I decided to see for myself. I wanted to find out if importing a car from Germany was really worth it or if it was just too complicated. What I discovered completely changed the way I see the market… and now I help others do the same.”
🇩🇪 Step 2: My Experience Buying a Car in Germany
I arrived in Germany without contacting any dealerships beforehand—I wanted to experience what a regular buyer would go through.
📍 First dealership – Audi A3
I asked about a car I had seen online. The first thing the salesperson told me was:
“This car has been in two accidents, I wouldn’t recommend it.”
I was shocked. In Spain, many dealers hide accident history from buyers.
📍 Second dealership – BMW
Same experience. They informed me that the BMW I was looking at had been a leasing car with previous damage history.
🔹 Conclusion:
🇩🇪 German dealers are much more transparent than Spanish ones.
On my second day, I found a new listing from a nearby dealership. I test-drove the car, negotiated a €400 discount, and closed the deal!
🛣️ Step 3: Driving My Car to Spain – What You Need to Know
After making the payment, I needed temporary plates to drive the car back to Spain. Here’s what I learned:
❌ 5-day plates (€50 - €100) – Not recommended.
• France might fine you if you pass through with these.
✅ 30-day plates (€300) – The best option.
• Spain’s registration process takes 10-15 days, so you need extra time.
I drove from Germany to Málaga, thinking I could go straight to ITV for inspection… but that’s not how it works.
📌 Before passing the ITV inspection, they must review your documents for about a week.
📑 Step 4: Registration & Final Cost in Spain
At the ITV, they made a mistake in the paperwork:
• They registered my mileage as 3,000 km instead of 13,000 km.
• This delayed my registration process.
Luckily, I had hired a registration service (€90) to handle all the paperwork for me. They fixed the issue and submitted the documents to the DGT (Spanish Traffic Authority).
💰 Final Cost of My Imported Car:
✅ Price of the car in Germany: €24,000
✅ Taxes, ITV, registration fees: €2,500
✅ Total Cost: €26,500 (vs. €30,000 in Spain)
🚗 Total Savings: €3,500
And at that moment, I realized I could help more people save money by importing their cars instead of overpaying at a dealership!
🚨 Essential Tips for Importing a Second-Hand Car from Germany to Spain
✅ Compare prices before making a decision – Don’t assume Spanish dealers offer fair pricing.
✅ Only buy from trusted dealerships – Avoid private sellers if you can’t verify the car’s history.
✅ Ask about VAT deductions – In some cases, you can save VAT when importing.
✅ Negotiate the price – Many German dealers are open to price discussions.
✅ Request the maintenance history – Ensure the car was serviced at an authorized garage.
✅ Contact the dealership before flying to Germany – Ask about availability, accident history, and maintenance records.
✅ Hire a professional for the registration process – For €90, you avoid paperwork headaches.
✅ Plan for at least 10-15 days for the full process – ITV & DGT registration takes time.
🚀 Conclusion: Is Importing a Car from Germany Worth It?
✅ Guaranteed savings – Why pay €3,500 more at a Spanish dealership?
✅ More transparency – German dealers don’t hide the car’s history.
✅ More car options – Some models aren’t even available in Spain.
✅ Hassle-free process – If you don’t want to deal with the paperwork, I can handle everything for you.
📌 Thinking about importing a car? I can guide you through the entire process and help you save thousands of euros.
"Looking for a second-hand car at the best price? I’ll help you import a car from Germany to Spain with zero hassle. Contact me today and get your dream car for less than a dealership would charge!"
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