Exporting a Car from Germany 2026: KFZ-Abmeldung, Ausfuhrkennzeichen and Customs Formalities

The full Ausfuhrkennzeichen procedure

The Ausfuhrkennzeichen (export plate) is a temporary German registration plate that lets you legally drive your car from Germany to your new country of residence and to register it there. It is issued by the Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office) at the same appointment where you deregister the existing plates.

Validity ranges from 15 days to 1 year — choose based on transit time and the destination’s grace period for re-registration. Cost: typically €60-150 plus mandatory short-term insurance (€20-200 depending on validity and insurer). The plate has a red border denoting export status, plus an end-of-validity date stamped on the right side.

Customs declaration for third-country exports

Within the EU/EEA: no customs declaration required, no duties or VAT. Just drive across the border and re-register at the destination DMV-equivalent (Zulassungsstelle).

For UK after Brexit, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Australia: a customs export declaration via ATLAS (the German customs e-system) is required. Most international vehicle shipping companies handle this on your behalf. The destination country then charges import duty + VAT — typically:

• UK: 10% Duty + 20% VAT on the customs value (declared market value of the car)
• Switzerland: 4% Customs Duty + 7.7% VAT + Automobilsteuer 4%
• USA: 2.5% Duty (cars) or 25% (light trucks/vans/SUVs over 4-wheel drive); state-level use tax additionally
• Canada: 6.1% Duty + 5% GST/HST + provincial tax
• Australia: 5% Duty + 10% GST + Luxury Car Tax (33% over A$71,849)

Vehicles that have been used by you for at least 6 months before the move can qualify for Übersiedlungsgut (transfer-of-residence) duty relief in many destinations. Documentation required: original purchase invoice, proof of registration in Germany for at least 6 months, proof of foreign residence intent.

Vehicle modifications for foreign roads

Most German cars are EU-compliant and need only minor adjustments for other EU countries. Outside the EU, modifications can be substantial:

• UK: headlights need beam pattern adjustment for left-hand traffic. UK MOT required after import (€60-100 inspection fee).
• USA: vehicles less than 25 years old must comply with FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) — this is a major hurdle. Most German cars do NOT comply without expensive modifications. The 25-year exemption rule applies for older classics.
• Canada: similar to USA but with the 15-year exemption (cars less than 15 years old must meet CMVSS standards).
• Australia/New Zealand: right-hand-drive conversion required for new imports — €5,000-15,000 cost. Personal-import schemes allow some left-hand-drive vehicles for individuals.

Re-registration timeline at destination

Each country has different deadlines for re-registering an imported vehicle:

What documentation to prepare

• Fahrzeugbrief (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II — the title document)
• Fahrzeugschein (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I — registration card)
• Original purchase invoice (Kaufvertrag)
• Recent TÜV/AU certificate (German MOT) — most destinations accept this for first foreign inspection
• Owner’s passport and Abmeldebescheinigung
• For non-EU: customs export declaration ATLAS reference number

Insurance during the transition

German insurance ends with deregistration. The Ausfuhrkennzeichen comes with mandatory short-term insurance (typically through the same Zulassungsstelle agent). At the destination, register with a local insurer immediately upon re-registration — most countries do not allow driving uninsured even briefly.

Your German no-claims discount (Schadenfreiheitsklasse) can often be transferred to the new country. Request a Schadenfreiheitsbescheinigung from your German insurer before departure — most foreign insurers honour this and apply the equivalent local discount.

Selling vs exporting: when does each make sense?

For older vehicles (>5 years) and non-EU destinations, the costs of export plus import duties + VAT often exceed the value of the car. Selling in Germany and buying locally at the destination is usually more economical.

Exporting makes sense when:

• The car is recent (1-4 years old) with high resale value preserved
• Destination is in EU/EEA (no duties)
• You have a sentimental or specialty vehicle that’s hard to replace
• The destination market has high vehicle import costs (Australia, Singapore)

For destinations with cheap local vehicles (USA, Canada), selling in Germany and buying locally is almost always cheaper.