A car from Germany: how to bring it to Greece

Documents you need

• Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (registration certificate): first registration date (field B), CO₂ (V.7) and emission class (V.9).
• Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II (title document): must be handed over with the sale.
• COC (EG-Übereinstimmungsbescheinigung): the manufacturer’s certificate of conformity.
• Invoice (Rechnung) or purchase contract (Kaufvertrag) with seller, buyer and price.

Private seller or dealer: VAT

• Private seller (Privatverkauf): no VAT. The contract must be certified by a Greek consular authority in Germany.
• Dealer under the margin scheme (§25a Differenzbesteuerung): no separate VAT on the invoice and no Greek VAT. Pay by bank transfer: customs will ask for a bank document showing you paid more than 50% of the invoice value.
• Dealer charging German VAT (MwSt.) on the invoice: as a private buyer you pay German VAT and not again in Greece.
• If the car is less than 6 months from first registration or has up to 6,000 km, it counts as new for VAT and you pay 24% VAT in Greece.

Transport from Germany

The road distance to Athens is about 2,400 km, through the Balkans or by ferry from Italy. You can drive it on German export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen), issued with insurance for a limited period, or ship it on a car carrier. Get quotes; prices vary a lot.

What to check before buying

• The exact Euro standard and CO₂ in field V.9 and on the CoC. Ask for a photo before you buy: Euro 6b instead of 6d raises the tax by 50%.
• The Greek retail price of the same model and version when it was first released. That is the tax base, not the purchase price.
• Whether the HU (Hauptuntersuchung) is still valid. It does not replace the Greek KTEO inspection, but helps get it recognised.
• That the car is registered in an EU country (in free circulation).