Buying a car in Poland and importing it to Germany

Before buying a car in Poland, check its history, the seller's authority to sell it and its current condition. First request the Polish registration number, VIN and date of first registration so that you can query Historia Pojazdu. Then compare the original documents with the vehicle, check the seller's authority and arrange a technical inspection before paying. Also clarify transport, insurance cover and the documents needed for registration in Germany early on.

This guide is for private buyers resident in Germany. It concerns an ordinary used passenger car that has already been registered in Poland and will subsequently be registered in Germany. A car that has merely been brought to Poland and has never been registered there is a different case.

Contents: Historia Pojazdu · Gaps and previous ownership · Original documents and contract · Inspection before payment · Export and transport · Your checklist · Taxes, costs and registration · FAQ

What does Historia Pojazdu actually show?

The government Historia Pojazdu service is free. You need the Polish registration number, vehicle identification number, or VIN, and the date of first registration. These details appear in the Polish registration document, the dowód rejestracyjny. Ask for them before viewing the car. The instructions on Gov.pl lead to the search service.

The report from the Centralna Ewidencja Pojazdów, or CEP, includes technical inspections, recorded odometer readings, deregistration or theft information and the validity of third-party liability insurance, known in Polish as OC. Odometer readings from technical inspections have been collected since 2014. The number of keepers relates to the period since registration in Poland, not necessarily the car's entire life. Source: Gov.pl.

Compare the sequence of dates with maintenance invoices and the odometer. A current reading lower than one on an older record needs a credible explanation. Conversely, an increasing sequence proves neither complete maintenance nor an undamaged car. The downloadable report is information, not an official registration document. Scope and limitations of the information.

How should you handle gaps and a history abroad?

Polish registration does not mean the car has only ever been driven in Poland. Ask about its previous country of registration and request any available older vehicle documents, workshop invoices and repair records. Foreign risk data appear in Historia Pojazdu only where available. No entry is not proof that a car has never been in an accident. Source: Gov.pl.

For a normal query about a vehicle recorded in CEP, Gov.pl lists the three vehicle details. However, querying the foreign history of a car not recorded in CEP requires a Polish profil zaufany, a verified online identity profile. Without this access, ask the seller for the report. A period that cannot be retrieved remains unchecked; a PDF supplied by someone else is no reason to skip comparison with original records. Access requirements.

Which documents do you need before collection?

Ask to see legible images of the documents before travelling and agree that the originals will be handed over. These include the dowód rejestracyjny, purchase contract or invoice, any technical documentation and proof of the Polish technical inspection, the badanie techniczne. For Germany, clarify the certificate of conformity (COC) or suitable manufacturer confirmation of technical data early on. A vehicle-history PDF does not replace these documents. Documents for registration in Germany.

Compare the VIN on the car with the documents. Also establish who is selling it: the owner, a dealer or an authorised representative. If the person differs from the documented owner, ask for evidence of their authority and the ownership chain. Where there are co-owners, the necessary consents must be available. A CEP report without adverse entries does not answer these ownership questions. ADAC: purchase documents and third-party rights.

Record the seller and buyer, VIN, price and currency, odometer reading, known damage, supplied documents and handover date in writing. Do not pay solely on the strength of photographs or a reservation promise. Being resident in Germany does not automatically make a Polish contract subject to all German warranty rules. The seller's status and the applicable law are among the deciding factors. ADAC: contract and payment.

What should be inspected before you pay?

Bodywork, underbody and powertrain

Arrange access to the car and, if possible, an underbody inspection on a lift. Checks for signs of repairs, corrosion, tyre and brake condition, suspension, fluid leaks and powertrain condition are advisable. Have unusual findings documented with photographs and a clear description. A single paint-thickness measurement gives no conclusive verdict without the context of the panel and its repairs. CarAudit inspection areas and access limitations.

Test drive, diagnostics and remaining limitations

Clarify in advance whether a legally and technically permissible test drive is possible. Assess gear changes, braking, steering, vibrations and unusual noises. Diagnostics complement this inspection: a fault code is not a repair quote, and an empty fault memory is not proof that the car is fault-free. The results must clearly identify inaccessible components and any test drive that could not take place. Inspection scope and limitations.

A valid periodic technical inspection does not replace a pre-purchase inspection. TÜV NORD also expressly distinguishes the Hauptuntersuchung (HU) from the AutoKaufCheck: roadworthiness and environmental compliance are not the same as overall condition and previous damage. An additional on-site inspection is a recommendation for buyers here, not a general legal obligation.

Our recommendation: if the vehicle's identity, the seller's authority, essential original documents or a serious technical finding cannot be clarified, postpone payment and departure. Identify the specific outstanding issue instead of accepting “we will sort it out later”.

How does temporary registration for export work?

Poland provides for temporary registration for export. If you, as the owner, have neither a permanent nor a temporary residence in Poland, the authority at the place of purchase or collection in Poland is responsible. Before travelling, clarify the application, required originals and possible representation with that authority. The registration decision, temporary document and number plates must be available before the journey starts. Polish Ministry of Infrastructure: temporary registration.

The initial period is no more than 30 days. The ministry specifies a one-off extension of 14 days where registration issues need to be clarified. This is not an automatic additional travel period. The validity date actually granted remains decisive. If the authority is to deregister the vehicle in connection with its export, the application must include a declaration that it will be exported. Official procedure.

Arrange third-party liability insurance separately to match the vehicle, plates, validity period and the entire journey to Germany. Do not rely on the seller's existing plates or insurance without checking them. A German electronic insurance confirmation (eVB) for later registration is not the same as confirmed insurance cover for the journey. Alternatively, arrange carriage on a suitable vehicle transporter. ADAC: transport and insurance.

Before surrendering Polish originals, clarify which documents you will receive back or have officially replaced for German registration. Do not treat German registration alone as proof that Polish deregistration has been completed. Information from the Berlin registration authority.

Your checklist before purchase and collection

Use these six questions to track your own progress. “Open”, “Evidence reviewed” and “Discrepancy to resolve” describe only your work on the checklist. Even six reviewed items confirm neither the validity of the evidence nor a fault-free car.

How should you prepare for taxes, costs and registration in Germany?

VAT: both used-car criteria must be met

For VAT purposes, a car is used only if it has travelled more than 6,000 km and is supplied more than six months after first registration. Exactly 6,000 km or no more than six months is enough for it to be classified as new. Previous Polish registration does not change this threshold. Your Europe: VAT when buying a car and Section 1b UStG.

In the ordinary EU case described here, no import customs duty is payable. For a car treated as used for tax purposes, bringing it to Germany does not in itself create additional German VAT. When buying from a dealer, the invoice depends on the taxation method, which may include the margin scheme. A private buyer therefore cannot automatically demand the net price. A car treated as new for tax purposes is taxed in the destination country; clarify this before signing the contract, not at registration. Official EU explanation.

Bear in mind possible Polish PCC on a private purchase

If you buy from a private individual and the car is in Poland when the contract is concluded, Polish tax on civil-law transactions, PCC, may apply. Where the purchase is taxable and no exemption applies, it is 2% of the market value. German residence alone does not exempt you. As the buyer, you must both submit the PCC-3 declaration and pay the self-assessed tax to the responsible Polish tax office within 14 days of concluding the purchase contract. Do not wait for a payment demand or German registration. If the taxable amount is no more than PLN 1,000, the purchase is exempt from PCC; you need neither submit PCC-3 nor pay the tax for that purchase. Clarify any exemption and the responsible tax office before buying. Tax rules and exemptions on Gov.pl and deadline for declaration and payment: Article 10(1) of the PCC Act, page 10.

What does the German registration authority need?

If possible, have your responsible authority check the available vehicle documents before purchase. As a local example, Berlin lists original foreign registration documents, a purchase contract or invoice, an identity card or passport with proof of residence, an eVB, a SEPA direct debit mandate for vehicle tax and technical data. For type-approved vehicles, a COC or manufacturer's confirmation of technical data may be suitable; existing foreign number plates must also be considered. Berlin's document list.

Whether the Polish inspection evidence is sufficient must be clarified for the particular vehicle. A new German HU is neither always required solely because of the car's origin nor automatically replaced by every foreign inspection document. Berlin requires suitable evidence of a valid HU and specifies an age-related exception. A vehicle without type approval requires a report under Section 21 StVZO; a missing COC alone is not the same as missing type approval. Service Berlin and ADAC on recognition of foreign inspections.

Compare total costs, not just the advertised price

Add together the purchase price, inspection, travel, transport or export plates and insurance, documents, any HU or expert report, registration and evidenced repairs. Include applicable taxes as well as ongoing insurance and vehicle tax. An unknown item remains open, not zero. Only concrete quotations allow you to assess whether the purchase makes financial sense. The ADAC overview of purchase, transport and registration helps you cross-check the cost items.

Frequently asked questions

What information do I need for Historia Pojazdu?

The Polish registration number, VIN and date of first registration. Ask the seller for all three. Gov.pl.

Does an empty CEP report prove that the car has never had an accident?

No. Missing data show only that the relevant information is unavailable. They replace neither repair records nor a vehicle inspection. Gov.pl.

Can I apply for export registration without being resident in Poland?

Yes. For owners without permanent or temporary residence in Poland, the ministry specifies the authority at the Polish place of purchase or collection. An application and the required documents are still necessary. Ministry of Infrastructure.

Can I simply drive home on the seller's number plates?

Not without checking. Registration and insurance must remain valid throughout the journey and cover your trip. Otherwise, arrange export registration with suitable insurance or use a transporter. ADAC.

Does every Polish car need an HU before German registration?

Not automatically. Have your registration authority check the car's age, inspection evidence and technical data. Its origin alone does not decide the question. Service Berlin.

Is a previously registered car with exactly 6,000 km treated as used for tax purposes?

No. Exactly 6,000 km still falls under the new-vehicle rule. It is treated as used only above that threshold and when supplied more than six months after first registration. Your Europe.

Take a closer look before buying

Have you found a car in Poland? We also inspect used cars there on site. Agree the precise vehicle location and a possible inspection date with us before planning your trip. Our FAQ answers questions about the process and availability.

The inspection scope depends on access to the vehicle, an available lift and the conditions for a test drive. The inspection does not include dismantling vehicle parts. The inspection report does not constitute a guarantee within the meaning of the law.