Buy a car in Germany, drive it in France — inspected, insured, delivered

Why Germany beats the local market

Germany is Europe's largest used-car market — over 1.5 million listings on mobile.de alone, many times the choice you'll find in France. The difference shows most where French buyers look hardest: well-specced premium cars and EVs. A German listing of the same model year typically carries more equipment, a documented service history, and a lower asking price than its French counterpart, simply because supply is deeper and competition between sellers is fiercer.

France also shares a long land border with Germany, so the transport route is short — often a matter of a day or two on a covered carrier from the Rhineland or Bavaria into eastern and central France. What stands between you and the saving is France's registration paperwork and the risk of buying a car you've only seen in photos — both of which we handle.

What we do for you

1 · Know the car — from €349

A 170+ point inspection at the seller's location in Germany: paint-thickness mapping that exposes accident repairs, OBD diagnostics, underbody check, test drive and a full photo report — typically within 2 working days. Plus a history check from 900+ European sources (€49): accidents, odometer records, theft registers.

2 · Secure the deal

We verify the seller's identity and documents, negotiate the price (you keep 60% of the discount we win), secure the car so it isn't sold from under you, and structure the payment safely. Optional Purchase Cover™: 14-day return right and crime protection up to €200,000, from 1.5% of the price (min. €599). Brokerage fee €499 if you buy through us.

3 · Deliver it insured

Covered car carrier from Germany to France with CMR insurance included. Optional full-value Transport Cover™ with no deductible — from 0.68% of the car's value (min. €299). You get the car at your door, not at a port.

Registering the car in France

• Registration is done online via the ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés) to obtain the carte grise (certificat d'immatriculation) — there is no local préfecture counter for this anymore.
• You first need a quitus fiscal (tax clearance) from your local tax office (Service des Impôts des Entreprises), confirming the car's VAT status before the carte grise can be issued.
• Proof of conformity. For an EU import you generally need a certificate of conformity (COC) from the manufacturer, or an homologation check where a COC isn't available.
• Contrôle technique. A valid roadworthiness test is required if the car is more than 4 years old, dated within the last 6 months before registration.
• The carte grise cost includes a regional tax (taxe régionale) based on fiscal horsepower (chevaux fiscaux). For higher-emission cars, a CO₂ malus écologique can apply at first French registration — worth budgeting before you buy.
• No French VAT on used EU cars. A used car bought in another EU country triggers no French VAT. A new means of transport (under 6 months old or under 6,000 km) is different: 20% French VAT applies.

Rules and rates change, so treat the above as orientation rather than tax advice: we confirm the current process for your specific purchase before you commit — including a malus estimate where relevant — and we deliver the car with the full document package (purchase contract, German registration certificate and CoC where available) so the ANTS process starts without surprises.

How it works

Frequently asked questions