Buying a used car in Germany and bringing it back to France
By Rédaction Quelle Occasion · updated on 28 October 2026
To drive back to France with a car bought in Germany, you need export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) issued by the German registration authority (Zulassungsbehörde), with dedicated insurance and both parts of the German registration certificate. Short-term plates (Kurzzeitkennzeichen) only allow driving within Germany. This guide only covers what is specific to Germany; the French procedure is detailed in importing a used car from Europe and the documents needed to import a car.
The German papers to collect
The German administration portal, in the Land of Hamburg's entry, lists for an export plate application: the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (equivalent of the Fahrzeugschein) and the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II (Fahrzeugbrief), as well as proof of the latest Hauptuntersuchung (HU), the roadworthiness test, if one was already due. If the car is still registered, the German plates must also be presented (Bundesportal – Ausfuhrkennzeichen).
The German vehicle registration regulation (§ 45 FZV) specifies that, for a vehicle that is already registered, the Teil I is withdrawn by the registration authority and the Teil II is updated (§ 45 FZV – Gesetze im Internet). So ask the seller to hand you both parts of the certificate before you pay.
Deregistration and plates for the trip home
The Hamburg entry states that, to take a vehicle abroad, it is recommended to deregister it (Abmeldung) in Germany beforehand. The export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) then replace the usual plates (Bundesportal).
What the official texts consulted specify:
- Duration: according to the Hamburg entry, the plate is valid, in principle, for a maximum of one month, and less if the insurance or the latest HU expire sooner; a longer period can be requested in justified cases. § 45 FZV sets the legal limit at the duration of the insurance, one year at most;
- HU: if the next HU falls before the end of the export registration's validity, it must be carried out (§ 45 FZV);
- Cost: 30 to 70 euros in Hamburg, with the exact amount set on site according to the road traffic fee schedule (GebOSt);
- Vehicle tax: the Kfz-Steuer is due from the start of the requested period, which requires a SEPA direct debit mandate; a mandate on a foreign account has been accepted since 1 February 2014;
- Appointment: in Hamburg, the application is made by appointment booked online and is processed on site.
Warning if you do not live in Germany. In Hamburg, the requirement is to have your main residence in Germany; without a German address, you need a representative for service of documents (Empfangsbevollmächtigter) registered in Hamburg, who must be present when the application is filed. This entry describes the procedure of the Land of Hamburg: check with the Zulassungsbehörde where the sale takes place, because it is the one that issues the plates.
Insurance for the trip
To obtain export plates, you need a Versicherungsbestätigung für Ausfuhrkennzeichen, a specific insurance confirmation, issued only on paper according to the Hamburg entry. § 45 FZV requires proof of third-party liability insurance covering the vehicle for the whole duration of the export registration. Contact a German insurer before the appointment, because the confirmation must be handed over at the counter.
The German roadworthiness test (HU)
The HU is the German roadworthiness test. It determines the duration of the export plates (see above). On the French side, service-public.gouv.fr specifies that for a car more than 4 years old, the roadworthiness test to be provided for registration must be less than 6 months old and may have been carried out in the EU country where the vehicle was registered. To learn how to read one, see reading a roadworthiness test report.
Check the history before paying
Before paying a deposit, have the vehicle checked from its VIN, and cross-check the mileage (mileage of a used car).
Check the car's history: 20% off → (new tab)Partner link
The documented pitfalls
- Kurzzeitkennzeichen plates: according to the federal portal, they are reserved for test and transfer drives within German territory, for 6 days at most from the application: they are not suitable for driving back to France (Bundesportal – Kurzzeitkennzeichen);
- Expired plates: after the date shown on the export plate, the vehicle may no longer be used on public roads (§ 45 FZV);
- Vehicle identity check: the authority may ask to see the car when you apply (Hamburg entry).
Then, in France
Once in France, the deadline to register the car is one month (service-public.gouv.fr). A tax certificate (quitus fiscal) is required for a vehicle bought in another EU country (impots.gouv.fr). Next: registering an imported car and the malus on an imported car.
Sources
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of car parts (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.