EU Import & Vehicle Import

EU Import Made Easy: Import Vehicles from Europe Profitably

Importing vehicles from EU countries offers German car dealers enormous margin opportunities. Price differences of 8% to 25% between markets are not uncommon – provided you keep all ancillary costs under control. AutoPult digitizes the entire import process: from vehicle sourcing through customs clearance to registration in the German market. No document gets lost, no cost item is forgotten.

8–25%Price Advantage on EU Purchases

27EU Countries Supported

100%Cost Transparency per Vehicle

0Forgotten Cost Items

The Import Process: From Sourcing to Sale

Purchase Vehicle

Create a vehicle record, decode the VIN, upload photos and purchase contract. AutoPult automatically verifies the seller’s VAT ID via the EU Commission’s VIES system.

Secure Documents

Store the COC document, purchase contract, proof of transfer, and customs paperwork digitally in the vehicle file. Missing documents are automatically flagged.

Arrange Transport

Select a shipping company, bundle group transports, activate live tracking. All transport costs flow directly into the vehicle cost calculation.

Reconditioning & Inspection

Receive the vehicle at your location, conduct a condition check with photo documentation, perform any required modifications (e.g., headlights), and complete the technical inspection. All costs are recorded.

Ready for Sale

Finalize the cost calculation, create a listing with AI-generated descriptions and optimized photos, and publish via multi-listing across all portals.

Attention – Customs & Taxes: For vehicles from third countries (UK, Switzerland, USA), a 10% customs duty on the vehicle value plus 19% import VAT (EUSt) on the customs value applies. If you forget these items in your calculation, a supposed bargain can quickly become a loss. AutoPult calculates all duties automatically and shows the actual break-even price.

Good to Know

The Certificate of Conformity (COC) is the most important document for EU imports. Without a valid COC certificate, a vehicle cannot be registered in Germany…

Manage COC Documents & Vehicle Papers Digitally

The Certificate of Conformity (COC) is the most important document for EU imports. Without a valid COC certificate, a vehicle cannot be registered in Germany. AutoPult stores all import-relevant documents centrally in the digital vehicle file:

Automatically assign COC documents to vehicles
Digitally archive purchase contracts from the country of origin
Store customs paperwork and proof of transfer
Link technical reports and inspection documents
Automatic reminders for missing documents

Every document is archived in GoBD-compliant format and can be retrieved at any time – whether for the registration office, the tax authority, or your internal post-calculation.

Customs Clearance & Import VAT (EUSt)

While imports from EU member states do not require traditional customs clearance, the tax processing demands precision. AutoPult supports you in both scenarios:

VAT ID Verification (VIES)

Before every intra-Community acquisition, AutoPult automatically verifies the seller’s VAT ID via the EU Commission’s VIES system. This ensures that the tax-exempt supply is handled correctly. Learn more at VAT ID Verification.

§25a Margin Taxation

If the vehicle was sold under margin taxation in the country of origin, margin taxation under §25a UStG may also be applied in Germany under certain conditions. AutoPult automatically checks the prerequisites.

Intra-Community Acquisition

When purchasing from a commercial dealer within the EU, AutoPult automatically calculates the 19% acquisition tax and creates the correct journal entry for your accounting. The EC Sales List (Zusammenfassende Meldung) is prepared automatically.

Third-Country Import (UK, CH, USA)

For vehicles from non-EU countries, AutoPult calculates the customs duty plus import VAT. All items flow automatically into the vehicle cost calculation and are exported via the DATEV interface.

Complete Cost Calculation: EU Import vs. Domestic Purchase

Cost Item	EU Import with AutoPult	Manual Import (Excel/Paper)
Purchase price	Automatically from purchase contract	Manually entered
Acquisition tax / Import VAT	Automatically calculated	Often forgotten or miscalculated
Transport costs	Proportional allocation for group transports	Roughly estimated
Reconditioning / Inspection	Individually recorded, assigned to vehicle	Lost in the overall budget
Ancillary costs (registration, reports)	Fully documented	Frequently overlooked
Break-even price	Calculated in real time	Only known after sale
DATEV export	Automatic, all journal entries	Manual rework for tax advisor

Why Cost Transparency Is Crucial

The biggest mistake in EU imports: hidden costs are forgotten. Auction fees, translation costs, notary fees, modification costs (e.g., headlight adaptation), storage fees at the freight forwarder – every forgotten item reduces your margin. AutoPult automatically captures all cost items and calculates the actual landed cost in real time. You know the exact break-even price before you list the vehicle.

Transport Costs & Logistics at a Glance

An EU import doesn’t end with the purchase contract. Transport from the country of origin to Germany incurs significant costs that must be factored into the calculation. AutoPult integrates the entire logistics planning directly into the import process:

Record transport costs per vehicle and assign to inventory
Compare and commission freight forwarder quotes
Live tracking of vehicle transport on the map
Automatic cost distribution for group transports
Delivery date planning with notifications

“I used to maintain an Excel spreadsheet with 20 cost items for every import – and still forgot items. With AutoPult, I see the break-even price in real time and know before listing whether the import was worthwhile.”Markus R., EU Import Specialist, Car Dealership in Southern Germany

Complete Cost Calculation per Import Vehicle

The biggest mistake in EU imports: hidden costs are forgotten. AutoPult automatically captures all cost items and calculates the actual landed cost. This way, you maintain an overview of the actual margin for each individual vehicle.

Purchase Costs

Vehicle price, auction fees, brokerage commissions, translation costs, and notary fees – each item is individually recorded and assigned to the vehicle. For online auctions, fees are automatically imported from the auction invoice.

Transport & Logistics

Shipping costs, export plates, ferries, toll fees, and driver costs. For group transports, AutoPult automatically distributes costs proportionally across all transported vehicles – by vehicle value, weight, or equally.

Taxes & Duties

Acquisition tax, import VAT, customs duties, and local taxes in the country of origin. All amounts are automatically calculated from the purchase data and correctly posted in the accounting system.

Reconditioning & Registration

Inspection costs (TÜV/Dekra), modification costs (e.g., headlights for the German market), reconditioning costs, and registration fees. This way, you know the exact break-even price before listing the vehicle.

Popular Import Countries and Their Specifics

Depending on the country of origin, there are different requirements and price advantages. AutoPult automatically accounts for country-specific characteristics:

Netherlands & Belgium: Frequently attractive prices for German premium brands. Short transport distances, simple documentation. BPM refund on export is accounted for by AutoPult.
Italy & Spain: Attractive prices for compact and mid-range vehicles. Longer transport times but significant price advantages. COC documents are often directly available.
Poland & Czech Republic: Growing markets with affordable used cars. Special attention to correct tax treatment and document verification.
France: Large selection, especially for commercial vehicles and French brands. AutoPult automatically translates French vehicle documents via OCR.
United Kingdom (third country since Brexit): Customs duties and import VAT apply. Right-hand drive vehicles must be converted. AutoPult calculates all additional costs including conversion.

Tip for beginners: Start with imports from the Netherlands or Belgium. The short distances, good infrastructure, and simple documentation make these countries ideal for getting started with EU imports. AutoPult covers the entire process – from your first import to professional wholesale operations.

Import Pipeline: Every Vehicle at a Glance

AutoPult maps the complete import workflow in a clear pipeline system. Each vehicle passes through defined phases – from sourcing to sale. On the dashboard, you can instantly see how many vehicles are in each phase, which documents are still missing, and where bottlenecks are forming. This keeps you in control even with 50 or more simultaneous imports.

Pipeline View

Kanban board with all import vehicles: Purchase, Transport, Arrival, Reconditioning, Ready for Sale. Move vehicles between phases via drag-and-drop. Automatic status changes triggered by defined events.

Document Checklist

For each import vehicle, AutoPult displays a checklist of all required documents: COC, purchase contract, proof of transfer, VAT ID verification, inspection report. Missing documents are highlighted in red and can be requested directly.

Handle EU Imports Professionally

Whether 5 or 50 vehicles per month – AutoPult scales with your import business. All costs, documents, and taxes in one system.

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Frequently Asked Questions About EU Imports with AutoPult

AutoPult supports imports from all 27 EU member states as well as from third countries such as Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the USA. The tax calculation automatically adapts to the respective country of origin.

Yes. Based on the customs value (vehicle value + transport costs + customs duties), AutoPult automatically calculates the 19% import VAT. For intra-Community acquisitions, the acquisition tax is calculated instead.

For group transports, you enter the total shipping cost once. AutoPult then automatically distributes the amount proportionally across all transported vehicles – by vehicle value, weight, or equally.

All journal entries – purchases, acquisition tax, transport costs, and resale – are automatically exported as DATEV-compliant postings. Your tax advisor receives clean data without any manual rework.

A COC document is required for initial registration in Germany. For vehicles that were already registered in another EU country, an individual approval under §21 StVZO can alternatively be obtained. AutoPult automatically reminds you when the COC is missing.