Import a car from Germany to Lithuania: costs and steps (2026)

Germany is the dominant source of used cars for Lithuanian buyers, and not by accident. Its car market is far larger than Lithuania's, so the choice is much wider and prices can be lower. Whether you actually save depends on the car: add transport and re-registration costs to its price in Germany, then compare the total with similar cars listed in Lithuania.

This guide walks you through the entire process of importing a car from Germany: from finding a vehicle to registering it in Lithuania. No marketing fluff, no hidden costs. Real experience from VinMotors, where we work with the German market every day.

Contents

• Why Germany specifically
• The 5-step import process
• The real costs
• Common mistakes
• DIY vs. professional service
• Documents required
• Cars to order from Germany with Vin Motors
• FAQ
• Ready to start?

Why Germany specifically

The German market has several characteristics that make it particularly attractive for imports:

Complete service histories. Germany has a strict service-book culture. Almost every premium car has a full Service-Heft with stamps after every maintenance. This gives clear visibility into mileage origin, repairs done, and overall condition.

One-owner cars. Lease returns, company fleet vehicles, and private sales frequently produce cars with a single owner across the entire useful life. In Lithuania this kind of history is rare.

Competition keeps prices honest. Germany has thousands of dealers. The same BMW X5 trim exists in dozens of listings, so a seller cannot inflate the price too much. In a smaller market like Lithuania, where supply of any specific model is limited, prices tend to run higher.

Lower mileage-fraud risk. Germany has strict laws against odometer manipulation. Combined with service-book entries, mileage fraud is significantly less common than in many other markets.

EU internal market. Importing from Germany to Lithuania is an internal EU transaction. No customs and no border paperwork. Just VAT, paid only once, and the CO2-based registration tax when you register the car in Lithuania.

The 5-step import process

1. Vehicle search and verification

The first step is not calling the seller. It is verifying the vehicle's history.

• VIN check through Carfax, AutoDNA, or the manufacturer's official portal. Check accident history, mileage progression, owner count, repairs done.
• Service-book scans. Ask the seller to send photos of every page. Dates need to align with mileage.
• Mobile.de history. Many sellers listed the car earlier. Check if the price moved suspiciously, and if the photos match the same vehicle.

If mobile.de is new to you, our guide to using mobile.de translates the key German listing terms and shows how to read listings and spot reliable sellers.

If the seller hesitates or refuses to cooperate at any of these steps, walk away.

2. Inspection: visit yourself or hire a specialist

Two paths:

Travel to Germany yourself. Cheap, full control of the process, but you spend 2-3 days on flights, hotels, and travel. Works if you speak German or feel confident negotiating with German sellers.

Hire a local inspector. Germany has inspection services (TÜV, DEKRA) that perform a full pre-purchase inspection for €100-200. They provide a written report with photos. Sellers usually agree, because it shows the car's quality.

VinMotors typically uses the second path. It is more reliable and saves the buyer's time.

3. Purchase and VAT documentation

This is the biggest subtlety in the import process. The VAT setup depends on who sells, who buys and whether the car counts as new.

• VAT-registered seller, private buyer. If you buy a used car from a dealer as a private person, the VAT is already in the price: either 19% German VAT (normal scheme) or VAT on the dealer's margin, which is not shown on the invoice (margin scheme, Differenzbesteuerung). No Lithuanian VAT is added afterwards. If the dealer itself delivers a normally taxed car to Lithuania, it may charge 21% Lithuanian VAT instead of German VAT, but it is still one VAT, included in the price.
• VAT-registered seller, business buyer. An invoice without German VAT (0%, "steuerfrei" intra-EU supply) is only possible for a business registered for VAT in another EU country, with an EU VAT number valid in VIES and proof that the car left Germany, and only for a car not sold under the margin scheme. That business then accounts for Lithuanian VAT itself.
• Private seller (non-VAT). If you buy from a private individual, no VAT is charged in either Germany or Lithuania (provided the car is older than 6 months and has more than 6,000 km).
• New car. If the car was first registered no more than 6 months ago, or has covered no more than 6,000 km, you pay 21% Lithuanian VAT to the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI), whoever sold it to you. A German dealer invoices such a car without German VAT, even to a private buyer, and may ask for a deposit equal to the German VAT until you prove the car reached Lithuania.

A common mistake is for a private buyer to ask for a VAT-free invoice, or to pay German VAT and plan to reclaim it later. Neither works: 0% invoices are only for VAT-registered businesses, and for a private buyer the VAT in the German price is final. The good news is that nobody pays VAT twice on a used car.

4. Transport

Two main options:

Open carrier. €400-600 from central Germany. Cheaper, but the car rides on an open trailer with others. Fine for ordinary cars.

Enclosed carrier. €800-1,800 depending on distance. The car rides in an enclosed trailer, protected from gravel, rain, and UV. Recommended for premium cars and high-value models.

Third option: drive home yourself. Saves €600-1,000 on transport, but add fuel, hotel nights, temporary plates with their insurance, and any road tolls on the way. The real saving is smaller than it looks.

5. Lithuanian re-registration and insurance

Before the car enters Lithuania, declare the purchase to Regitra (online or at a branch) and get the owner declaration code (SDK); you need the purchase contract for this. Once the car arrives in Lithuania, the remaining steps are:

• Technical inspection. A valid German HU (TÜV or DEKRA) report can be recognized at registration, but not automatically: it must meet the EU requirements, still be valid under the Lithuanian inspection interval, and its data must be confirmed in the European EUCARIS system. If Regitra does not recognize it, the car needs a Lithuanian technical inspection, so check with Regitra before you rely on the German report.
• VAT and excise. Lithuanian VAT is paid to the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI) only for a new car (no more than 6 months since first registration or no more than 6,000 km); for a used car the VAT is settled in the purchase price. There is no excise tax on cars (unlike fuel or alcohol).
• Registration tax. Before registration you pay the CO2-based registration (pollution) tax: €0 up to 130 g/km, rising with emissions, and diesels pay double the petrol rate. Regitra's calculator on regitra.lt gives the exact figure.
• Registration. Vehicle registration through the "Regitra" service. Required: your ID, the invoice or sale contract, the original German registration documents (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Teil II, formerly the Fahrzeugschein and the KFZ-Brief, which Regitra keeps), a certificate of conformity only where required (for cars from outside the EEA and Switzerland) and Lithuanian insurance. Fees are set in Regitra's price list.
• Insurance. First priority: compulsory third-party liability insurance (TPVCA), which must be in place before the car is registered and driven. The seller's German policy cannot be extended to you; if you drive the car home on temporary plates, the insurance for the trip comes with those plates.

This whole process typically takes 5-10 working days from arrival to full legal use in Lithuania.

The real costs

A specific example: a private buyer importing a €60,000 BMW X5 from Munich to Vilnius, bought from a VAT-registered dealer. We assume CO2 emissions of 190 g/km (diesel); check the real figure in the car's documents.

Before you commit, compare this total with the prices of similar cars listed in Lithuania. Keep in mind that a car bought in Lithuania is also subject to the registration tax when it is registered in your name.

This calculation is accurate if everything is done correctly. Make one of the mistakes below and any saving evaporates or becomes a loss.

Common mistakes

1. Expecting a VAT-free invoice as a private buyer

You find a used car at a VAT-registered dealer and budget on the net (Netto) price, expecting an invoice without German VAT. As a private buyer you will not get one: a zero-rated ("steuerfrei") intra-EU invoice is only possible for a business registered for VAT in another EU country, with a VAT number valid in VIES and proof of transport, and never for a margin-scheme car. For a private buyer the VAT in the German price is final, and Lithuania adds none on a used car, so nobody pays VAT twice. Solution: compare cars by their gross (Brutto) price, and if you are buying through your company, give the dealer your EU VAT number before the invoice is issued.

2. Undisclosed accident history

The seller "forgot" to mention the car was repaired after a side-impact collision. In Germany this might be flagged as "Unfallfrei" with a minor-damage qualifier. Sold in Lithuania as accident-free, the gap on resale is €5,000-15,000.

Solution: VIN history check via Carfax / AutoDNA equivalent, plus TÜV-DEKRA inspection before any deal.

3. Transport damage with no insurance backstop

The car arrives with a scuffed fender or a dent. The carrier refuses to acknowledge damage without your signed delivery receipt. You may end up handling a €1,000-3,000 repair yourself.

Solution: before signing the acceptance form, walk around the car in daylight, document everything in video and photo. Never sign without close inspection.

4. Missing German Brief

The German KFZ-Brief (Fahrzeugbrief) is the essential document for Lithuanian re-registration. Without it Regitra will not register the car. Sometimes sellers accidentally hold on to it.

Solution: before paying any money, confirm you will receive the original Brief. Demand it ships together with the keys.

DIY vs. professional service

In reality: if this is your first import or you speak German poorly, going through a professional service almost always pays off. The €600-1,500 saved on DIY easily turns into a €5,000 loss on the first mistake.

If you have experience, speak German, and have already imported 3+ cars, DIY is reasonable.

Documents required

The exact document list for Regitra registration:

• Owner declaration code (SDK) from declaring the purchase to Regitra before the car entered Lithuania
• Invoice (or sale-purchase contract if from a private seller)
• Original KFZ-Brief (Fahrzeugbrief) - the German vehicle title (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II)
• Original KFZ-Schein (Fahrzeugschein) - the German registration certificate (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I)
• EU Certificate of Conformity (CoC) - only where required, for cars previously registered outside the EEA and Switzerland (not needed for a car registered in Germany)
• Lithuanian technical inspection certificate (only if Regitra does not recognize the German report)
• VAT-payment documentation (only for a new car, when VAT is paid to VMI)
• Lithuanian compulsory insurance policy
• Buyer's ID document

Tip: start collecting these documents in advance, before paying for the car. A missing Brief can stall re-registration by 2-4 weeks.

Cars to order from Germany with Vin Motors

VinMotors specializes in importing cars from Germany. We work with German dealers and auctions every day, we know which sources to trust and which to avoid.

Our car sourcing to order service covers:

• Vehicle search by your criteria from our network of trusted German partners
• VIN history and condition check before purchase (an on-site inspection is available as an extra)
• VAT documentation handled correctly
• Transport to Vilnius organized
• Technical inspection arranged if the German one is not recognized
• Full Regitra re-registration walkthrough

You can send a request for a car to order or call +370 662 76235. The first conversation is free; we put together a rough estimate of what importing a specific car would cost.

Alternatively, buy a car in Lithuania from our stock. These cars are already in Vilnius and can be viewed and bought without waiting. Keep in mind that the registration tax still applies when a car is registered in your name, if it emits more than 130 g/km.

Most popular makes from our imports: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi, and Range Rover.

FAQ

How long does it take to import a car from Germany?

From vehicle selection to Lithuanian registration usually 2-4 weeks. Fast track is 10 working days if everything moves smoothly. The slowest part is finding the right car.

Do I need to pay customs duty?

No. Germany and Lithuania are inside the EU, so no customs apply. What you pay is VAT (once, and for a used car already in the German price), the CO2-based registration tax (€0 up to 130 g/km) and Regitra fees as set in its price list.

What happens if the car is damaged in transit?

Professional carriers carry mandatory liability insurance covering transit damage. The key is documenting the car's condition at pickup (photo, video) and inspecting carefully on delivery before signing the acceptance form.

Can I return the car if it doesn't match the description?

If you bought from a dealer (a business) in Germany, EU consumer law gives you a legal guarantee of at least 2 years. For a used car the contract may shorten it, but not to less than 1 year, and in Germany only if the dealer told you about it separately before you signed and it is expressly agreed in the contract. Private sellers usually exclude liability ("sold as seen"), but they remain liable for defects they knowingly concealed and for any quality they expressly guaranteed.

Will I save money by going to pick up the car myself?

Possibly €500-1,200 vs. enclosed transport. But add a flight (Vilnius-Munich return = €100-200), 1-2 hotel nights (€100-200), fuel (€300-500), temporary plates with their insurance, and any road tolls. Real savings often under €300-500, plus 2-3 days of your time.

How much does ordering a car through Vin Motors cost?

When the car is paid for in full up front, the service fee is €950 + VAT, plus the actual transport cost. For a purchase through leasing the price is calculated individually, because it depends on the car's value and the delivery model. Everything is written into the contract before work starts, so there are no surprises later.

Is it worth importing an older or cheaper car?

It is, but the math starts making sense around the €25,000 car price. Below that, the import process takes the same effort and costs roughly the same, so the savings become negligible.

Ready to start?

If you are considering an import from Germany or have questions about a specific car, send a request for a car to order or browse our current inventory. We can answer process, cost, and timing questions before you commit.

For a deeper look at the commission-sale alternative - selling your current car through VinMotors while we deliver a new one - read our commission-sale guide.