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. The same 2021 BMW X5 M50i listed at €72,000 in Munich often sells for €58,000-62,000 from German lease returns. Add transport and re-registration, and the final price still ends up thousands below what local Lithuanian dealers ask.

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
• Vin Motors delivery service
• 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, no major taxes, no border paperwork. Just a proper VAT-accounting model.

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 determines whether you pay correctly.

• VAT-registered seller. If the seller is a registered VAT payer (typically a dealer, not a private seller), they issue a VAT invoice without German VAT. In Lithuania you only pay Lithuanian VAT on the final price.
• 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).

A common mistake is paying German VAT and then trying to reclaim it later. Technically possible but painful and slow. Always demand the right document upfront.

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, and German + Polish vignettes. The real saving is smaller than it looks.

5. Lithuanian re-registration and insurance

Once the car arrives in Lithuania, one more step remains:

• Technical inspection. If the car has a valid German TÜV inspection with a certificate that meets the EU directive requirements, Regitra recognizes it and no new inspection is needed. A Lithuanian initial inspection (~€30) is only required when the TÜV has expired or no certificate is available.
• VAT and excise. VAT is paid at the Tax Inspectorate if it was not already paid to the seller. There is no excise tax on cars (unlike fuel or alcohol).
• Registration. Vehicle registration through the "Regitra" service. Required: VAT invoice, original German KFZ-Brief (Fahrzeugbrief), EU Certificate of Conformity (CoC), Lithuanian insurance.
• Insurance. First-priority - civil liability. The German policy can be extended for a few days while the Lithuanian policy is set up.

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

The real costs

A specific example: importing a €60,000 BMW X5 from Munich to Vilnius.

A local Lithuanian dealer asks around €68,000-72,000 for the same car. Real saving: €5,000-10,000.

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

Common mistakes

1. Paying German VAT twice

You buy from a VAT-registered dealer, get an invoice with 19% German VAT, bring the car to Lithuania and register it. Now Lithuanian VAT is calculated on the German-VAT-inclusive price. Loss: thousands of euros. Solution: always require a "Steuerfrei" (zero-rated EU intra-community supply) invoice.

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.

5. Currency-timing error

You wire payment in euros on Friday. Monday the seller claims the money has not arrived. Over the weekend the euro moves and you end up paying €500-1,500 more.

Solution: SEPA Instant transfers, bank-to-bank, with confirmation from both sides before the car is released.

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:

• VAT invoice (or sale-purchase contract if from a private seller)
• Original KFZ-Brief (Fahrzeugbrief) - the German vehicle title
• Original KFZ-Schein (Fahrzeugschein) - the German registration certificate (if still issued)
• EU Certificate of Conformity (CoC) - if the vehicle type is not recognized in Lithuania by default
• Initial technical inspection certificate
• VAT-payment documentation (if paid in Lithuania)
• 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.

Vin Motors delivery service

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 delivery service covers:

• Vehicle search by your criteria from our network of trusted German partners
• VIN history check and TÜV/DEKRA inspection before purchase
• VAT documentation handled correctly
• Enclosed transport to Vilnius
• Initial technical inspection arranged
• Full Regitra re-registration walkthrough

You can fill out the request form or call +370 662 76235. The first conversation is free; we put together a rough estimate of what importing a specific car would cost.

Alternative - browse vehicles already imported by VinMotors. These are cars that have already been through the entire process and are ready to buy in Lithuania.

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. Taxes are limited to VAT (once, not twice) and Regitra registration (about €30).

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 VAT-registered dealer in Germany, EU consumer law gives you a one-year warranty. From a private seller, no warranty - claims only on intentionally hidden defects.

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), and German+Polish vignettes. Real savings often under €300-500, plus 2-3 days of your time.

How much does the delivery service cost?

The VinMotors service has a fixed service fee plus actual transport, inspection, and paperwork costs. The exact amount depends on the car's price tier, distance in Germany, and the service package. Everything is written into the contract before work starts - 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, fill out the request form 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.