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How to buy a car in Germany

Getting Started

29/07/2003How to buy a car in Germany

You have settled into life in Germany. Now it is time to take on a new project: buying a car. We set out a road map to car ownership in Germany.

Let’s face it, buying a car in anywhere in the world can be a nightmare. You could find that after driving around the corner that those smooth-changing gears were the result of a banana stuffed in the gearbox or after just three short years on the road the car’s value had plummeted.

The trauma appears doubly worse in a foreign country, where the whole business can appear to be a complete mystery with a new set of complicated rules and terms to go with it.

The easiest way, of course, is simply to decide what type of car you want and head off to the closest showroom.

The grim times that have hit the global car business means that the most new car dealerships in Germany will be falling over themselves even more than normal to sell you a car.

Deals aplenty European interest rates are already are a very low level. But in a bid to move some their merchandise many car dealers are prepared to go all the way and offer in-house financing at zero interest rates.

If you have a car to trade in, many dealers are also offering a price which is above the trade-in value as set out in the so-called Schwacke Liste. This sets out the value of second-hand cars in Germany.

The Schwacke Liste is easily accessible: leading car magazines publish it, car dealers often offer it and it is normally available from motorcar clubs. Besides, you can find it on the internet. Some carmakers also offer discounts for certain professions. In particular, journalists should ask whether there are any deals going.

But buying a new car is costly affair. You might not want to splurge that sort of money on a car, especially when its value drops as soon as you drive it out of the showroom, or you might not want to wait for weeks before it is finally delivered.

For those backed by a company, there is of course the possibility of leasing. There are fairly standard international procedures for leasing. However, like almost contract or major purchase agreement you sign in Germany, it is advisable to have a lawyer to take you through the provisions of the agreement.

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