kees

If you want to drive the car back you will require German export plates. They can be picked up when transferring ownership at the local Strassenverkehrsamt - it's around 100 euro in total. To obtain the export plates you will need to produce proof of insurance - usually you can arrange 3rd party only insurance on-site for around 80 euro for 2 weeks.

greg1234

I assume the fastest way back is via Eurotunnel.. in which case what would be a fast route from Nurnberg to Calais..? I guess this depends on which sections of autobahn are unrestricted... and what Luxembourg is like on driving at speed. The simplest route seems to be to come across into Luxembourg and then straight up to Calais (A4/A26) but it may be faster to stay in Germany and go up then across.

I've only driven abroad once, and I found out the hard way that the French do not appreciate fast driving....

I'm also assuming that the BiTurbo will fit on the eurotunnel train. I did take a 928GTS on it once and it was a tight fit.

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Greg

'97 Alpina B10V8 (#077)
'01 HSV GTS-R 586bhp 561b-ft (#15/15)
'01 Mercedes C200K

kees

The quickest route is the A3 via Frankfurt to Cologne (Köln) - then the A4 to Aken (Aachen), Brussels, Oostende, Calais. Try to avoid being in the vicinity of Frankfurt, Cologne or Brussels during rush hours. The autobahns in southern Germany are normally so busy that it makes no difference if they are unlimited. For what it's worth - the first bit from Nurnburg to a bit past Frankfurt is mostly unlimited - after that most of it isn't. Puppypilgrim's BiTurbo attained an indicated 280+ kph on that stretch last fall hunting a E39 M5 (allegedly )

If you really want to give the BiTurbo a good run then take the A1 from Cologne to Euskirchen and back. It's on your route and a good 40km in each direction - virtually empty most of the time, really good surface and almost totally unlimited. The car will be slightly faster on the way back towards Cologne as it's slightly downhill.

greg1234

Thanks Kees.

I don't want to go crazy speed wise - but if can cruise at 100mph most of the way the journey should not be too bad. Last time I was driving around Europe, 100mph seemed to be a fairly safe cruising speed in most countries but I believe things are stricter these days...?

B10BRW

Greg,

As long as the Bi Turbo is German registered and you have UK insurance you do not need Export plates.
You can drive it to the UK on the German plates.

When the DVLA have all the paperwork they will inform the German authorities that the vehicle is no longer German registered.

As per my PM give me a call and I will guide you through the import process.

kees

Not so. The original German plates are the responsibility of the (ex)owner as opposed to belonging with the car. The original plates are no longer valid on the car once you transfer ownership. So the German owner would have to do you a favour after selling the car and leave the plates on the car so you can send them back upon arrival. Many people in Germany won't do this.

However you could skip purchasing local insurance when you pick up the export plates if you can show proof of ownership.

raymondw

No, and I can understand why. If they don't get the plates back, they can't unregister the car. No documents of unregistration means no termination of the insurance and taxes, but more important, they still are liable for the car, even when it is double registered into another country.

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Raymond

==> MY90 E34 M5 3.6 <==
==> MY85 E28 M5 M88/3 <==

The E34 M5 Alps tour. Sixth edition: 14-17 September 2007

B10BRW

Kees,

Have you imported a German car into the UK? well I have and before doing so contacted the German embassy in London who told me that the procedure I mentioned previously is quite correct.

As long as you have the German owners perrmission to leave the plates on and you have the original documention there is no problem.

DVLA inform the German Embassy that the vehicle is now UK registered. then the embassy contact the German licensing authorities.

Cor-Jan

Other option is the take the Stena Line in Hoek van Holland(fast ferry,3.5hour)). I don't know where you live in England but Nürnberg-Hoek van Holland is about 700km(5-6hour drive).I always enjoy the ferry as a nice break.
Congrats with your very nice BT

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Wenn der Alpina im Ruckspiegel auftaucht,gibt es kein entrinnen.

B10-BT nr.360 "The Dazzler"

kees

No - but I have imported German cars to a variety of other countries. And the discussion we are having deals with the German part of the requirements - not the UK requirements. That you got away with exporting a car without export plates doesn't mean that it's the proper way to do it.

Yes - but the German licensing authorities will keep the German seller responsible for the vehicle until the plates are de-registered. Point is you may find a seller who will loan you his German plates, but not all of them may be aware of the implications. By doing this, you can't have transferred ownership to yourself as the German plates would no longer have been valid. So effectively you are not the official owner even after you have paid for the car - so theoretically the German seller could report the car stolen and you'd be screwed. Of if the buyer doesn't send back the German plates the German seller is screwed.

If you go the official route with the Ausfuhrkennzeichen (which is less than 100 euro) you'd have official papers proving you're the owner of the car. Alternatively you can have it shipped to the UK - for which you wouldn't need any plates at all.

The DVLA don't contact the German embassy - they contact the Strassenverkehrsamt who are the German counterpart of the DVLA. Also - they only do this to ensure that the vehicle is not stolen, not to de-register the car in Germany. This can only be done by returning the German plates. Just have a read of the following Strassenverkehrsamt website on the official way to export a vehicle:
http://www.stva-ac.de/Dienstleistung...er/export.html