Frequently asked questions about the import process and lead time

All cars on our website are still in Germany. You can view the car there, but most customers (approximately 95%) choose to buy the car unseen, trusting in the expertise of Das Import. This reliability does not come out of nowhere: We steer almost exclusively towards purchase at recognised brand dealers in Germany; in most cases you buy there directly yourself, with Das Import as intermediary. As a gewerbliche seller they are legally obliged to offer at least 12 months of Gewährleistung (statutory warranty against hidden defects), without excluding it — in contrast to a private seller, who often gets out of this with a clause such as "gekauft wie gesehen" (bought as seen). Moreover, since the revision of German purchase law in 2022, a reversed burden of proof applies during the first year: the dealer must demonstrate that a defect was not yet present at delivery, not the buyer. For each car our specialists ask the dealer the right questions: about maintenance history, any accident history, exact mileage and whether it concerns a factory or dealer warranty in addition to the statutory Gewährleistung. We also carefully check the purchase agreement for unclear or disadvantageous provisions, so that you are not faced with surprises. For extra certainty we can have an independent purchase inspection carried out before the car comes to the Netherlands. This way you can be sure that the car is in the condition that has been agreed, even before you see it yourself for the first time.

Certainly, even if you have already bought the car in Germany, we can help you further. We verify the documents and vehicle details for you and then take care of the full import and registration, for example via our Registratie package. This way you do not have to worry about the administrative and fiscal handling; we take it off your hands. If you still need to arrange the transport as well, you can of course also consider our full car import service packages. Feel free to request a quotation without obligation, and we will look together at what suits your situation best.

The import process takes on average 3 to 5 weeks from the moment the car is ready for transport. However, this depends among other things on when a selling party can have a car ready, other dependencies and which import package you choose. Get concrete advice about a specific car from one of our import advisors. Please note: these are averages. The RDW (Dutch vehicle authority) and the Tax Authorities are government agencies; we have no grip on their processing and turnaround times and delays can unfortunately occur.

As soon as you agree to the quotation, we draw up the contract of assignment. After that, in consultation, you schedule a moment to bring the car to us yourself in Zaandam — this is possible 6 days a week during our opening hours — or we collect the car from you against a fee. We then start the import process and register the car with the RDW and the Belastingdienst.

Have you received a quote and would you like one of our import advisors to map out the car further for you, with no obligation? You can easily set this in motion via the green 'Yes, I want to proceed with this car' button or by contacting your dedicated point of contact. Our advisor will then examine the car in detail: its current condition, any damage history, unwanted odours such as smoke or pets, available warranties, and of course all your additional questions. You will then receive a complete and clear information package, so you can make a well-considered choice.

When you have found a car that you like, you first submit it to us — you do not yet need to take out a package for that. One of our import advisers will then draw up a non-binding indicative quotation, so that you have a clear overview of the total costs, and will contact you by telephone to go through the process. If you want to proceed, the adviser will investigate the car in detail: the current condition, any damage history, available warranties, the maintenance history and all your questions. If, after contact with the dealer, the car turns out not to be to your liking after all, then you are not committed to anything. This way you always make a well-considered choice.

The order is as follows: first the RDW inspection and identification of your car take place. The RDW then forwards the details to the Tax Authorities, after which the BPM (Dutch vehicle registration tax) declaration is made. Only after approval and paid BPM is the Dutch registration plate assigned. Das Import goes through all these steps for you, so that you do not have to worry about anything. Would you like to know exactly what we can do for you? Feel free to request a quotation without obligation.

From the moment you deliver the car to us at our location, we need on average 5 to 9 working days to fully register the car on Dutch license plates, including RDW inspection, BPM declaration and Registratie (registration). As soon as the license plate is known, you will be notified immediately and you can make an appointment to collect the car.

An intra-Community acquisition is the net purchase of a car in Germany at 0% VAT, so that you only pay the VAT in the Netherlands. The seller usually only facilitates this if you can present a valid German VAT number and a 'declaration of status'. As a private individual you can outsource this to Das Import; also for entrepreneurs we acquire every German VAT car net and deliver it with a Dutch VAT invoice, so that you can reclaim the turnover tax without any problems.

Throughout the import process we keep you informed of the progress by telephone and by email. You receive updates on every important step, so you always know where the car is in the process.

Yes. You can contact us without obligation to discuss your wishes or ask questions about the import process. After that, you decide for yourself whether you want to submit a request.

We aim to contact you within one working day. In practice this almost always succeeds, so that you quickly know where you stand.

Yes. As long as the car has not yet been definitively purchased, changes can always still be discussed.

The import process consists of various steps, such as the purchase, the transport, the RDW (Dutch vehicle authority) inspection, the BPM (Dutch vehicle registration tax) declaration, the kentekenregistratie (vehicle registration) and the delivery of your car. We guide you throughout the entire process.

Yes. Even when the car is already located in the Netherlands, we can take care of the import and registration for you.

If any issue arises during the import process, we will contact you as soon as possible and discuss the best solution together.

To drive the car to the Netherlands yourself, you need a temporary German registration plate with corresponding insurance. We apply for the 5-day Kurzzeitkennzeichen on your behalf, including third-party liability insurance with a green card that is valid throughout the entire EU. An export plate with a red stripe (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) you apply for yourself on site in Germany, with your driving licence and all vehicle documents; we do not arrange that. Please be aware of the risks: with a temporary registration plate only third-party liability is possible, so damage to your own car is not covered, and driving on a foreign registration plate remains a grey area in the Netherlands. After arrival, the BPM (Dutch vehicle registration tax) declaration, the RDW (Dutch vehicle authority) identification and the application for the Dutch registration follow. We take care of that via the Registratie (registration) package (tab 'Collect yourself'). If you do not wish to take this risk, then choose our all-risk insured transport.

If desired, we will contact the seller in Germany after your request and ask whether the car can be held for you; by default we do not do that. Whether this succeeds depends on the seller and on any arrangements that have already been made with another buyer. If the car has already been held by someone else or has since been sold, we will let you know immediately. If the car unexpectedly becomes available again, the seller will inform us of this and we will pass this on to you right away. In the meantime, your import adviser is happy to help you look at comparable cars with the same specifications and price range, so that you do not have to wait. In case of interest, please submit the request as soon as possible — the sooner we can enquire with the seller, the greater the chance that holding is still possible.

In a normal import process there are essentially two payments: the payment for the car to the German seller and the payment of the import costs to Das Import. 1. Payment for the car to the German seller In most cases you buy the car yourself directly from the German seller and you also pay the purchase price directly to this party. Usually no down payment is required in advance. We can generally first reserve the car briefly and then secure it definitively. You then pay the full purchase price just before the planned transport date. If a seller does request a down payment (Anzahlung), we inform you in advance about the amount and the conditions. This payment too is made directly to the German seller. 2. Payment to Das Import To Das Import you pay the costs for the chosen import package, transport and any additional services. The BPM (Dutch vehicle registration tax) is also paid to Das Import when it is handled through us. You will receive a clear specification from us for this, so that it is clear in advance what the amount to be paid consists of. With financial lease the purchase and payment of the car works differently. In that case Das Import buys the car and the payment is handled within the financial lease process. Your import advisor informs you throughout the process when a payment is required and to which party it must be made. This way you know before every step which amount must be paid and when.

As soon as the car is ready for transport — the seller has confirmed that the car is ready and the payment has been received — we schedule the collection. The transport is by car transporter, so your car does not drive to the Netherlands under its own power. You can choose between open or enclosed transport; which is most suitable depends on the car and your wishes. When loading, at least 8 photos are taken all around the car. If notable damage is observed during this, we have the seller confirm the established condition of the car on the consignment note. This makes it clear in what condition the car was handed over to the transporter. During transport your car is fully comprehensively insured. With open transport only stone chips and hail damage are excluded; with enclosed transport that exclusion does not apply. On arrival in Zaandam at least 8 photos are again taken all around the car. Subsequently we wash the car immediately and take at least 8 photos again in clean condition. This way we can properly compare the condition before, during and after the transport with each other. With the Versneld and Deluxe package we additionally carry out a 15- or 30-point check respectively to verify whether the car was delivered as agreed. Transport damage fortunately occurs rarely. Should damage unexpectedly occur during transport, we arrange the damage report and further handling entirely for you. Thanks to the extensive photo registration at both loading and unloading, the condition of the car has been carefully documented and any transport damage can be clearly established. As soon as the transport is scheduled, we keep you informed of the expected arrival of your car in Zaandam.

As soon as your car is registered on a Dutch licence plate, we contact you and make a delivery appointment. You can then collect the car from us in Zaandam during our opening hours. If you do not have the time or opportunity for this, or if you live further away, we arrange delivery at your home for one fixed rate of EUR 200,- excl. VAT for the whole of the Netherlands (with the exception of the Wadden Islands). You do not have to arrange anything for this yourself; we schedule the delivery and ensure that the car arrives with you ready to drive and registered. Please bear in mind that a vehicle in the Netherlands must be insured as soon as it is registered on a licence plate: so arrange the insurance before you drive off. Would you like to know exactly which documents you receive and what to bring to the appointment? Your import advisor will let you know in advance.

When we handle the import of your car, we arrange the required documents and information regarding the German car directly with the seller. This includes the foreign vehicle registration papers, available vehicle documentation and other items needed for the purchase, transport and Registratie (registration) in the Netherlands. So you do not need to request these from the German seller yourself. From you we mainly need your personal details and a few documents in order to carry out the import and the Registratie correctly. This includes your name and address details and a copy of a valid identity document. In the case of a business purchase, company details may also be required. During the process, we will also provide you with powers of attorney or authorisations to sign where necessary, for example for the transport, the Registratie and the tenaamstelling of the car. During the process we will indicate which details or documents we need from you and at what moment. So you do not need to figure out yourself which German vehicle documents or RDW (Dutch vehicle authority) items are required; we take care of that within the import process.

As soon as your car arrives in Zaandam, it first receives a hand wash, so that we can properly inspect and document the car in a clean condition. With the Versneld package we then carry out a 15-point check, and with the Deluxe package an extensive 30-point check. In doing so we check, among other things, the mileage compared to the purchase contract, the number of keys, accessories, tyre tread, language settings, warranty documents and any dashboard warnings. The condition of the car is moreover extensively documented with photos. With the Deluxe package there is also a professional detailing treatment with polishing, interior cleaning and a coating that protects the paintwork for approximately 3 to 5 months. In parallel, we take care of the further importation, Registratie and application for the licence plates. We do not charge separate road-ready preparation costs. The work that is part of the import package you have chosen is included in the package price. If additional work on the car is desired or needed, such as maintenance, tyres or repairs, we always discuss the options and any costs with you in advance.

From the moment the car is actually ready for transport in Germany, the entire process up to the Dutch licence plate usually takes on average 3 to 5 weeks. During this period we schedule the transport, collect the car and take care of the importation, Registratie and the necessary steps at the RDW (Dutch vehicle authority) and the Tax Authorities. Before the car is ready for transport, the German seller may still need time to get the car ready for delivery. Think, for example, of a maintenance service, technical work, preparing the vehicle papers or other arrangements made at the time of purchase. How long this takes varies per seller and car. The total time from purchase can therefore be longer than the aforementioned 3 to 5 weeks. As soon as the car is ready for transport, the transport planning depends on the chosen import package. With the Standaard package the car is collected within a maximum of 10 working days. With the Versneld and Deluxe package this is a maximum of 5 working days. After arrival in the Netherlands we take care of the further Registratie as quickly as possible. This usually proceeds smoothly, but very occasionally there may be a delay at the RDW or the Tax Authorities over which we have no influence. That is why the total lead time of on average 3 to 5 weeks from the moment the car is reported ready for transport remains an indication and not a guaranteed term. If you want your car in the Netherlands as quickly as possible, then the Versneld and Deluxe package, with the shorter transport planning of a maximum of 5 working days, are the fastest options.

During the quotation and purchase process you have a dedicated import advisor. This advisor helps you assess the car, contact the German seller, the quotation, any questions about the car and finalising the purchase. As soon as the car has been purchased, your file is handed over to a dedicated account manager. Your account manager then guides the entire further handling of the import process. Think of the transport from Germany, the importation and Registratie in the Netherlands, any installation of accessories, the licence plate Registratie and ultimately the delivery of your car. Upon the handover from import advisor to account manager, you receive the direct contact details and personal telephone number of your account manager. Both our import advisors and account managers are directly reachable on their own number. Naturally, we ensure a full internal handover of your file, so that you do not have to tell your story again. You can also always reach us via our central telephone number 088 - 088 3777. If your dedicated contact person is temporarily absent, a colleague can access your file and help you further where necessary.

We can also import for you a new car that still has to be ordered or built at the factory. Our import advisor first guides the purchase and arrangements with the German seller. In doing so we look, among other things, at the order, specification, expected delivery time and the conditions regarding any down payments and payments. During the period in which the car is being built, the German seller remains responsible for the factory planning and delivery time. As soon as the car has been produced and is being prepared for delivery, we coordinate with the seller when the car is actually ready for transport. It is no problem in this respect if the car has never had a licence plate. For the Registratie in the Netherlands it is important that the car is approved in Europe and has a valid Certificate of Conformity (CoC). This states, among other things, the vehicle details and CO? emissions that are needed for the Dutch Registratie and BPM (Dutch vehicle registration tax). As soon as the car is ready for transport in Germany and the necessary documents are available, the regular import process starts. From that moment on, the entire process up to the Dutch licence plate usually takes on average 3 to 5 weeks. The factory delivery time and any preparation by the German seller therefore still come before that.