Bringing a car from Germany or the Netherlands to Romania | DVI Reports

Bringing a car from Germany or the Netherlands to Romania

For a private buyer in Romania purchasing a used passenger car within the EU. Confirm documents and transport before travelling; a good price cannot compensate for missing paperwork.

Start with the vehicle number

Check the VIN before buying

Start with available technical details for free. The OBDAuto decoder does not provide accident, mileage, theft or service history.

Read the evidence, not just a verdict

Report examples, explained

Public carVertical demonstration screenshots, not reports purchased or cases investigated by OBDAuto. An example does not guarantee the same data for your car and does not replace an inspection.

Separate damage and assessment entries

Read the event type, date and estimate range. An assessment is not a paid invoice, and amounts should not automatically be added together.

Vehicle identity and specifications

Compare the specifications with the documents and the actual car. This screenshot shows technical details, not a mileage timeline.

Pause if the VIN does not match

Resolve any difference between vehicle markings, documents and the report before paying a deposit. An empty report does not confirm that the car has never been damaged.

A practical check before travelling

Request a clear photo of the VIN on the car and the relevant documents, then arrange dates and mileage readings in order. Keep a budget for an independent inspection.

Choose early between vehicle transport and driving home. Plates, insurance and inspection must cover the entire journey, not just the seller's country.

Your first check at the car

Where to find and compare the VIN

Illustrative windscreen photos from different vehicles. The exact position depends on make, model and market; these images are not model-specific instructions for every car in the guide.

Wesha · Public domain · Resized and compressed as WebP; cropped for display.

Hans Haase · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and compressed as WebP; cropped for display.

1. Find the number on the vehicle

   Some models show the VIN through the windscreen. A door-frame label or a stamped marking may be elsewhere; check the manufacturer’s manual for your model.

2. Compare all 17 characters

   Compare the marking with the vehicle documents and report. Do not confuse an engine code or a part number with the VIN.

3. Resolve differences before paying

   Do not scrape or alter markings. If a number is missing, hard to read or does not match, ask a specialist to verify the vehicle’s identity.

1. Before travelling or paying a deposit

1. Request the VIN, readable document copies, history and the identity of whoever will issue the invoice or sign the contract.
2. Confirm the total price, VAT treatment, currency and deposit conditions. A 'net' price is not necessarily available to a private buyer.
3. Arrange an independent inspection and agree what happens to the deposit if documents or condition differ from the description.
4. Obtain a transport quote specifying collection, delivery, timing, paperwork and damage coverage.

2. Germany: documents and driving out

Collect the contract/invoice, Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and II, HU report and available service records. Request the CoC if needed for RAR.

1. For permanent export, ask the local Zulassungsstelle about Ausfuhrkennzeichen. Prepare ID, vehicle papers, HU evidence, export insurance and vehicle-tax arrangements.
2. Non-residents may need a local correspondence representative. Check the seller's local authority for requirements and an appointment.
3. Do not confuse export plates with Kurzzeitkennzeichen or assume the latter are accepted throughout the route. Confirm recognition and insurance before departure.

3. Netherlands: RDW export

Register the export with RDW or an authorised company. Bring ID, registration documents/code and number plates. Ensure the export certificate identifies the buyer correctly.

1. Collect the export certificate, registration card/document and deregistration evidence. An invoice alone is insufficient.
2. RDW allows driving on Dutch roads for 14 days after export with an export registration number; passenger cars need valid insurance and APK.
3. This is not automatic permission for every transit country. Verify the route or use vehicle transport.

4. Transporter or driving home?

Budget the delivered cost: vehicle + inspection + travel + export/insurance or transporter + fuel/road charges + Romanian formalities + initial maintenance. Obtain actual quotes; do not compare advert prices alone.

On a phone, scroll the table to see all columns.

5. Prepare for Romania

RAR requires the presenter's ID, application, EU registration document and purchase document. CoC is required for WLTP-tested vehicles, generally built after 31 August 2018. Transferring an EU inspection requires its original certificate.

1. The intra-EU purchaser or authorised representative obtains the CIV. If a Romanian dealer imported the car, clarify this responsibility before contracting.
2. Keep paperwork and evidence of plates retained during export. Ask the Romanian registration office how to handle unavailable documents or plates.
3. Continue with the registration guide: VAT status, local tax registration, RCA and registration paperwork are separate steps.

Your checklist

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Frequently asked questions

No. A transporter may be appropriate if legal road use or roadworthiness cannot be secured for the entire route.

No. No customs duty does not mean no RAR, tax formalities, insurance or Romanian registration.

Do you offer vehicle inspections, history reports or transport?

Buying and paperwork

Related guides

VIN, RAR Auto-Pass, service records and an independent inspection: what to check first and what a history report cannot prove.

Scan before and after a test drive, understand cleared codes and readiness, and combine a VIN report with a pre-purchase checklist.

Prepare documents, an independent inspection and export before travelling. A Germany-specific route for buyers based in Romania.

RDW, Car-Pass and HistoVec: what to request, how to verify records and how to handle gaps in mileage history.