Selling vehicle to someone in Germany - Process?

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1

Hi all, quick question.

I’ve just sold a motorcycle on Ricardo (still feel like it is a scam, they clicked buy within 10 minutes of the posting, but they have an account since 2018 with many purchases from other accounts that are looking rather real).

The buyer looks to be in Germany. I would feel much more comfortable taking the plates off the bike before handing it over, but in general is there a process to follow for me as a seller to someone outside the country? Bike is registered / insured / etc in my name right now.

Thanks for any help!

2

Simple. They only have to come to pick it up. They hand you the cash and you hand them the title. You keep the plates.

3

you sold some beauty too cheaply!

It’s a bike. A buyer can load it on a trailer and take it back to Germany. That’s the only way I would sell it.

And a decent, written contract, you may have to prove it’s been exported. And buyer has to officially import it but that is not your problem.

4

I sold a BMW 330iX when I left Switzerland to the brother of an EF member who was a dealer in Poland. He went & bought some export plates in Germany, fixed them to the car in Zurich & drove to Poland. I kept the ZH plates & he paid in cash.

5

I sold my Porsche to a collector in Germany who did the same.
He bought German export plates and drove away.
Then I just handed my plates into the Strassenverkehrsämt.

You don’t need to tell anybody what happened to the vehicle you sold.

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6

Before the handover, you would need to cancel the grey card at the traffic office as well as returning the plates. This can be risky for you as if he doesn’t show up, you need to pay to get a new card and plates back, if you wish to drive it again. But handing over a car without canceling the registration card is more risky as you remain responsible.

And make sure beforehand that he will come with a trailer or german plates. You will need to give him the canceled grey card as it would be required for registration / export.

7

But handing over a car without canceling the registration card is more risky as you remain responsible.

That was what I was worried about, but consensus above is that I just need to keep the plates. I am mostly concerned about them taking some nice joy rides while I’m the “owner” :smiley:

@curley It was a 2013 KTM 1190R w/ 57K km for 4300.- (w/ MFK in September)… I don’t know if that is too cheap or too much, felt about right. Bike is wonderful, but no time… no time :frowning:

So for folks who did this, did you give the grey card (and cancel it beforehand) or did you just give the grey card, and take the plates on a later day to StVA?

Thanks again for the help!

8

Back in 2015, I sold my car to a guy in Trier for more or less similar money.

I had quite a bit of time on my hands back then, so I drove all the way on my plates, handed the car over vs 90% of the price in cash, and took the train back with my plates and the car’s papers.
I then cancelled the grey card, and sent that by mail together with the 2nd key of the car and he sent me the balance payment via bank transfer.

9

Unless you have 2 cars on 1 plate there is no reason to cancel the grey card, just retain the plates.

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10

I ended up just giving the grey card (not cancelled) and kept the plates. I’ll drop the plates off soon… seemed OK.