Importing an English oldtimer car to Germany

I need info about rules & regulations for importing an oldtimer car from England to Germany. Has anyone being trough it before and survived it ?

Yep. Except mine was an Italian classic and already LHD.

It'll have to be upto passing the strict German TÜV.. I know my "youngtimer" was having lots of problems. Just bit the bullet and bought a replacement for it, except already registered here with a TÜV. I had a nightmare finding a mechanic to help with the TÜV stuff personally.

Just out of curiosity, what car is it ?

My two are both 1990 VW Corrado G60

German TUV= my worst nightmare! Already dealt with them when we brought our 1500 Goldwing from UK.

I have just fallen in love with a Triumph TR6 from 1976, completly redone body and interior so beautiful!!!
The engine is cleaner than my kitchen. Restoration was done by an enthusiastic and it shows. Anyway I must find more details like carb etc... and emission before I make the trip.

Well I hope you manage to find a way. I know how it feels to get a car almost the way you want it and then have to give up on it. You can drive it hear for 6 months on UK plates and insurance I believe, so that might help things a little while you get things in shape for the TÜV.

Emissions are a killer, so I hope you have a KAT

Ah! My '70 is a pre-CAT on 'H' plates. Nice n' cheap on the tax. I had to change my speedo to show KMs and the headlights to point on dip the other way. The insurance needed a Gutschein (an independent German assessors valuation). TÜV are a bit hot on leaks from underneath.

Tip: When you go to re-reg with German plates, when they ask what size the plate should be, make sure you lose 10cm either side. That way you'll get a shorter number: eg, M:X 123 or M:XY 12. Personalised plates (with your local area prefix) cost about 25 Euros extra, and are on what letter/number combo is still available.

Nice hint there Sin... pity my new Corrado is already registered, else I'd be on that like a shot. With my memory smaller numbers are good

That's not quite how it works. You get the number allocated first, then the plates made (by an independant company) who will usually ask you how big the plate should be. In Munich city shorter numbers (and then only M-XX-999) are only issued to motorcycles and seasonal registrations. In Munich-Land (Munich countryside!) M-X-999, M-XX-99 and M-XX-9 are allowed on any vehicle subject to availability.

You can get a shorter number with agency approval (durned if I can remember which agency, though), if for instance, you have an import car, with a license plate "well" that won't fit a standard plate size. A format of "M XX N" is certainly possible.

Edit: If I remember correctly, I had the TÜV inspect my existing plates, and they noted down measurement sizes for plates that would fit, and signed off on it. I then took that paper to the KVR, and they issued a number, and dimensions for the plate maker to use.

I think we can safely assume that a '76 car will qualify as being "pre-cat". My 2003 motorbike is "pre-cat".

Until you can provide a reference, I stand by my statement
Possible, but only in München-Land (and I've edited my original posting to reflect this - thanks...)

I also edited my previous post. It may be rare, and only in certain exceptions - but that format can be done in Munich city, not just the county (land). I'm not about to post my license plates on this forum for proof though.

Well, that's exactly how it worked for me in 2001, sorry. (The plates are made by a company outside - yer right).

Thanks Sin, until now I was told that the MPH speedo was ok and I would not need to change it!!!

NO OIL LEAKS! you must be joking.. it would not be an old timer unless you destroy everyone´s driveway with black messy oil. Well if I can´t get a TUV I´ll just have to lock my treasure in the garage and just look at it.

Frog, day before the TÜV get under the car and clean off all signs of leaks. Get some silicon spray and... Robert's yer muvva's live-in luvva, as the sayin' goes. You know it makes sense.

I guess the rules for motorbikes are different then as my 1990 G60 even has a cat. I'm not up to scratch on the rules for oldtimers (mines a youngtimer still) but if it's anything like the UK, then you're in for a nice road tax (or German Equivelent) bill.

I have seen several Triumph cars here in Germany, all with German plates. I guess there would be an owners club who would probably know the potential pitfalls for your chosen model and may already have any necessary dispensations for the TUV.

In fact, having just used Google, I found this site:

http://www.tr-6.de

...maybe a good place to start.