Moving a car inside the European Union is mostly about having the right documents ready on the day. The paperwork falls into two neat parts: what the driver needs to collect and carry your vehicle, and what you will need afterwards to register it where it will live. Sort both early and nothing holds up your delivery.

What the driver needs at collection

When a carrier arrives to load your car, they are not registering it or checking its history. They mainly need to move it safely and confirm they have the correct vehicle. Keep the following to hand.

• The keys: every set you have, including any wheel-lock key. Non-runners are welcome, but the driver still has to steer and release the handbrake, so flag any issue in advance.
• The registration document: in most EU countries this is the vehicle registration certificate. In the UK it is the V5C logbook. The driver may note the registration or VIN to match the booking.
• Proof of ownership or authority: if you are selling, or a dealer is releasing the car, a short handover note or invoice avoids confusion.
• Your ID and contact details: so the collection and delivery contacts line up with what we hold.

You do not normally hand the original registration document to the driver. Keep your originals safe and carry them yourself, or send them separately, unless you have agreed otherwise. Our guide on how to prepare your car for transport covers the practical steps on the day.

What you need to re-register at destination

Registration is the part that varies most from one country to the next, so treat this as a general guide and confirm the exact list with the vehicle authority where the car will be registered. In broad terms you will usually need the following.

• The full registration document from the country of origin, ideally with both parts where a country issues two, for example Germany’s Fahrzeugbrief and Fahrzeugschein.
• A purchase invoice or sales contract showing that you own the car and what you paid.
• Proof of identity and a local address in the destination country.
• A certificate of conformity for the model, which lists the EU technical data and can speed up registration.
• A valid roadworthiness certificate, or a fresh technical inspection carried out in the destination country.

Registration taxes and fees differ widely, so budget for them separately and do not assume the figure from one country applies in another. If you are buying abroad, our guide on buying a car in another EU country covers the wider process end to end.

Customs and VAT inside the EU

For a car moving between two EU member states you are travelling within the EU customs union, so there is normally no customs clearance and no import duty to pay. The vehicle is in free circulation and can move without an import declaration, which keeps transport straightforward.

VAT is a separate matter. A used car bought from a private seller usually has VAT already settled in the country of sale, while a car that counts as new, broadly one that is nearly new or has very low mileage, is generally taxed where it is registered. The detail matters here, so confirm your own position with the relevant tax authority before you commit.

One point worth flagging is the margin scheme, which some dealers use when selling a used car between businesses. It changes how VAT appears on the invoice rather than the transport itself, so ask the seller how VAT has been handled and keep every invoice with your records. Getting this clear now saves questions when you register the car later.

Movements to or from the UK work differently, because the UK sits outside the EU customs union and a customs border applies. If that is your route, read UK car transport and Brexit customs explained.

A practical document checklist

Use this as a starting point and adjust it to your countries and to your carrier’s instructions.

• All keys, including any wheel-lock key
• Vehicle registration certificate or V5C
• Purchase invoice or sales contract
• Certificate of conformity, if you have it
• Your photo ID and proof of address at destination
• Any service history or previous inspection certificate

None of this paperwork is needed to book the move itself. Once your documents are together for the destination, arranging collection is quick. Our door-to-door car transport covers most of continental Europe, and you can request a free quote in a couple of minutes.

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