Car transport from France to Germany runs along one of the busiest vehicle corridors in Europe, so finding a carrier with a free spot is rarely a problem. Take a typical booking: Lyon to Munich is about 732 km by road, up past Geneva, through Switzerland or around it via Karlsruhe, and into Bavaria. People use this route for all sorts of reasons: a job move to Munich, Stuttgart or Frankfurt, a car bought on a French classifieds site that needs collecting, dealers shifting stock between markets, or families splitting the year between the two countries.
The car travels on a multi-level auto transporter alongside 8 to 12 others, which is exactly what keeps the per-car price sensible. Collection and delivery are door to door, the work is done by verified and insured carriers, and because France and Germany are both in the EU there's no customs paperwork at the border. You can get a quote online in a few minutes with nothing more than the route and the vehicle details.
How much does car transport from France to Germany cost?
For a standard car on an open carrier, Lyon to Munich (about 732 km) typically costs 810 to 1020 euros ex VAT. Shorter hops such as Strasbourg to Stuttgart come in lower, while Bordeaux or Toulouse up to Berlin or Hamburg cost more. The main price drivers are:
- Exact pickup and delivery points: addresses close to the motorway network are cheaper to serve than remote villages.
- Vehicle size and condition: SUVs and vans take up more deck space, and a car that won't start needs winch loading.
- Open or enclosed: enclosed transport typically adds 40 to 70% and suits classics, luxury cars and anything with low ground clearance.
- Timing and flexibility: a flexible pickup window costs less than a fixed-day collection, and demand peaks around the September registration period and the summer relocation season.
Tolls are already included: your carrier pays the French péages and the German truck Maut, not you. Rates in the opposite direction are similar, see car transport from Germany to France.
How long does delivery take?
Driving Lyon to Munich yourself takes roughly 7 to 8 hours before breaks. A loaded transporter never does it in one hop: drivers have legal rest times and other cars to collect and drop along the way. In practice door to door is measured in days, not hours, and two things decide the exact figure: the pickup window you agree and how full the route is when you book. France to Germany is a high-traffic corridor with regular departures, so waiting times are usually short. If your car is coming up from the south instead, see car transport from Italy to Germany.
Why book a carrier instead of driving?
Good to know
How does booking work?
Start by requesting a quote: pickup and delivery towns, make and model, whether the car runs, and roughly when you'd like it collected. Once you confirm, we match the car with a carrier already heading that way and agree a pickup window. On collection day the driver inspects the car with you and notes its condition on the transport document. At delivery you check it against those notes and your photos before signing. You pay nothing before pickup.
Do I need to re-register the car in Germany?
Only if the move is permanent. EU rules say a car should be registered where its keeper normally lives, so once you've settled in Germany you take it to the local registration office, the Kfz-Zulassungsstelle. You'll need the French registration certificate (carte grise), the Certificate of Conformity, proof of your German address registration and a German insurance confirmation number (eVB). Book the appointment early: slots fill up fast in the bigger cities. For a temporary stay the car can simply remain on French plates.
How should I prepare the car?
Wash it so existing marks are easy to see, take dated photos from every side, and clear out personal belongings: they aren't covered by the carrier's insurance. Leave about a quarter tank of fuel, switch off the alarm, fold in the mirrors and check the tyre pressures. Remove loose accessories such as roof boxes and aerials before pickup.
Can you move a car that doesn't start?
Yes. Non-runners are winched onto the trailer instead of being driven up the ramps. Tell us upfront that the car doesn't start and whether it still rolls and steers, so we send a carrier with the right equipment and the quote is accurate first time.
Is the car insured during transport?
Yes. The carrier's cargo insurance covers the vehicle during loading, transit and unloading. Cover levels vary between carriers, so ask us for the specifics of your shipment before pickup. Anything left inside the car is not covered, which is one more reason to empty it completely.
Flexible on dates? Say so in the quote. On a busy corridor like this one, a two or three day pickup window often gets you an earlier collection and a better price than insisting on a fixed day.
Ready to move your car from France to Germany?
Tell us the pickup and delivery towns and the vehicle. You'll get a clear, no-obligation quote in minutes: insured carriers, door to door, no customs inside the EU.
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