Germany to France is one of the busiest car transport corridors in Europe. Take the classic example: Frankfurt to Paris is roughly 575 km by road, close enough to tempt you into driving it yourself, far enough to swallow a full day, a tank of fuel and a stack of French motorway tolls. A professional carrier does the same trip for less than most people expect, because your car shares the trailer with 8 to 12 others heading the same way.
Who books this route? French buyers collecting a car from a German dealer or auction (Germany has one of the largest used-car markets in Europe), families relocating for work, students moving to Paris or Lyon, and companies shifting fleet vehicles between sites. Whatever the reason, our car transport service works the same way: you request a quote, we match your vehicle with a verified, insured carrier, and it arrives door to door. Need the opposite direction? See car transport from France to Germany.
How much does car transport from Germany to France cost?
For a standard car on an open carrier, Frankfurt to Paris typically costs 630 to 810 euros ex VAT. That range covers most of the corridor. The exact figure depends on where the vehicle is collected and delivered (addresses near motorway hubs such as Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Metz or Paris are cheaper to serve than remote villages), whether the car runs and drives, its size and weight, and how flexible your dates are. Enclosed transport typically adds 40 to 70% and suits classics, supercars and anything fresh from a German showroom.
The price includes the driver, fuel and the French motorway tolls (German motorways are free for cars, French autoroutes are not). There is no customs paperwork inside the EU, so nothing gets added at the border. For a fixed figure on your exact town pair, get a free quote: it takes a couple of minutes.
How long does delivery take?
Frankfurt to Paris is around six hours of driving for a car, and a loaded carrier plans it as a single driving day once statutory rest breaks are counted. Door to door, allow a few days rather than hours, because two things decide the schedule. The first is the pickup window, meaning when a carrier is next passing your area. The second is route occupancy: trailers leave when they are full, and on a corridor this busy they fill quickly. Flexible dates nearly always mean a faster pickup and a better price. Heading further south instead? We also cover car transport from Germany to Italy.
Why book a carrier instead of driving?
Good to know
How does the process work?
Request a quote with the basics: make and model, pickup and delivery towns, whether the car runs, and roughly when you would like it moved. Once you book, we confirm a pickup window. On the day, the driver inspects the car with you and notes its condition on the transport document before loading. At delivery you check it again against those notes and your photos before signing.
Do I need to re-register the car in France?
Only if the move is permanent. In that case you apply for a French carte grise through the ANTS portal, and you will need a quitus fiscal, the tax clearance certificate confirming no VAT is due (normally the case for used cars), plus the certificate of conformity and a French roadworthiness test (controle technique) if the car is more than four years old. One extra for city driving: Paris and many other French cities run low emission zones, so order a Crit'Air windscreen sticker, which foreign-plated cars need as well.
How should I prepare the car?
Wash it so existing marks are visible, take timestamped photos from all sides, leave no more than a quarter tank of fuel, remove personal belongings and toll badges, switch off the alarm and fold in the mirrors. Hand over one working key and mention anything unusual, such as very low ground clearance on a lowered or sports car.
Can you transport a car that does not run?
Yes. Plenty of cars on this corridor are project vehicles or auction buys that will not start. Tell us upfront, because the carrier needs a winch and a suitable trailer position. As long as the car rolls and steers, loading is routine; if it does not, we quote for the right equipment.
Is the car insured during transport?
Yes. Our carriers hold cargo insurance covering the vehicle against damage during loading, transit and unloading. Ask us for the coverage details when you book. Personal items left inside the car are not covered, which is another good reason to empty it before pickup. Curious how we vet the carriers we work with? See why customers choose Send Your Auto.
Delivering inside central Paris? Full-size carriers cannot work the narrow streets within the peripherique, so agree a handover point at the edge of the city, such as a retail car park just outside it. It saves everyone time on the day.
Ready to move your car from Germany to France?
Tell us the pickup and delivery towns and you will have a clear, no-obligation price in minutes. Insured carriers, door to door, no customs inside the EU.
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