Car transport in Germany is busiest on the long north-south runs, and Hamburg to Munich is the classic example: roughly 780 km by road down the A7, a full eight hours of motorway if you drove it yourself. Every week this corridor carries cars bought on mobile.de or AutoScout24 by buyers at the other end of the country, dealer stock moving between branches, lease returns and relocations. Most of those cars never touch the tarmac: they ride on a professional car transporter and meet their owner at the front door.
An open carrier moves 8 to 12 cars at once, so the cost of the trip is shared between them instead of landing on one vehicle. You tell us the route and the car, get a quote in minutes, and a verified, insured carrier collects from any address in Germany and delivers door to door. No plates to arrange, no fuel stops, no overnight hotel halfway down the A7.
How much does car transport in Germany cost?
As a guide, moving a standard car from Hamburg to Munich on an open transporter usually comes in between 860 and 1,090 euros ex VAT. Domestic routes are simple to price: no border formalities, and passenger cars need no vignette in Germany; the carrier pays the lorry toll and it is already built into the figure. What moves your quote within the range is practical: how easy your two addresses are to reach with a full-size transporter, whether the car starts and drives, its size and weight, the season, and how flexible you can be on dates.
An enclosed trailer, the usual choice for classics, low cars and anything valuable, typically adds 40 to 70% on top of the open price. The cheapest slot is usually a carrier already running the corridor with space left: exactly what a broker finds for you. Request a free quote with your real postcodes and you get a firm figure rather than a guess.
How long does Hamburg to Munich take?
Driving it yourself is around eight hours of motorway plus breaks, and the same again if someone has to bring you back. A loaded transporter covers the same road but also stops to collect and deliver the other cars on board, and the driver has legal rest times to respect. Door to door, think in days rather than hours: the pickup window you agree and how full the carrier is on the route decide the schedule far more than the motorway does.
These corridors do not stop at the border either: the same network continues south with car transport from Germany to Italy and car transport from Germany to Spain.
Why book a transporter instead of driving?
Good to know
How does booking car transport in Germany work?
You request a quote with the two addresses, the car's make and model, whether it runs, and roughly when you need it moved. Once you confirm, we agree a pickup window with the carrier. On collection day the driver inspects the car with you and notes its condition on the Bill of Lading; on delivery you check it against that same document before signing anything.
Do I need plates or paperwork to move a car within Germany?
No. On a transporter the car travels as cargo: no number plates, no vehicle tax, no insurance policy of its own. That matters when you buy a used car in another city, because driving it home legally means arranging Kurzzeitkennzeichen, short-term plates valid for five days that need a valid HU inspection and an eVB insurance number. Transport skips all of that. After delivery you re-register the car at the registration office where you live, and in most cases you can keep the existing plate. Inside the EU there is no customs paperwork at any point.
How should I prepare the car?
Leave no more than a quarter tank of fuel, wash the car so its condition is easy to record, and take timestamped photos from every side. Remove personal belongings, parking permits and toll tags, switch off the alarm and fold in the mirrors. Tell us about anything unusual upfront: lowered suspension, a roof box or an aftermarket spoiler can change how the car is loaded.
Can you move a car that does not start?
Yes. Carriers load non-runners with a winch, which is common for project cars, auction buys and vehicles heading to a workshop or body shop. Flag it when you ask for the quote: the carrier needs the right equipment, and it affects the price.
Is the car insured during transport?
Our carriers hold cargo insurance that covers the vehicle during loading, transit and unloading. Cover levels vary between carriers, so ask for the details before booking. Personal items left inside the car are not covered, which is another reason to empty it completely. You can read more about how we vet our carriers.
Practical tip: German school holidays and the weeks around the turn of the year fill transporters quickly. Offer a pickup window of a few days rather than one fixed date and you will usually pay less and be collected sooner.
Ready to move a car across Germany?
Hamburg to Munich or any other German route: get a clear, no-obligation quote in minutes. Verified carriers, fully insured, door to door.
Get a free quote