A Complete OCONUS Guide for Shipping your Car to Germany

Have you just received official orders for an OCONUS PCS? There is so much that needs to get done; this includes what you want to do with your vehicles! Learn more about everything you need to do for shipping a car to Germany.

Preparing for an OCONUS move can be overwhelming, to say the least. Honestly, the to-do list seems never-ending!

Once you have received official orders and the entire family has been cleared by EFMP, it is crunch time!

A big topic for discussion should be what you want to do with your vehicles. In this post, I will share my experience with shipping a car to Germany from start to finish, including all of the necessary preparations.

Important things to consider when you have received overseas PCS orders

Like most Americans, my husband and I had more than one vehicle. Once we received our official orders for Germany, we had to sit down and make some hard decisions.

What did we want to do with our vehicles? Which vehicle did we want to ship to Germany? What were we going to do with our other vehicles?

Deciding on what car to ship to Germany

This is such an important question! My husband and I were torn between our Toyota Prius and Tacoma truck. Both seemed like great options for various reasons.

We decided on our Prius, which has been a great blessing!

Small parking spots and garages

Many of the parking spots throughout Germany are for small—to medium-sized vehicles. Our parking garage is an assembly belt that only fits smaller vehicles. This is such an important consideration when deciding what type of car to ship. I would not recommend shipping larger vehicles to Europe.

The garage itself is really neat to see!

Gas prices

Gas prices are much higher in Europe. We have saved so much money traveling in the Prius.

What to do with your additional vehicles

Storage

Storage could be a great option if you have a keepsake, such as a classic car. However, renting a temperature-regulated storage unit can be expensive, especially if you live overseas for a few years.

Shipping a second car to Germany

If you are considering shipping more than one vehicle overseas, consider these questions.

Will you be living on post or living on the economy?
Will you have a second parking space at your new home, and how easy will it be to acquire another parking space?
Will you be in an area where public transportation is easily accessible?
Will you rely on a car for work or getting the kids to school?
Will there be grocery stores and other shopping within walking distance of your new home?

Military vehicle shipping includes only one vehicle

At the time of our overseas PCS, the shipping costs for an additional vehicle had an average cost of $2000.00

Selling your vehicle

Selling your vehicle is a very popular option for military members and their families. Sometimes, it makes the most financial sense.

We have only had one vehicle while living in Germany, which hasn’t been an issue.

Consider the financial burden of storing or shipping a car to Germany. It may make more sense to purchase a vehicle while in the new Country.

How to ship your car to Germany

Vehicle Processing Center (VPC)

The Vehicle Processing Center is a company that handles military car shipping. The VPC manages the entire process from the United States to the final destination.

You must schedule an appointment to drop your vehicle off at the shipping company. The transit time to the destination port varies.

We were informed that the shipping process starts once there is a full container load, meaning it could take well over a month for it to arrive in the new country! The VPC will only provide you with an estimated transit time to the destination country.

Many military members plan to ship their cars to Germany around the same time their household goods are being picked up.

It took us almost two months for us to receive our vehicle.

The VPC operates by appointment only! Also, there are select locations for the VPC.

My best advice is to plan ahead. Our closest Vehicle Processing Center was in a different state, so my husband had to make arrangements to stay overnight.

You will also need to ensure someone accompanies you if you and your spouse can’t go together.

Tip: Go ahead and schedule the appointment as soon as you have an idea of when you would like to have your car shipped.

The Car must meet specific requirements at the vehicle processing center

The Interior must be fully detailed

The car needs to be thoroughly detailed. The VPC will not accept cars with animal fur, and the interior needs to be almost immaculate for customs clearance in Germany. Because the vehicle processing center was out of state, we made a detailed car appointment near the VPC on the morning of the appointment.

There should be no personal belongings left in the vehicle.

Gas tank readings

The gas tank must read at a 1/4th tank of gas or less. The Vehicle Processing Center is strict about this regulation. My husband had to leave the shipment yard and drive around to get the tank to that level.

Condition of the car

The vehicle’s exterior condition must meet the standards of the VPC and the German Government. It should not need any bodywork, including cracks or dents in the body, windows, or windshield.

We had to have our car painted.

Tip: Be sure to take photos of the interior and exterior of your vehicle for your own documentation.

Important documents for shipping your car overseas

Title

You must provide the car shipping service with the original title of ownership. I had made a couple of copies of the title to keep in my PCS Binder.

Tip: The Prius was in my name. Because we didn’t have a power of attorney, my husband had to provide a notarized letter with a copy of my ID to the car shipping service.

Lien Letter

If you are leasing your vehicle, you must have a written letter from the lien holder approving the shipment overseas.

Insurance

You must provide proof of insurance. Make a couple of copies. Keep one in the dashboard and the other in your PCS Binder.

Military Orders

You will need to provide a copy of your military orders.

Plan ahead for overseas car care

An important consideration when shipping a car to Germany is that it can be challenging to purchase additional parts. It can take several months to receive ordered parts.

Have your vehicle thoroughly inspected. Make sure all parts are up to date

Check brake pads
Purchase all-weather tires and snow tires
Car parts can be expensive. Consider purchasing replacements for windshield wipers, car filters, etc.

Receiving your car in Germany

Yay! Shipping your car to Germany was a success! What now?

You will need to visit the customs office by post and apply for/receive your vehicle tag and registration. Then, you will need to give these documents to German customs.

Shipping a car to Germany can be a process, and accidents happen. Inspect the car yourself when you receive it, and compare your photos when dropping it off at the Vehicle Processing Center.

Once you drive off the lot, you are liable for repairs (this happened to my husband in 2008 when he moved from an OCONUS to CONUS PCS with a broken axle). Because he had driven off the lot, he was financially responsible for the damage caused by shipping the car overseas.

How to pass the German vehicle inspection

Even after passing the VPC standards, your vehicle must still pass the German vehicle inspection. We had a 30-day window to fix any issues or address any modifications the German inspector had noted.

Requirements

Your vehicle must pass inspection for it to be legal
A first aid kit (the driver must be able to access)
Warning triangle
Reflective vest
Have this form filled out and ready to be turned in to the inspector: AE form Ramstein form AE 190-1AA.
Attach your permanent plate to the car. If you are still waiting on your plates, have the temporary tag visible per requirements.

What can you do while you’re waiting to receive your car?

Fuel Ration Program

Go ahead and sign up for the fuel ration program. This allows you to purchase gas at on-post pricing at all ESSO gas stations (off-post)

Drivers License

Schedule your USAREUR driver’s exam. When you schedule your exam, they will give you a study book. The exam is online and rather lengthy. It took me a few hours to complete! You can register for the exam at Stuttgart here.

Note: Once you have taken and passed the exam, you will have a window to pick up your temporary license. If you do not pick it up during that window, you will need to retake the exam. We live a few hours from post, and I was unaware of this window. I had to retake the exam!

International License

If you want to drive throughout Europe, consider applying for your international driver’s license.

Final thoughts on shipping a car to Germany

The process of shipping your car may not seem like an easy process from start to finish. There are SO many steps! Once you get the ball rolling, everything does start falling into place.

I really hope these tips help prepare you for this entire process and give you an idea of what to expect. Get excited! You are about to start an incredible journey abroad!