Importing a car from Dubai to Germany used to be niche. In 2026 it's mainstream. Driven by supply gaps at EU dealers, spec advantages on UAE-market cars, and 25-40% price differentials on the right models. This guide walks the entire process from picking a car in Dubai to registering German plates.
1. Pick the right car (and the right seller)
Not every UAE car is worth importing. The best candidates are: high-spec Porsche and Mercedes AMG models (UAE market gets options Germany doesn't), G-Wagons priced below EU dealer, Chinese EVs like BYD Han and Zeekr 001, and low-mileage supercars from private collections. Skip cars that have lived hard summers with no service history. Heat and sand take their toll.
Only buy from verified dealers or with an independent pre-purchase inspection. Emirate export markets have their share of clocked odometers and cosmetic accident repairs.
2. Documentation you need before shipping
- Original UAE registration card (Mulkiya). Issued to seller, transferred at export
- Export certificate from UAE customs (issued at Jebel Ali)
- Bill of lading from the shipping line
- Commercial invoice showing purchase price
- Certificate of Conformity (CoC). Critical for German registration. Not all UAE-spec cars have one. If missing, you'll need TÜV individual approval (Einzelabnahme).
3. Shipping options
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off): €1,200-1,800 from Jebel Ali to Bremerhaven. 21-28 days. Fine for most cars, but the vehicle sits on a deck exposed to salt spray.
Container: €2,800-4,500 depending on 20ft vs 40ft. 25-35 days. Best for supercars, classics, or anything worth over €80k. Fully enclosed, more secure.
Air freight: €8,000-15,000. 3-5 days. Only worth it for time-critical deliveries or ultra-high-value cars.
4. German customs and VAT
When your car arrives at Bremerhaven or Hamburg, you pay:
- Import duty: 10% of (car value + shipping + insurance)
- VAT (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer): 19% of (car value + shipping + insurance + import duty)
Total: roughly 30% of the invoice value on top of what you paid. There's no way around this. Factor it into your budget from day one.
5. TÜV inspection and registration
If your car has a valid EU CoC (most 2018+ German-branded cars destined for GCC do), registration is straightforward at your local Zulassungsstelle: valid CoC + customs papers + insurance + €50 fee = plates in a day.
If not, you need TÜV Einzelabnahme. An individual approval process. Costs €400-1,500. Usually takes 2-6 weeks. Some cars (JDM imports, US-market cars) require lighting and emissions modifications first.
6. Total cost example
Sample: 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo S bought in Dubai for €180,000.
- Purchase price: €180,000
- Sourcing fee: €4,500
- Inspection: €650
- Container shipping + insurance: €3,800
- German customs duty (10%): €18,850
- German VAT (19%): €38,595
- Registration + plates: €120
- Total landed cost: ~€246,515
Same car at a German dealer: €278,000-295,000. Savings: €30-50k.
7. Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying without inspection. Costs €650 to check, tens of thousands to fix later
- Underdeclaring value to reduce VAT. This is fraud, and customs data-shares with dealers
- Skipping insurance during shipping. One storm and you lose the car
- Assuming the car will pass TÜV without checking spec first
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