Today the car market is quite saturated with various representatives. And a good segment of the market is occupied by cars from German automakers: BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, WV, Porsche, Opel. But, unfortunately, not all models of these German manufacturers are presented on the domestic market. Only a limited line of these representatives is imported.
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And this is not the policy of companies pursued in Russia - this is the result of the application of certain legislative norms that regulate the procedure for the import of cars from foreign manufacturers.
In this regard, only budget and luxury cars of these brands are presented on the market. The most popular segment of the middle class is represented very poorly. Therefore, our fellow citizens are increasingly using the opportunity to import a car from Germany, with its subsequent customs clearance.
Calculating the cost of customs clearance of a car from Germany
The cost of customs clearance of a car purchased in Germany consists of several important aspects.
So, for example, the purchase price includes:
- visa application costs;
- travel tickets;
- hotel reservations and accommodation;
- costs associated with the need to deregister a car in Germany;
- transaction execution;
- return shipping costs.
And all this still needs to be taken into account before traveling to Germany.
The customs clearance calculation process itself includes:
- customs deposit;
- customs duty;
- recycling collection.
The customs deposit is a measure to ensure that government agencies will not avoid paying the future car owner. Upon return, its amount will be included in the customs duty. Its rate depends on the production date and engine size.
After crossing the border, the car owner must pay customs duties in full. The amount of the duty depends on the year of manufacture and the cost of the purchased car.
The amount of customs duties corresponds to the amount indicated for the corresponding category in Appendix No. 5 to the Agreement on the procedure for individuals moving goods for personal use through the customs union and performing customs operations.
Cost of customs clearance of a vehicle
When importing a car, the price of its customs clearance is determined. It consists of:
- The amount of customs duty. Depends on the age of the car, engine size, type of transport, year of manufacture, price. According to current legislation, it is most profitable to import vehicles aged from 3 to 5 years, with an engine capacity of 1000 to 1500 cubic meters. cm.
- Recycling fee. It is paid if the car is imported exclusively for personal use, and averages 2000-3000 rubles.
- Customs clearance fee. Its size depends on the price at which the vehicle was purchased. If the cost is not documented, customs officers set it based on average market prices.
- Excise duty. The amount of excise tax depends on the engine power of the vehicle. However, individuals who import vehicles under 3 years of age are not required to pay it. At the same time, all legal entities must pay excise tax.
Table for calculating customs duties
| Used cars from 3 to 5 years | Used cars over 5 years old | ||
| Engine volume, cm3 | Rate per 1 cm3 in euros | Engine volume, cm3 | Rate per 1 cm3 in euros |
| up to 1000 | 1,5 | up to 1000 | 3 |
| from 1000 to 1500 | 1,7 | from 1000 to 1500 | 3,2 |
| from 1500 to 1800 | 2,5 | from 1500 to 1800 | 3,5 |
| from 1800 to 2300 | 2,7 | from 1800 to 2300 | 4,8 |
| from 2300 to 3000 | 3 | from 2300 to 3000 | 5 |
| more than 3000 | 3,6 | more than 3000 | 5,7 |
You can most accurately calculate the cost of importing a car into the Russian Federation by using a special calculator.
Why buy a car in Germany and other countries?
The question of why many decide to buy a car outside our homeland lies in various factors.
One of them is the opportunity to buy a more economical and modern model that is not available on the domestic market. But this is all relevant for purchasing a new car. In the case of purchasing a car that was previously used, there are a number of advantages over the domestic used car market, which include:
- availability of service history;
- service according to regulations;
- careful operation;
- absence of bad roads;
- better build quality;
- not a high price;
- choice;
- guaranteed serviceability of all components and assemblies.
Parameters that affect the vehicle customs clearance process
When carrying out the customs clearance procedure for a vehicle, completely different factors can have an impact, which can both speed up the registration process and increase the length of time spent on it.
These include:
- year of car manufacture;
- engine volume;
- availability of a complete package of documents;
- timely payment of government payments and fees;
- the imported car must comply with the Euro-5 environmental class;
- whether the car was previously imported by this individual.
Responsibility for violating the rules of import from abroad
In some cases, the car may be confiscated. The following sanctions are often also applied:
- from 500 to 2500 rubles – for violation of deadlines for payment of duties for individuals;
- from 1000 to 2000 rubles – for violating the ban or restrictions on the import of vehicles;
- from 1,500 to 2,500 rubles – for violating the terms of import of temporarily imported cars;
- from 1000 to 2500 rubles – for violating the deadlines for submitting information and declarations.
Forced labor and imprisonment for a period of 2 to 5 years are possible if evasion of customs duties on a large and especially large scale has been recorded. A fine of 100-500 thousand to 300-500 thousand rubles may also be imposed.
In order not to lose a round sum in the form of a fine, clear the “German” through customs according to the law
Basic rules for car customs clearance
The basic rules for the customs clearance process of a vehicle are contained in the Customs Code of the Russian Federation.
In addition to the Customs Code of the Russian Federation, regulations governing the rules for customs clearance of vehicles are:
- Order of the Federal Customs Service dated February 21, 2012. for No. 12 (establishes the procedure for posting a security deposit);
- Federal Law No. 5003-1 (establishes the size of customs tariffs);
- Resolution No. 870 of August 30, 2012 (regulates relations regarding recycling fees);
- Resolution No. 718 of November 29, 2003 (contains regulation of the procedure for applying uniform customs duty rates);
- Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (contains information on the amount of administrative penalties imposed for violation of customs legislation when importing a car from abroad).
Car customs clearance process
The customs clearance process includes several step-by-step actions:
- filling out a declaration;
- verification of completed documents by an employee of the Federal Customs Service of Russia;
- Carrying out a technical inspection of a vehicle;
- determination of the amount to be paid customs duties;
- registration of the car in the name of the person who made the purchase;
- obtaining a customs receipt order for payment;
- obtaining an import certificate and PTS for the imported car.
Required documents
To successfully and quickly clear customs, as well as to ensure that no negative consequences arise along the way, you need to take care of proper paperwork for the car directly in Germany.
After making a purchase, you should have the following documents on hand:
- agreement confirming the transaction;
- electronic declaration;
- technical passport for the purchased vehicle;
- obtaining a special permit for transit traffic;
- a valid document confirming the completion of a technical inspection;
- transit license plates.
Legislative regulation
The process of customs clearance of cars from Germany in Russia is regulated by the following legislative acts:
- Customs Code of the Russian Federation (a document that sets out all the fundamental principles and is the main one).
- Federal Law “On Customs Tariffs” (No. 5003-1) dated May 21, 1993
- Resolution on the amount of recycling fee (No. 870 dated August 30, 2012).
- Resolution on the application of uniform rates of customs duties (No. 718 of November 29, 2003).
- Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, art. 16.10 On the responsibility of car owners for improper customs clearance.
There is also an order of the Federal Customs Service on the rules for posting a security deposit (dated February 21, 2012, No. 12).
At the same time, it is important to know that it is possible to import only those cars that comply with the Euro-5 environmental class, and a private person has the right to import no more than 1 vehicle unit per year (a preferential customs tariff may be applied).
The price of customs clearance is calculated individually (you can also use a special customs clearance calculator in advance).
Main nuances when buying cars in Germany
As when buying a car in Russia or any other country, you need to be careful and take a very responsible approach to making the purchase. At a minimum, it is necessary to show sobriety and not give in to emotions.
And pay attention to the fact that:
- the seller must provide an electronic version of the declaration for car export. It must contain the seller’s details;
- the text of the contract must indicate that the transaction was completed in Germany;
- the seller must issue a technical passport for the car, which must indicate the registration information of the car;
- the buyer must obtain an international permit, license plates necessary for movement in transit, permission to drive vehicles in transit.
Customs clearance of cars from Germany not older than 3 years
To calculate the cost of importing “young” cars from Germany not older than 3 years, use the following table:
| Car price (in Euro) | Duty amount as a percentage of engine volume |
| Up to 8 500 | 54% or not less than 2.5 € / 1 cm3 |
| 8 500 – 16 700 | 48% or not less than 3.5 € / 1 cm3 |
| 16 700 – 42 300 | 48% or not less than 5.5 € / 1 cm3 |
| 42 300 – 84 500 | 48% or not less than 7.5 € / 1 cm3 |
| 84 500 – 169 000 | 48% or not less than 15 € / 1 cm3 |
| Over 169,000 | 48% or not less than 20 € / 1 cm3 |
The information is relevant for new cars with minimal mileage, where the actual price and age of the vehicle are indicated. For example, an inexpensive car from Germany in 2021 can be cleared through customs for 2.5 Euros per 1 cm3 of engine volume and pay a customs duty of 54% of the cost of the car.
Punishment for violations of customs clearance rules
Violation of customs legislation necessarily entails prosecution.
And it provides for penalties such as:
- fine (for administrative offenses);
- confiscation of vehicles (for administrative and criminal offenses);
- forced labor;
- deprivation of liberty.
Fines for incorrect customs clearance of cars
A fine is provided for the following types of violations:
- violation of deadlines for payment of customs duties;
- failure to submit legally required documents in a timely manner;
- violation of restrictions established on the import of motor vehicles into the territory of the Russian Federation;
- violation of the terms of stay of a vehicle on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The size of fines ranges from 500 to 2500 rubles.
Features of exporting cars from Germany
If you need to drive a car from Germany to Russia, you need to take into account that prices for customs clearance do not depend on the country of the vehicle manufacturer. Nuances await the buyer in the registration procedure itself:
- The technical passport must be issued by the German side.
- If you want to buy a car from Germany to Russia to order, you need to issue an additional LWB document, which will confirm that the vehicle belongs to a specific person.
- The car will definitely need insurance, because without it it will be impossible to carry out transit. Also, the requirements for obtaining a transit permit include the environmental class of the car (must be at least 4).
- The procedure for clearing a car through customs must be followed, with a mark about the company that sells the vehicle.
- An export declaration must be submitted electronically to German customs (taken from the previous owner of the vehicle).
The requirements listed above apply only to those who want to know how to clear a car from Germany to Russia through customs on their own. The procedure for importing into the Russian Federation is almost always the same, and nuances exist only when exporting vehicles from specific countries.
Is it possible to introduce a vehicle into Russia without customs clearance?
There are plenty of ways to avoid having your car cleared through customs, and all of them are legal. And they are associated with placing the car in various customs regimes. It is important to remember and understand that they allow the use of transport only for a limited period of time.
These methods include:
- obtaining a residence permit in EU countries;
- power of attorney from a foreign relative;
- fictitious employment.
Each of these methods has both pros and cons.
Buying a car in Germany is a priori a profitable investment. Since each vehicle has a confirmed service history, thanks to which you can obtain all the necessary information about the routine maintenance carried out.
Therefore, a car from Germany will be accurately serviced and meet all safety standards. At the same time, the price of a car in Germany will be significantly lower than the price of a similar one in Russia, which does not diminish, but rather increases the value of the purchased vehicle.
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Requirements for customs clearance of a car from Germany
Key laws of Russia (as well as other countries of the Customs Union, including Germany) contain a number of standard requirements for regulating the import of vehicles in 2021. So:
- Legal entities and individuals have the right to import cars and trucks.
- The amount of financial fees is subject to individual calculation. Here they take into account the status of the person (individual/legal), the purpose of import (for personal use or sale), the cost of the car, engine parameters and other details that make up the financial side of customs clearance of a car from Germany.
- The amount of the customs rate does not depend on the country of origin of the imported car (with the exception of Russian-made vehicles). At the same time, all payment transactions can be carried out both in rubles and in foreign currency.
- In 2021, the import into the country of vehicles from Germany with a high class of environmental hazard (all vehicles below the Euro-5 class) is legally prohibited.
- A private person has the right to import no more than 1 car within 1 year. It is possible to use a preferential tariff rate.
- Importing a car from Germany requires filling out a declaration. This is the key document according to which customs duties are calculated in 2021.
If you are inexperienced in vehicle customs clearance, it is better to use the services of brokers, since the customs clearance procedure is quite complex (checking the legality of the purchase and other nuances), both in terms of organization and legal literacy.
