Relocation Goods

What are "relocation goods"?

If your imported vehicle was registered abroad for at least six months on your name and you wish to re-register it in Germany on your name again, this vehicle is seen as a “relocation good”.

Vehicles like these don’t need to meet some of the directives, which usually need to be met during inspection in compliance with § 21 StVZO (full inspection).

The registration offices grant exceptional permissions in cases like these which are usually not available. This might save modification and inspection costs and makes registration in Germany significantly easier.

An example: You don’t have a certificate concerning the exhaust emission characteristics in compliance with EU for your vehicle. Usually, in cases like these an expensive measurement on the exhaust emission test bench needs to be carried out, since registration in Germany is not possible without it. A “relocation good” can do without such an exhaust emission certificate, an exceptional permission will be granted during the registration process.

Ask the inspecting expert and the authorities in charge about the options you have to get further exceptional permissions, because here the procedures are not fully standardised yet for all federal states.

A proof of your vehicle being a relocation good is e.g. the original "Certificate of title", the issue date and vehicle owner of which is obvious here or a comparable registration document from another country.

In terms of customs clearance and payment of the value added tax for vehicles, the status “relocation good” results in a significant cost reduction. For more information, please ask your customs office in charge.