I’m possibly relocating from the US to Germany this summer, and I’m considering whether it’s worth importing my 2015 Nissan LEAF SV. I’ve been told it would cost about $3000 to ship it.
I’m not sure yet if I’ll need a car, as it depends on the housing situation. Has anyone here imported an EV? Were there any issues passing TUV?
Think about how much you could get for selling your car in the US, then check the used car market in Germany to see if the same model costs a lot more. Customs fees, TUV inspection, new plates, and any required upgrades add time and money.
And keep in mind, if your car has a CHAdeMO charging port, you’ll have a tough time finding chargers that fit in Germany.
We relocated overseas (not Germany), and our company covered the cost of shipping and converting the car to local specs.
Honestly, I’d avoid a US-to-Germany car import. TUV is strict and can get pricey. For example, they even test braking balance left-to-right, which isn’t common here in the US.
Public transport in German cities is usually excellent, so a car might not be necessary.
Importing a US car into Germany or the EU can be quite a hassle. You’ll often need to change lights, the exhaust system, and possibly more to meet EU standards. Plus, you have to pass a special TUV inspection before the regular ones every two years.
With all the costs and the fact that LEAFs are generally affordable in Germany, it may not be worth it. Also, public chargers in Germany mostly use CCS, so a CHAdeMO port would be challenging to use.
You might want to consider selling or storing your LEAF in the US and getting a local car if you need one. If you’re moving to a big city, public transport will probably meet your needs, and Germany’s rail system can get you between cities, though it can be a bit hit-or-miss depending on the location.