Importing a used car from Germany to Slovenia usually costs anywhere from a few hundred to around a thousand euros on top of the purchase price: the trip and export plates, the conformity check, Slovenia’s motor vehicle tax (DMV) and registration. For most modern used cars the DMV is lower than people expect, but for older cars with high CO2 emissions it quickly climbs to several hundred euros.
What costs to expect when importing from Germany
Strictly speaking, a used car from Germany is not “imported” into Slovenia but acquired from another EU member state. That means no customs duty, and for a used vehicle (older than six months and with more than 6,000 km on the clock) VAT is already included in the German price. What remains are the costs buyers tend to underestimate.
| Cost | Approximate amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Trip to collect the car (fuel, tolls, overnight stay) | depends on distance | southern Bavaria is much closer than northern Germany |
| German export plates – registration | about €25–50 | according to ADAC |
| Export plates – the plates themselves | about €20–40 | plus special insurance and German vehicle tax |
| Conformity check in Slovenia | per price list, often over €100 | vehicle identification and inspection |
| Motor vehicle tax (DMV) | €0 to several hundred € | depends on CO2, Euro standard and age |
| Registration, annual charge, compulsory insurance | annual charge from €62 | insurance depends on the insurer’s bonus-malus scale |
Export plates with insurance are often the biggest hidden cost: a reader who described his import for the Slovenian news site Žurnal24 paid a little over €200 for them. If the car comes home on a trailer or with a transport company, you don’t need plates, but you pay for transport instead.
How much DMV does a used car pay?
Under Slovenia’s Motor Vehicle Tax Act (ZDMV-1), DMV on passenger cars has two parts: an amount based on CO2 emissions and fuel type, and an amount based on the Euro emission standard. For a used car the total is reduced according to age, counted from first registration abroad: a car older than three years pays 70% of the calculated tax, one older than seven years 48%, and one older than ten years just 33%.
A few examples worked out from the statutory scales:
- Petrol, Euro 6d, 130 g/km, three and a half years old: (€41 + €30) × 70% = about €50.
- Diesel, Euro 6, 150 g/km, seven and a half years old: (€117 + €112) × 48% = about €110.
- Larger petrol car, Euro 5, 240 g/km, more than ten years old: (€1,998 + €150) × 33% = about €709.
- Electric car: DMV is €0.
These figures are indicative. FURS sets the exact amount in its decision, and you can get an estimate from the official DMV calculator published on the Slovenian tax administration’s website.
Step-by-step: importing a car from Germany
- Purchase and documents. Get an invoice or sales contract and the original German documents, Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Teil II. Without Teil II the car cannot be registered in Slovenia.
- Getting it home. To drive it back, get German export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) with insurance. You need ID, both parts of the registration certificate and a valid German roadworthiness test (HU).
- Conformity check. An authorised technical service in Slovenia identifies the car, checks the VIN against the documents and prepares an emissions statement. It issues the certificate of conformity once the DMV is paid.
- DMV return. File the DMV return through the eDavki portal no later than 15 days after purchase, so don’t delay the inspection. Attach the invoice, the German documents and the emissions statement.
- Paying the DMV. Pay according to the FURS decision, within 30 days of receiving it.
- Registration. At a registration office, present the certificate of conformity, proof of insurance and the paid annual charge. A foreign roadworthiness certificate is accepted if it is no more than 30 days old.
Official details on the return and forms are on the FURS page on buying a vehicle in another EU member state (in Slovenian).
Registration and transfer costs in Slovenia
At first registration in Slovenia you pay the annual road-use charge, which depends on engine capacity. Since 1 January 2025 it is the same for all passenger cars:
- up to 1,350 cc: €62 a year,
- 1,350 to 1,800 cc: €96 a year,
- 1,800 to 2,500 cc: €153 a year,
- 2,500 to 3,000 cc: €282 a year.
Add compulsory third-party insurance, plates and the registration document, plus the cost of a roadworthiness test if the German one is not recent enough. Prices for tests and forms vary between providers, so check with the station you choose.
Check the vehicle history before you pay
The biggest risk when importing a car from Germany is not the tax but the car itself. Since the trip back is long, check the vehicle history before you set off:
- ask for the service book or digital service record and compare mileage with dates,
- look at the report from the last German roadworthiness test (HU) and any defects noted,
- order a history report by VIN from a provider that collects data from several countries,
- arrange an independent inspection with the dealer or at a nearby garage,
- have the contract state that the car has not been in an accident.
Be careful with payment too. If FURS suspects that VAT was not properly accounted for somewhere in the sales chain, it can demand a cash deposit before assessing DMV. In 2022 Žurnal24 reported a case where a buyer had to lodge €6,700 on a car bought for €28,000, refundable if no fraud is found. Buy from reputable sellers and keep every proof of payment.
Is importing a car from Germany worth it?
It pays off most with younger, low-emission used cars, where DMV is small and the choice in Germany is wider than at home. With cheaper cars, the trip, plates and paperwork can eat up most of the savings. Import agents handle everything for you, but at a price: one buyer put it at around €1,500. So compare the final cost of the car, not the advertised price.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay VAT when importing a used car from Germany to Slovenia?
No, as long as the car counts as used, meaning older than six months and with more than 6,000 km. VAT is included in the German price. For a new vehicle, 22% VAT is paid in Slovenia.
How long does importing a car from Germany take?
The trip itself takes a day or two; most of the time goes into waiting for the DMV decision. Buyers report a few weeks, and smaller tax offices can be quicker.
Can I drive around Slovenia on export plates?
Export plates are meant for bringing the car out of Germany. You can use the car normally only after it is registered in Slovenia.
How can I calculate DMV before buying?
Take the CO2 emissions, Euro standard and date of first registration from the German registration document and enter them in the official DMV calculator published by FURS.
