Best way to buy a car in Europe?

[notax]

I'm looking at buying a LHD car and rather than buying in the UK wondered about buying direct from Europe. I tried searching Ebay but whilst I can find lots on non car items I can't find the cars... Does anyone have advice on Ebay or other sites? Would prefer to buy privately, anything from an MX5 to a BMW Z1 or Z3M considered. Thanks

[Meridius]

http://www.mobile.de

http://www.autoscout24.com

[Barchettaman]

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-autos/c216

[paulmnz]

another vote for autoscout - bought two cars recently via adverts there

[notax]

Thanks, can anyone explain the paperwork if I bought a car in France or Germany? Ideally buying privately so can't rely on a dealer for help!

[Barchettaman]

Germany is pretty complex, I think you have to put the car on export plates which you get from the local Zulassungsamt.

once the car is in the UK the Fahrzeugbrief/Fahrzeugschein have to go to DVLA I would imagine, but I've only ever done it the other way round!

Google is your friend for this one I think.

[danlightbulb]

We are all part of the EU now, why can't you just buy the car in Germany or wherever and just drive it over? If you can't do that, I'd say its time for the European Courts to step in and sort this st out.

[Barchettaman]

danlightbulb said:

We are all part of the EU now, why can't you just buy the car in Germany or wherever and just drive it over? If you can't do that, I'd say its time for the European Courts to step in and sort this st out.

Since when have the European courts ever made anything less complex than it already is ;-)

The ´system´ works differently in DE because IN GENERAL the registration plate changes when the car changes hands.

The upside to this, however, is that when you change car you can take ´your´ plate with you to the new vehicle.

Also, if the car hasn´t been ´unregistered´ (abgemeldet) by the seller, then you can drive it to your destination on its existing plates, insured, (!!) and have a couple of weeks grace period to sort the paperwork at the local Zulassungsamt.

If the car has been abgemeldet then pick up is a hassle, you have to go to the Amt first and get short-term plates made up, arrange insurance for the trip home (the cost of which gets deducted from your annual premium) etc..... Which if you end up not buying the car because the seller hasn´t listed faults on the vehicle is a massive ballache.

There are also a couple of good things about the DE system - 6-month registrations for summer fun (Saisonkennzeichen, then store in winter), H-plates for ´historic´ cars (older than 30 years I think).....

[danlightbulb]

Seems overly complex to me and not favourable to free trade etc. There should be a single EU car registration system allowing one to buy and sell anywhere in europe with ease.