Volkswagen Golf VII 2.0 TDI Comfortline BMT

1What the car costs

Total, roughly€20,444

• Price in the listing€18,990

• NoVA (estimate)€760

  Rate 5%, calculation below

• Driving it over on German export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen)€150

  The plates have a red field with the expiry date. Costs according to ADAC (the German automobile club): fee €31–45, plates €10–40, insurance €30–150; needs a German roadworthiness test (HU, often called "TÜV") valid beyond the plates’ expiry. Alternatives: German short-term plates (Kurzzeitkennzeichen, yellow field, 6 calendar days max) or transport (€450–950). Green Austrian transfer plates (Überstellungskennzeichen) are only issued in Austria; for a car still in Germany, oesterreich.gv.at and ÖAMTC advise against them.

• Austrian roadworthiness inspection ("Pickerl", §57a report)€94

  Vienna average 2026 about €94 (€60–156), at any authorised inspection station (a garage, ARBÖ, or ÖAMTC for members). Not needed if no Austrian inspection would have been due since the last German one: then the German HU report is accepted.

• Entry in the Austrian approval database (Datenübernahme)€180

  By the brand's official Austrian importer (Generalimporteur), capped by law at €180 incl. VAT (some add expenses). Otherwise your state's vehicle testing office (Landesprüfstelle), about €122–130. An individual approval (Einzelgenehmigung, about €50–250) is only needed without EU type approval.

• Registration with new plates (Zulassung)€270

  Authority fee €178, administration fee €65.60, plates €23, inspection sticker ("Begutachtungsplakette") €2.30, central population register check €1.10. Card-format registration certificate on request €31.10.

2Before you buy

Warning signs in the listing

• The listing only says „Unfallfrei laut Vorbesitzer“ (accident-free according to the previous owner), so the dealer is passing on someone else's claim rather than confirming it, and a small scratch on the rear bumper is already disclosed.
• The advert offers „Export möglich, auch netto“ (export possible, also net) and a net price of €15,958 — a net or export price is only for buyers with a VAT number, so as a private buyer in Austria you pay the gross price of €18,990.
• The car is described as „Scheckheftgepflegt“ (serviced according to the service book), but the listing does not say whether the service book (Serviceheft) and the service invoices are actually with the car.
• The timing belt change at 80,000 km is stated without any mention of an invoice or workshop record proving it.

Questions for the seller

The German is for the seller, the English for you. The button copies one German message with greeting and closing; it also asks for a written answer, in English if possible. Add your name and send it through the listing. If the reply comes in German, a translator such as DeepL helps: the questions are numbered.

1. Können Sie mir vorab Fotos der Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I und Teil II und des COC-Papiers schicken? Persönliche Daten können Sie gerne abdecken.Can you send me photos of the registration certificate part I and part II (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and II) and the COC before I buy? You are welcome to cover personal details.
2. Ist das Serviceheft vollständig mit allen Stempeln vorhanden, und können Sie mir Fotos davon schicken?Is the service book complete with all stamps, and can you send me photos of it?
3. Können Sie die Unfallfreiheit im Kaufvertrag schriftlich zusichern?Can you confirm in writing in the purchase contract that the car is accident-free?
4. Haben Sie die Rechnung für den Zahnriemenwechsel bei 80.000 km?Do you have the invoice for the timing belt change at 80,000 km?
5. Können Sie mir den HU-Bericht der letzten Hauptuntersuchung als Foto schicken?Can you send me a photo of the report from the last German roadworthiness test (HU)?
6. Wie viele Schlüssel gehören zum Fahrzeug?How many keys come with the car?
7. Gilt für mich als Privatkäufer der Preis von 18.990 € inklusive Mehrwertsteuer?For me as a private buyer, does the price of €18,990 including VAT apply?
8. Können Sie kurzzeitige Ausfuhrkennzeichen mit Versicherung für die Fahrt nach Österreich besorgen?Can you arrange short-term German export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) with insurance for the drive to Austria?

Good to know

• The dealer advertises that export is possible, so ask what the dealer handles itself (deregistration, export plates) and what you have to organise for the drive to Austria.
• Buying from a German dealer means statutory liability for defects (Gewährleistung) applies; keep the written purchase contract and the invoice naming the dealer, as you need them in Austria.
• The car has had 2 previous owners, so check that the owner entries in the registration certificate part II (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II) match what the listing says.

3Step by step to registration

Tick them off as you go. The ticks are saved in this browser.

1. 1. Check the papersBefore buying, check the EU type-approval number (on the COC, or in field K of the German registration certificate part I, "Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I"), the date of the German roadworthiness test ("HU") and any modifications (e.g. wheels, engine). Ask the seller for photos of part I, part II ("Teil II") and the COC; the request in German is in the questions above.
2. 2. BuyFrom a dealer you get a paid invoice ("Rechnung") in your name, showing German VAT ("MwSt.") or stating the margin scheme ("Differenzbesteuerung", "§ 25a UStG"); from a private seller, a written purchase contract ("Kaufvertrag") in your name. Take the originals with you: both parts of the German registration certificate, the COC and the service book ("Serviceheft").
3. 3. Bring it to AustriaThree ways: German export plates ("Ausfuhrkennzeichen", red field, valid HU needed), German short-term plates ("Kurzzeitkennzeichen", yellow field, 6 calendar days max, valid HU, the car must be deregistered) or transport by trailer or transport company. Both kinds of plates come from a German registration office, usually the one where the car is; some ask buyers who don’t live in Germany for a contact person there, so call first, or ask the dealer, who often arranges them. Austria accepts them while they are valid (§ 82(1) KFG). Green Austrian transfer plates ("Überstellungskennzeichen") are only issued in Austria and are not advisable for a car in Germany.

   To say or show in German:

   Können Sie Ausfuhrkennzeichen mit Versicherung für die Fahrt nach Österreich besorgen, und was kostet das?

   Can you get German export plates with insurance for the drive to Austria, and what does it cost?

4. 4. Don't drive on the German plates for longIn Austria you may only drive on the foreign plates briefly: at most one month from the day you bring the car in (§ 82(8) of the Austrian Motor Vehicles Act, KFG), and never beyond the plates’ validity.
5. 5. Pickerl inspection, if one would be dueYou need the Austrian roadworthiness inspection (§57a report, the "Pickerl") if one would already be due in Austria (cars: 3 years after first registration, then after 2 years, then yearly), and you need it before the database entry. Any authorised inspection station does it (a garage, ARBÖ, or ÖAMTC for members); bring the COC and the German papers. Not needed if no such date has passed since the last German test: then the German HU report is accepted.

   To say or show in German:

   Ich brauche ein §57a-Gutachten (Pickerl) für ein Auto aus Deutschland, das ich in Österreich zulassen möchte.

   I need a §57a inspection report (Pickerl) for a car from Germany that I want to register in Austria.

6. 6. Database entry (Datenübernahme)The brand’s official Austrian importer ("Generalimporteur") enters the car in the approval database ("Datenübernahme"), otherwise your state’s vehicle testing office ("Landesprüfstelle") does. You get a data extract ("Datenauszug"); the car stays blocked until NoVA is paid.

   To say or show in German:

   Ich habe ein Fahrzeug aus Deutschland gekauft und bitte um die Datenübernahme in die Genehmigungsdatenbank. Das COC-Papier und die Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I und II schicke ich mit. Was kostet das, und wie lange dauert es?

   I bought a car in Germany and would like it entered in the approval database. I'm sending the COC and registration certificate parts I and II. What does it cost, and how long does it take?

7. 7. Pay NoVAWork out and pay NoVA yourself (plus acquisition VAT, "Erwerbsteuer", for a car that counts as new) on form NoVA 2, which exists in German only. Book an appointment with the Austrian tax office ("Finanzamt Österreich") at bmf.gv.at/terminvereinbarungen or on 050 233 700 and choose "Ich möchte ein Auto anmelden und die Normverbrauchsabgabe (NOVA) bezahlen" (I want to register a car and pay NoVA), not "Sonstiges" (Other); one appointment per car. Bring form NoVA 2, the invoice or contract, the data extract, photo ID and the German papers; for a private purchase also a valuation (Eurotax, Autopreisspiegel or an expert’s report; ÖAMTC members get 5 free Autopreisspiegel valuations a year). Pay in cash (up to €10,000) or by EPS; cards are not accepted. Instead of an appointment: a video appointment (needs ID Austria), or FinanzOnline and a bank transfer. Once paid, the tax office lifts the block.

   To say or show in German:

   Ich möchte die NoVA für ein Gebrauchtfahrzeug aus Deutschland erklären und bezahlen. Hier sind das Formular NoVA 2, die Rechnung, der Datenauszug, mein Ausweis und die deutschen Zulassungspapiere.

   I'd like to declare and pay NoVA for a used car from Germany. Here are form NoVA 2, the invoice, the data extract, my ID and the German registration papers.

8. 8. Take out insuranceThird-party liability insurance ("Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung") with an Austrian insurer. The engine tax is paid with it.

   To say or show in German:

   Ich möchte eine Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung für ein Auto aus Deutschland abschließen und es bei Ihrer Zulassungsstelle anmelden.

   I'd like third-party liability insurance for a car from Germany, and to register it at your registration office.

9. 9. Register the carAt a registration office ("Zulassungsstelle") for the district of your main residence, usually your insurer’s. You must have your main residence ("Hauptwohnsitz") in Austria; someone else can go with your written authorisation. The car can only be registered once the tax office has lifted the block. Bring: photo ID, the insurance confirmation ("Versicherungsbestätigung"), the data extract, both parts of the German registration certificate, the invoice or contract, the §57a report if needed, the NoVA payment confirmation and, if someone else goes, the authorisation.

   To say or show in German:

   Ich möchte dieses Auto aus Deutschland zulassen.

   I'd like to register this car from Germany.