Germany is by far the most popular import country for Austrian car buyers. Europe's largest vehicle market offers wide selection, strong price competition and short transport routes. This guide explains the process from vehicle search and purchase to transport, NoVA and registration.
Quick answers
How much does it cost to import a car from Germany to Austria?
On top of the purchase price you pay NoVA, transport, organising the Typenschein (180 euros) and the service fee. In our worked example, a BMW 318i bought for 30,499 euros is delivered registration-ready for 35,414.06 euros - about 16 percent in import costs. Depending on CO2, the NoVA ranges from 0 euros to several thousand euros.
How long does an import from Germany take?
Usually 2 to 6 weeks from purchase to registration. Standard transport to Austria takes between 10 and 20 working days; express options are considerably faster.
At a glance
Key points
- Germany is Austria's most popular import market: large selection and short routes.
- Price differences of 5 to 15 percent versus the Austrian market are common.
- Worked example: a BMW 318i bought for 30,499 euros - delivered registration-ready for 35,414.06 euros.
- NoVA applies when the vehicle is first registered in Austria, regardless of origin.
- Austrian approval document or individual approval is required for registration.
- The complete import process usually takes 2 to 6 weeks.
Why Germany is the most popular import country
Germany is the largest automotive market in the European Union. The supply on platforms such as mobile.de and AutoScout24 is many times larger than in Austria.
Austrian buyers benefit from lower prices, stronger competition, broader model and equipment choice and short transport distances.
Germany is especially attractive for young used cars, premium vehicles and rare equipment combinations.
Price gap Germany-Austria
For vehicles from around 30,000 euros, the price difference is often 5 to 15 percent. Whether importing pays off depends on NoVA, transport and the specific market situation.
Step by step: importing a car from Germany
Importing a vehicle from Germany to Austria follows a clear process. Knowing the steps helps avoid mistakes and unnecessary costs.
1. Find and check the vehicle
Search on mobile.de or AutoScout24. Check complete vehicle data, especially WLTP CO2 emissions, dealer reviews and meaningful photos.
Important for the later calculation: the CO2 value (WLTP) should be stated in the listing - it determines the NoVA.
2. Calculate total costs
Before purchase, vehicle price, NoVA, transport costs, document fees and service fees should be known.
With the Autohaus Zwer cost calculator this takes about 10 seconds: paste the mobile.de or AutoScout24 link, and NoVA, transport and all fees are worked out automatically.
3. Sign the purchase contract
The contract is signed with the German dealer. Make sure all vehicle data is complete and clarify whether regular or margin taxation applies.
Coordinating with the dealer typically takes 1 to 3 days.
4. Transport to Austria
After purchase, transport is arranged. Professional carriers bring the vehicle insured to Austria.
Standard transports from Germany take between 10 and 20 working days; express options shorten delivery considerably.
5. Declare and pay NoVA
NoVA is due on first registration in Austria. The amount mainly depends on CO2 emissions and vehicle price.
In the worked example below this comes to 2,725.53 euros at 153 g/km CO2. If you import through Autohaus Zwer, calculating and paying the NoVA is already included in the Basis package.
6. Register in Austria
For registration you need approval document or individual approval, insurance and proof of paid NoVA.
From purchase to completed registration, the whole process usually takes 2 to 6 weeks.
Cost example: importing from Germany with real numbers
This is what the total actually looks like. The example comes from our cost calculator: a young used car from a German dealer, delivered registration-ready to Vienna.
Example: BMW 318i petrol, first registered 07/2025, 17,129 km, 153 g/km CO2
Import costs in this example come to 4,915.06 euros - about 16 percent of the purchase price. The biggest variable is the NoVA: depending on CO2 it ranges from 0 euros (plug-in hybrid at 35 g/km) to 9,591.50 euros (US muscle car at 337 g/km). For first registrations in 2026: CO2 deduction value 91 g/km, the tax rate rises by one percentage point per 5 grams above it; from 155 g/km a malus of 80 euros per gram applies, proportionally reduced for used cars.
Snapshot from our cost calculator (August 2026). Prices and availability change - what counts is the calculation for your specific vehicle.
What would your car cost?
Paste the mobile.de or AutoScout24 link - the calculator works out NoVA, transport and all fees in about 10 seconds. Free and non-binding.
Calculate import costs nowVAT and price advantages
VAT is an important cost factor. Germany applies 19 percent VAT, Austria 20 percent. The key question is whether the car is sold under regular taxation or margin taxation.
Regularly taxed vehicles
For regularly taxed vehicles, German VAT is generally not charged on export; Austrian VAT may apply instead.
Margin-taxed vehicles
Many used-car dealers sell under margin taxation. VAT is included in the price and is not refunded on export.
Important for calculation
The taxation type is usually stated in the listing or invoice and can significantly affect total costs.
Transport from Germany to Austria
Transport is a central part of the import. Self-collection is possible but carries risks around registration, plates and insurance.
Autohaus Zwer works with established transport partners. Costs depend on distance, vehicle and service level.
Typical delivery times range from a few working days to several weeks depending on route and service; standard transports take between 10 and 20 working days. In the worked examples of our calculator, standard transports to Vienna including transport insurance range from roughly 750 to 1,110 euros.
Transport insurance
All transports arranged by Autohaus Zwer are insured during the full transport. At handover, careful visual inspection and photo documentation are recommended.
Registration in Austria after import
For registration in Austria, NoVA, insurance and technical approval must be completed.
Approval document
For many common models, an Austrian approval document or database entry exists.
Individual approval
For rare models, US imports or heavily modified vehicles, individual approval may be required.
- Valid liability insurance
- Proof of paid NoVA
- Purchase contract or dealer invoice
- Approval document or individual approval
- ID and residence confirmation
Typical mistakes when importing from Germany
Even though Germany imports are relatively straightforward, some mistakes can cost time and money.
- Underestimating NoVA costs
- Ignoring margin taxation
- Driving the vehicle without suitable insurance cover
- Not checking approval availability before purchase
- Missing NoVA deadlines
- Skipping a vehicle condition check before purchase