Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 d 4MATIC Coupé
AMG Premium Plus
View vehicleCar import from the EU for private buyers
You found a car on Mobile.de or AutoScout24 and you are paying for it in full. We check the car and the dealership, calculate the cost up to registration and handle the entire import - turnkey.
In short
As a private buyer you generally pay the advertised (gross) price for a used car from the EU, including the seller's VAT - Croatian VAT is then not paid. Before registration you pay PPMV (special motor vehicle tax) and the homologation cost. We check the car and the dealership, calculate the total cost before purchase and arrange transport and paperwork.
Who the service is for
- For private buyers paying with their own funds.
- For you if you have already found a car on Mobile.de, AutoScout24 or another platform - or are still searching.
- For you if you do not want to send money abroad without checking the car and the seller.
VAT when importing a car as a private buyer
For a used car (older than 6 months and with more than 6,000 km) that you buy as a private person from a dealership in another EU country, VAT is paid in the seller's country and is already included in the advertised price. No VAT is paid again on that car in Croatia.
Since Croatian VAT (25%) is among the highest in the EU, buying a car in the VAT system as a private person can be cheaper than buying through a company that resells the car in Croatia.
| Net price of the car | €40,000 |
|---|---|
| German VAT (19%) | €7,600 |
| Price paid by a private buyer | €47,600 |
| Net price of the car | €40,000 |
|---|---|
| Croatian VAT (25%) | €10,000 |
| Price of the car | €50,000 |
Different rules apply to new cars (up to 6 months or up to 6,000 km) - VAT is paid in Croatia. PPMV is paid in both cases. PPMV calculator →
How a car import to order works - step by step
- You send the vehicle link or describe what you are looking for.
- We check the car by VIN: history, paid damage claims, mileage and service records.
- We check the dealership and the documents. We work only with verified dealerships.
- You get the total cost up to registration, including the PPMV calculation.
- We negotiate the price, prepare and review the contract.
- We arrange payment only after the checks and a signed contract.
- We arrange transport on an insured transporter, homologation, the customs declaration for PPMV and the paperwork.
- You pick up the car ready for registration.
How much does it cost to import a car up to registration
Besides the price of the car, the total cost includes PPMV, the end-of-life vehicle fee, homologation and the manufacturer certificate where required, transport, and registration and insurance. PPMV depends on the value of the car and its CO₂ emissions - it is not paid for electric cars.
You get every item listed before you decide to buy, so you can fairly compare the car from the EU with offers in Croatia.
You can estimate PPMV right away. PPMV calculator →
What you need
Personal details for the contract and registration, and the funds for payment. You receive the exact list of documents in the offer. You do not need to travel abroad or go to customs.
How does it work?
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You send a link or tell us what you are looking for
A link from Mobile.de, AutoScout24 or another platform. If you are still searching, describe the car, budget and equipment.
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We check the vehicle, the seller and the documents
History and damage by VIN, documents, CO₂ and the dealership. We only work with verified dealerships.
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You receive our findings and an offer
What we found, an estimate of the special motor vehicle tax (PPMV) and the total cost up to registration.
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We arrange the purchase and payment
Price negotiation, contract review, payment in full or financing.
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Transport, homologation and paperwork
Transport on an insured transporter, manufacturer certificate, homologation, customs declaration for PPMV, temporary plates.
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You pick up the car
Handover of a vehicle ready for registration in Croatia.
What is included
Turnkey: you choose the car, we organise everything else.
Search and checks
- Vehicle search
- Vehicle check by VIN
- Check for paid insurance damage claims
- Check of vehicle documents
- Vehicle history check
- CO₂ check
- Dealership check
Purchase and finance
- Calculation of the special motor vehicle tax (PPMV)
- Price negotiation in your interest
- Preparation and review of the purchase contract
- Financing
- Bank fees and commissions
Transport and paperwork
- Transport on an insured transporter
- Manufacturer certificate
- Homologation
- Temporary plates
- Parking ticket at the customs area
- Customs declaration for PPMV
- End-of-life vehicle fee
Related delivered vehicles
All delivered vehicles
FAQ
Does a private buyer pay VAT in Croatia when importing a used car from the EU?
No, if the car is used (older than 6 months and with more than 6,000 km) and bought from a dealership in the EU: VAT has been paid in the seller's country and is included in the price. PPMV is paid in Croatia.
Is it worth importing a car from Germany as a private person?
Often yes, because of the wider choice, better equipment and the lower German VAT (19%) on cars in the VAT system. We always check whether it pays off for the specific car, with a calculation of PPMV and all costs up to registration.
Do I have to go to Germany to collect the car?
No. We arrange the check, contract, payment, transport and paperwork - you pick up the car ready for registration.
Do you buy cars from private sellers?
No. We work only with verified dealerships, because they issue an invoice, provide clear documents and take responsibility for the car.
I found a car on Mobile.de. What next?
Send us the listing link. We will check the car and the seller, calculate an estimated PPMV and tell you what the options are and the total cost up to registration.
You do not need to contact the seller or pay a deposit before the check. From the link we see the basic data, and using the VIN we check the history, paid damage claims, documents and the CO₂ figure that matters for PPMV.
After the check you get clear information: whether we recommend the car, what we found and how much the car will cost ready for registration in Croatia. If you decide to buy, we arrange the negotiation, contract, payment, transport, homologation and paperwork.
What do you check on the car before purchase?
Using the VIN we check the vehicle history, paid damage claims, documents and CO₂, and we separately check the dealership selling the car.
The check covers:
- vehicle history - available service and registration data,
- paid damage claims - recorded damage and repairs,
- documents - whether the documents match the car and the listing,
- CO₂ - the emissions figure that directly affects the PPMV amount,
- the dealership - who sells the car and how they operate.
If the check reveals something that does not match the listing, you will know before any payment.
Do you only work with customers from Međimurje?
No. We are based in Čakovec and arrange car imports for customers from all over Croatia - Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek, Varaždin and other cities.
We handle the whole process remotely - by phone, WhatsApp and e-mail: from sending the link and checking the car to the contract and payment. You do not have to come in person, not even to sign the contract.
You pick up the car in Čakovec, ready for registration.
What is PPMV and how is it calculated?
PPMV is the Croatian special motor vehicle tax, paid when a car is first registered in Croatia. For passenger cars it depends on the price, CO₂ emissions, fuel type and, for used cars, the age.
For passenger cars the tax consists of a part based on the selling price of the car and a part based on CO₂ emissions and fuel type. The amounts are set by the Croatian regulation on calculating the special motor vehicle tax.
For used cars, the tax that the same new car would pay is determined first and then reduced according to the age of the car in months (table from the regulation) or according to an assessment of the actual market value.
The final amount is determined by the customs office. You can make an estimate in our PPMV calculator, and we calculate the exact amount for a specific car before purchase.
What do I need to do as a private buyer?
Choose the car and the payment method and send us the personal details needed for the contract and registration. We arrange everything else.
The exact list of documents depends on the payment method (payment in full or leasing). You receive it in the offer, and we handle everything we can digitally.
Found the car you want to buy?
Send us the link and we will check what is possible.