How to Choose an Importer for a Car from Abroad?

An experienced car importer can shield you from many pitfalls, but choosing the wrong importer can lead to the same final result as if you were purchasing the vehicle on your own.

Read on to see what parameters you should focus on to ensure the car purchase is a joyful experience.

Importing a car from Germany may sound simple, even trivial, but it can actually take many forms. There is a lot of room for making mistakes if you are unfamiliar with the local environment and language. The image of a prototypical importer having an older SUV with a trailer is amusing. They arrive on site, take a look, determine that the car is blue or yellow, negotiate in broken German "guten Tag, wie viel letzte Preis, und danke" (Hello, what is the final price, and thank you), send the client 5 or even 10 photos, load it up, drive home, and it’s done. The service fee is calculated in CZK per kilometre of travel, totalling a maximum of somewhere between ten and twenty thousand Czech crowns. They haven't really done much work because "there's nothing to it," and that's it—the car is in front of your house. You'll figure out the registration yourself. You may know nothing about the car, but who cares.

Please take this with a pinch of salt; it was just for fun. Now, seriously.

To properly select a car importer from Germany or another foreign country, it is necessary to realize that the quality of "companies" in this field varies greatly, just like in any other industry. Based on the experience of our newly acquired clients' previous purchases, the average standard is unfortunately not great, which is a shame. Often, the price of services is the only measure, but where are the processes for vehicle verification, history checks, vetting the importer, the foreign supplier, payment terms, VAT, registration, warranties, suitable financing selection, insurance, etc.?

Selecting the Right Car Importer from Germany is Key

There is a portfolio of companies that look professional from the outside, but this is not always true. By choosing such a company, you are placing yourself in the hands of someone who either can systematically and correctly handle the inquiry and process it both commercially and technically, or you are venturing onto thin ice with a supplier who simply doesn't know what they are doing, often providing a service similar in quality to if you went to select the car yourself. It is often a so-called "one-man show," which is not bad in itself if they specialize in a specific, narrow area, but they have no chance of covering all areas, or at least not at any worthwhile quality level. Let's not forget the fact that purchasing a car is always a large item in a business or family budget.

Do You Wish to Arrange Financing?

Just at this point, a significant portion of "professionals" drops out because they simply cannot economically afford to finance, for example, 70% of the vehicle purchase price, especially if several clients who lack their own resources and need financing for a car purchase appear at once. Not to mention that if anything goes wrong, they simply have no way to address the situation, and if you seek a solution through legal channels, there isn't much to recover from them.

Client Protection

Some do not hesitate to suggest that vehicle history checks are useless and that the most important thing is to have a "good feeling" about the car. Yes, a good feeling must undoubtedly be present when buying, but if the vehicle's history repeatedly shows previous owner complaints about gearbox defects and the return of the vehicle to the dealer, then working with such a car is pure irresponsibility, no matter how many "feelings" the importer has. It's about risks and probabilities.

A true professional will protect the client and must talk them out of choosing a bad car.

What if the offered vehicle is a former rental car from Sweden with accident records, flooding the Czech market with low prices coupled with low quality? Or what if the car was used for promotional events for brand VIP clients and has a tough life behind it, for example, on a racing circuit or testing grounds under the hands of dozens of drivers? Whether you are interested in purchasing a standard VW Passat or an exclusive Porsche 911, rest assured that thoroughness truly pays off, and being informed about the origin and history of the vehicle is the protection of your investment.

What is missing? Most often, systems and processes are missing. Adequate liability insurance, transport insurance, language or technical skills are also lacking, and last but not least, the economic background to remedy a potential problem.

Carefully Consider Your Supplier Choice

Whether you are purchasing your first or, for example, fifth car, consider based on the type and value of the car, which supplier to choose and conduct honest market research so that your car import from Germany or another country truly meets your expectations.

Importing cars from Germany or another country requires specific knowledge and experience. Primarily, it is necessary to distinguish between a professional importer and a mere transport provider whose only concern is the price per kilometre of transport. Low-quality service providers often neglect important process steps or omit them entirely, which is usually reflected in a lower price. It is essential for the importer to master the relevant foreign language to prevent misunderstandings. Technical knowledge of the vehicles is, of course, also key.

Choose a true professional and leave nothing to chance. Buying a car is always a major investment for every interested party, regardless of its nominal value.

For Whom Are We a Suitable Partner?

For those of you who want to be protected throughout the entire purchase process and want to enjoy this exceptional moment worry-free from A to Z. Not only will we deliver the vehicle at a 100% value-to-investment ratio and guide you through the entire process, but we will also truly fulfil all your wishes. Do you wish for additional services for the vehicle in the form of advantageous financing, insurance, or other elements such as protective PPF films, the delivery of a winter wheel set, a sports exhaust system, or undercarriage wax coating protection? This and much more is included in our standard portfolio. Do not hesitate to contact us at any time to utilize our services.