Importing yourself saves money — true. But the saving is not the gap between the German and the local price; it is that gap minus transport, duties, lost days and the risk that the car is not what the photos showed.
Importing yourself pays off when
- You have someone reliable on site who sees the car with their own eyes.
- You need a specific model that is rare here.
- You have time: two to four weeks from purchase to plates is normal.
- You can carry the financial risk if the customs value comes out higher than expected.
Buying ready pays off when
- You want to drive this week, not next month.
- You want to see and drive the car before paying.
- You do not want to deal with terminals, deadlines and forms.
- Peace of mind is worth more to you than a few hundred euros.
Middle path: buy a car that is already cleared but not yet registered. The hard part is done and the price still sits below a car on RKS plates.