These are some tough decisions.
A year before we PCS'd to Germany, my wife and I bought a brand new BMW in the states.
We put some money into it, bought new rims & tires, and gave it a nice tint.
Little did we know, later that summer we would have orders to Germany.
We also just started making car payments on the vehicle (about $450/mo), so we had to figure out if our bank had any issues with us bringing the car overseas (if you have an outstanding car loan, you need to look into this too).
Ultimately, we made the decision to sell our car, and I'm glad we did.
Here's why...
Sell Your Vehicle?
Most families have more than one vehicle, but only one can be shipped on the government's dime (unless you're a civilian, then all POV shipments are considered taxable income
under the TCJA).
If you're making car payments on one (or both) of those vehicles and will NOT be finished making payments BEFORE you PCS back to the states, you might want to think about selling (at least) one of your vehicles.
Things to consider:
- You need to ship your POV at a Vehicle Processing Center (VPC). How far is the
closest one to you? You may need to make more than one trip to the VPC (more of that in a bit).
- Will selling your car be less stressful than shipping it?
- Is selling your car more cost effective than paying out of pocket for it to be shipped?
- If you have a large family (more than 4) and you're comfortable with your current mini van or SUV, hold on to it! Large family POVs are tough to come by out here.
- You're probably aware that Europe isn't the best place for (American sized) trucks. Roads are tiny, parking spaces are narrow, and with gas prices going up, it's probably more convenient to just
take the train on long journeys. However, if you can't live without your truck, you'll be happy to know that on-base roads and parking lots are similar sized to US standards.
- Most people that ship their vehicle often have to wait weeks (sometimes longer) before their POV is ready for pick up. It's a stressful process that everyone goes through when first arriving. In addition, rental cars are NOT reimbursable, and availability is limited, so reserve a rental in advance if you know you're shipping.
- Did you know there's a bunch of safe, reliable, used car options right outside the base(s)? People are selling their cars left and right online, and there's even a "lemon lot" of used cars to look at on base. But I've got an even better option for you...
Buy a Used Car:
If buying a Tax FREE used vehicle makes sense for your family, then here's my recommendation:
Secure a used vehicle
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE! It is so convenient to have a POV the moment you step foot on European soil.
Once you arrive, you and your kids will have a ton of errands to run, appointments to make, and you need to get to work! No one wants to rely on others to get from point A to B.
Ok, so how do you do it?
"Used Car Guys" -
This tip will relieve a ton stress for you!
You're gonna
LOVE the Sweeney Brothers! They've got offices right outside Ramstein (Kaiserslautern Military Community), Stuttgart, Spangdahlem Germany and Aviano Italy! However, they'll accommodate you no matter where you're stationed.
Can you really trust a
"Used Car Guy?" these days?
- Get your
FIRST LOOK 👀 here!
Some Fun Facts about Used Car Guys:
- They sell cars & TRUCKS! Guaranteed to pass the mandatory
German car inspection (learn more about this here)
- You can buy, sell, or trade-in vehicles
- They have a guaranteed buy back program for EU spec vehicles (for the end of your tour)
- You can communicate with them
24/7 through WhatsApp on their website!
And... we've partnered up! This is a company I've worked with, I trust, and I can personally vouch for to help you during this part of the PCS.
Not sure where to start on purchasing a used car in Germany?
We made a video to help you with that.
Take a look at their
inventory or
contact them directly with your questions/concerns.
Don't forget to tell them "DTV" sent ya! 😉
If you decide to sell your car(s), you
need to prepare for NOT having a car when you first arrive
- especially if you're not going with the used car route.
Here's what I recommend:
- Get a
reliable sponsor and ask if they can take you to/from work. Offer to pay them if necessary
- See if there's a bus or
on base shuttle and learn the schedule immediately
- Reserve a rental car before arrival
- Bike or walk
Store your Vehicle?
You also have the option to
store your vehicle in the states before PCSing to Germany. One of your overseas entitlements includes shipping or storing your Privately Owned Vehicle (POV).
Just like shipping your vehicle, storing your vehicle takes place at the closest
VPC.
If you decide to go with this option (or if you just want a family/friend to store your vehicle), I would check with your insurance company about lowering your monthly premium.
Buy a New Vehicle?
Tax FREE Vehicles! Custom Builds! Pre Order from the States!
Just imagine... a gigantic red ribbon on top of your brand new BMW, ready to hit the autobahn for your first family vacation overseas!
The ONLY company I'd recommend turning this dream into a reality is Bavarian Motor Cars. I've been working with this company from the very beginning. Since 2014, they've sponsored all my events, they've put my friends in new cars, and they've become family for my wife and I.
This is what you can expect when you
walk into a BMW dealership right outside of base.
Here's the deal, if you just want to start fresh with a new car for your family, you have to check out all the
special offers they provide:
- Tax Free, military discounted offers (learn exactly how that works here)
- Pre ordered, custom builds guaranteed to be ready
before you even arrive
-
VIP delivery service (Free one night stay in a
beautiful 4 star hotel
, or get it delivered right to the base with that red ribbon 😉)
- Stateside trade ins, meaning they can trade in your old car while you're still in the US
- Loaner car programs & much more!
If this is something you're interested in, I highly recommend checking their
inventory or
contacting one of their representatives with your questions.
Tell them "DTV" sent you!
Ship your Vehicle?
This is by far the most popular option.
So popular that we made an entire video blog about
Shipping your Car Overseas.
Inside the guide, you'll learn how to:
- Prepare your POV for cleaning expectations
- Fill out the correct paperwork
- Track your vehicle after shipping
- Take the driver's test
- Get your POV ready for inspection
(like this)
- And register your POV on base
Ship a 2nd POV
You've probably noticed the government will only cover the cost of one POV shipment. So if you're planning on bringing that 2nd POV, or need to get your cars safely back home in the US, then I recommend Shipoverseas.com.
Here's how you get a discount with them by mentioning "DTV" 🎥
With nearly 40 years of experience and over 100K+ customers, Shipoverseas is "America's #1 International Car Shipping Company."
And Germany is their most frequent destination for military POV shipments!
As a military member, you don't have to worry about import/duty taxes for your POV. Shipoverseas will walk you through the process of shipping your car (or anything else you want to ship) to & from the US.
Their services to military members include:
- Cars, RVs, motorcycles (which can also be sent for FREE with your HHG), boats, motorhomes, campers, trailers, buses, construction vehicles, and heavy machinery shipments to Europe, Latin America, Africa & the Middle East
- Cost effective "RoRo" (Roll-On Roll-Off) shipping
- Breakdown of costs (handling charge, storage fees, marine insurance, etc)
- US customs clearing & shipment preparation checks
- Online tracking status
The best way to get started is to Request a FREE Quote (Watch 🎥), or you can contact them directly with your specific questions.
Get a $50 Military Discount when you put "DTV" in the "Additional Notes & Instructions" section of the Online Quote! 🫡🇺🇸
USA Tel: (858) 547-0840
Toll Free: (888) 805-4994
SMS Text Message: (858) 451-7281
Car Insurance:
If you're in the market for a reliable insurance company that can take care of you while living abroad, check out "Milinsure."
Since 2014, Mark Judge has been providing competitive auto insurance to US military & NATO families all over Germany. When I first found out about him I priced matched my USAA auto insurance with him and found it to be $5 cheaper for the same exact full coverage.
And that included 24hr Europe-Wide Roadside Assistance on every policy! Huge stress relief when you're driving on the autobahn (or across countries) and need to speak English with someone fast!
To get a free quote, give him a call at +4917693136972 or learn more here!
There are many decisions to think about when it comes to your POV. The purpose behind this email is to get you thinking about what makes the most sense for you and your family.
Geez... this email ended up being longer than expected. That's all for today.
Talk to you soon!
- DT
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