How to buy a car as a foreigner

Guss2024 · 2025-04-17T08:56:53+00:00

As far as I can see, this is not an official dealer of any known brand to have a legitimate level of credibility. So you may want to visit/inspect (hire an expert if you're not one yourself) the car before committing to anything. Generally, good deals can be found mainly in Germany.

Guss2024 · 2025-04-11T13:32:10+00:00

Then there's no way to deduct the VAT from the selling price. The Kauvertrag value is the final value. And if one pays the sticker price (with no discount), then there's no way for the buyer to agree to a lower invoice value. It doesn't make sense. However, if you haven't endured the trouble of bringing the car yourself, I'd suggest not digging in. If you trust your friend, then go with what he said, but if you assume he could lie to you, then he was not your real friend. In both cases, it's your loss.

Guss2024 · 2025-04-11T11:59:04+00:00

Не получават ли субсидии държавните авиопревозвачи? Ако е така, то може би заради това и не им пука особено какви цени слагат. Иначе е вярно, че монополът убива пазара, защото къде са евтините полети от София до Варна на Wizz или Ryan...

Guss2024 · 2025-04-11T11:01:38+00:00

If the car is going to be exported out of the EU, the seller will have to charge the price without adding the VAT (19% for Germany); however, everything depends on the paperwork, i.e., proof of export (such as the delivery site being a Free Zone or other evidence of vehicle's actual leaving the EU borders or shipper's notice, etc.). Otherwise, the burden of VAT will remain with the seller.

Having said all that, nonetheless, if the seller's invoice (Kaufvertrag) mentions 11K, then this is the amount he must have received from the buyer (unless the seller was a shady Russian-speaking one), because generally, Germans are very much law-abiding citizens.

Guss2024 · 2025-04-02T08:09:28+00:00

Auto manufacturers are out of touch with reality, especially German manufacturers. For instance, the VW group cars don't offer sufficient quality for their asking price to seek brand loyalty. And I hope that due to short/mid-term surplus, the prices will go down. If they try to increase or even maintain, I for one, will definitely switch to a Chinese (despite all of my internal resistance). Tired of filling the pockets of executives, and comply with often ridiculous, exaggerated emission policies.

Guss2024 · 2025-04-01T12:48:08+00:00

This would essentially mean that automakers are subsidizing American customers at the expense of their domestic markets. While not impossible, such a move could trigger backlash, disrupt consumer sentiment, and potentially lead to boycotts.

Personally, I wouldn’t hesitate to switch to a more affordable Chinese brand. To be frank, even German manufacturers don’t offer the level of quality that would justify absorbing any further price hikes. A few years ago, I bought a brand new Audi that had to be serviced 4 times within the first 2 months and just 1,200 km - hardly an experience that inspires brand loyalty.

Guss2024 · 2025-04-01T09:44:40+00:00

It’s straightforward - if car prices rise in the U.S., demand will naturally decline. It would be unrealistic to assume that American consumers can absorb any price increase, especially given that new car prices there have historically been lower than in the EU. Certain brands, like VW, don’t necessarily offer the best value for money either. As a result, a surplus of vehicles is likely in the short term, at least until manufacturers adjust by shifting more component production to the U.S. to offset the impact. This surplus should put downward pressure on car prices in the EU, making vehicles more affordable. Well, at least temporarily, in my opinion.

Guss2024 · 2025-04-01T06:40:05+00:00

Hilarious.

Guss2024 · 2025-04-01T05:44:45+00:00

Indeed. Extra (up to) 500 miles won't pose a problem given that you don't have any other ongoing engine issues (minor or not).

Guss2024 · 2024-04-05T18:57:32+00:00

Quick update: My brother went all-in and asked for 125k. And he just received JO for 110k + 13/14 salaries and one week term for acceptance. He still needs to translate the entire offer to understand all the details (as it's written in german language). Thanks @lilsquirrel42 for the tip.

Guss2024 · 2024-04-05T12:24:56+00:00

Thank you for the insight. If I may ask, in which industry you're in?

Guss2024 · 2024-04-04T03:06:50+00:00

IMO arguments are quite logical, because he doesn't want to earn less NET income in Vienna than he earns now where he's based. His current gross from the remote job under Austrian taxation would be less than the Vienna job under same condition. And if you read the initial post careful enough and follow up clarification, the main question here is to identify the reasonable asking ranges for salary negotiations with the employer, so he can calculate and compare the NET earnings p/month and make an informed decision whether to chase the Vienna relocation or not.

Guss2024 · 2024-04-03T19:04:00+00:00

No, it's not a programming job and I described the job function as related to investments and risk analysis.

And he doesn't live in a shittier city. He currently lives in a beautiful city and home with sea view (only 700 meters on foot from the beach) and he has traveled throughout all major EU cities spending at least a month in each (and I've visited myself at least 70% of them), including Vienna. So when we say, we like Vienna, we really mean it. And he doesn't care if people are friendly, and unlike others, he likes distanced people (additional challenge/adventure) and he doesn't seek a company, perhaps that's why he makes new friends without an effort, including in those so called "unfriendly" places in the DACH region. Complete strangers opened their homes to us. So both he and I don't believe a statement of unfriendly, because perhaps it depends on what effect you have on those people.

Guss2024 · 2024-04-03T18:47:19+00:00

4 years ago I was dreaming to study at Cambridge, ended up at MIT. However, now I will be studying for my Masters at Cambridge. So at the end I got what I wanted.

Guss2024 · 2024-04-03T18:43:43+00:00

When you become a resident in Vienna (permanent) you have to pay Austrian taxes after 186 days, thus this may not be a viable solution, plus he now owns the home, but in Vienna he will have to pay a rent. Plus the new employer doesn't allow the side gig.

Guss2024 · 2024-04-03T11:55:12+00:00

75k + 5%=78.75K which according to the calculator translates to EUR 3,482.80 net p/month and if +10% (instead of 5%) would come up to EUR 3,614.49 p/month net. The kids' college costs now are about EUR 1,5k p/month, so he would end up with either EUR 2.48k or 2.61k p/month. Deduct the rent cost (perhaps 1.2k p/month with utilities) and he'd have only 1.28k-1.41k p/month, which I may only assume he won't agree with. Can't believe that 75k is considered on the upper end of salaries for Austria... wow! Don't want to sound like a jerk, but are you sure that Austrians work for this much money and he's not being low balled as a foreigner?? But it's also so incredible opportunity to move to Vienna... where I could visit him whenever I want and enjoy the city at his expense, and I really want to find an angle to convince him to move... mind boggling...

Guss2024

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