As an Israeli citizen it can be hard to own a vehicle in Europe. The buying is not the problem, the registration is. In Germany and the Netherlands a vehicle can only be registered to someone who is registered as a resident at an address in that country, and as a visitor you are not. That is why you can't get it registered in your own name.
Here are 3 ways to buy and register a vehicle in Europe as an Israeli.
As an Israeli you can easily get lost in all the options and ideas. One person says you can easily register it in your own name, others say it's practically impossible, so what do you do? Some spend fortunes renting cars and others cancel their plans completely!
The solution is closer than you think though! You can choose between doing some extra work yourself, or paying a company so you can lean back and relax. Here are 3 options for you!
Good to know before you start
As an Israeli citizen you can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. With Europe only a short flight away, it is easy to come back for more trips, which makes keeping a vehicle here even more interesting. It is smart to bring an International Driving Permit (IDP) next to your Israeli licence; you can get one through Memsi, the Automobile and Touring Club of Israel.
1. Purchase Assistance Program (The Netherlands & Germany)
25 years ago Harro's father started his RV company in the Netherlands, and in 2017 Harro started his own company, focusing on non-Europeans like yourself! With nearly 10 years of experience, they offer a program that allows you to plan everything from A to Z, even before you enter Europe.
Europe Roadtrip Company gives advice and finds the perfect vehicle for your travels. With their full program they will also inspect it, negotiate on your behalf, purchase the vehicle, bring it to their yard, register and insure it, and have it ready for your first arrival! A rental car is waiting for you at the airport, and you'll spend the first night at a campsite where you meet them, get organised and have a stress-free start to your travels. This is ideal when you are buying a motorhome! But they also help foreigners buy cars, motorbikes or even boats. This way you are sorted with insurance and registration, while you remain the owner of the vehicle through their so-called Holders Agreement & contract. The vehicle is registered under Europe Roadtrip Company, and that contract makes you the legal owner.
Note: You are the owner and liable for the vehicle, so this is not a rental. It also means you don't have the rights a renter would have.
2. Registration Program without assistance
You can also choose to organise everything yourself: find a vehicle in Germany or the Netherlands, and stay in close contact with Europe Roadtrip Company, who will register and insure it for you with their yearly or monthly registration plan.
If you want a little help, you can book them at an hourly rate, for example to have someone inspect the vehicle or pick it up from a dealer. When you are buying from overseas this can be the perfect solution, while you still do most of the work yourself.
When you have found your perfect vehicle, make sure to check with them whether they agree with your choice. They don't charge for a little advice, and they can make sure you are not being scammed or making costly mistakes. Once the paperwork is all okay, you plan a date with them, they take the papers to the registration office in Germany and you can even choose your own number plate. In the Netherlands the whole process can be done online, but they often ask to meet you, so they know who they are doing business with 😊
3. Go to a competitor
There are more companies offering similar plans to Harro & Tymeck, and I would even go as far as saying that one or two may be cheaper. However, for the most experience, the most personal approach and the most services, you'll end up at Europe Roadtrip Company. Not only is it a family company, at the moment it is also the only European company that shares its experience in searching for and finding the right vehicle, and gives you unique access to its dealer network. Over the years they have built up multiple contacts who offer them vehicles before they even end up at the dealers. This way you don't only buy the help you need, you can also get your hands on a vehicle with a real return on investment!
These were the 2 programs we offer, but there are many more options. Feel free to contact us on WhatsApp at +31 6 36590880 or email us at contact@europeroadtripcompany.com with any questions you may have.
