buying in germany

[Birdseye]

Have spotted a boat that fits my shopping list in the fatherland, second hand and previously owned by a Swede. But I am nervous of buying in a foreign country. Does anybody have any re-assurance based on experience?

What about the VAt issue for example? And how do I establish that the boat is free from loans, and is owned by the person selling. What about surveys - did you ship out a British surveyor? How do you pay a largish sum in Euros? Letter fo credit?

Cant find a similar quality boat in the UK so I am going to have to give this one serious consideration.

HELP!!!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.

 

[Danny_Labrador]

won't it be left hand drive ?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Goodge]

You can pay in euros fairly easily through your bank.

You will need to have the bank account details of the person you are giving the money to who I assume will be the seller and not a broker. The bank will do the foreign exchange for you converting your hard earned Sterling into the Euros and through their correspondent banks will pay the sum onto the seller’s bank. This is best done by SWIFT money transfer as this is a secure bank to bank communication. It is usual for a two day value to be applied i.e. instruct the bank to make payment today and the funds are received for value Friday.

The problem here is that you are releasing your money before collecting delivery of the boat so you need to trust the seller to some extent here.

Letter of Credit is a bit more complex and pricey. It will involve you instructing your bank to issue an L/c in favour of the seller which your bank may be reluctant to do if you don’t have a facility in place.

These normally call for certain documents to be presented by the Beneficiary (seller) before he can get his money.

These are more usual in International trade rather than one off personal transactions due to cost and complexity.

Sorry I can't help with the other bits but I'm sure some one can.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[andyball]

We bought in Holland, but almost in Germany....german seller pulled out at last moment.

You can ship a surveyor out, or depending on area Ward McKenzie
( here) have a Dutch surveyor with exc. English who covers much of Germany, but travelling costs on top of course.

Our seller used std Dutch contract & I had English one signed too, said boat was mine once money paid direct into account. That was quick/easy either through bank or one of the foreign exchange people (usually quicker with them).

Vat ...you want to see a vat invoice or at very least the original bill of sale in an eu country, unless it's old enough to be exempt, in which case documents to prove this, if not obvious.

Proof of ownership depends on registration ....if registered in same way as part 1 here, then ok, if not, need to see bills of sale leading to present owner...free from loans? um, I asked the owner who'd bought it new some 10 yrs previous & got in writing no loans, there was no part 1 type reg. to confirm this in our case.

Ward McKenzie & presumably others will check title to some extent for extra fee + handle sale if requ'd I think.





<hr width=100% size=1>