Germán registration

Wansworth

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Looking at a boat to buy that has German registration.The boat 7 meters long is to be used in SPAIN…..will ask an agency but interested in why it’s registered in Germany.
 

jwilson

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There are some countries whose registration and boat usage rules (and frequently varying local interpretations of them) are so awkward that many owners prefer to register somewhere else. Italy is probably the worst, but Spain is another. In comparison to most of Europe, the UK has minimal legislation, and what there is is not much enforced.
 

emandvee44

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When we arrived recently in our home marina, we thought there had been an invasion - so many Polish flags. One of our near neighbours is French, but Polish flag. He explained that it is very easy to register, eveything done on line, no annual checks and fees, as per many other flags.
M
 

Daverw

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Do sometimes wonder what a country gains such as Poland by making it easy and cheap to register none residents boats, could understand when large commercial fees involved but not leisure craft.
 

Dragon461

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I have been on holiday in Greece and there are large amounts of Polish flagged yachts, I am talking 3 in 10 in the Port.
 

greeny

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The man in the street doing what big shipping organisations have been doing for years? In a much smaller way of course. More and more Polish flags appearing here in Portugal as well after the clamp down on the Dutch registration dodge by the authorities. I personally know 2 Portuguese sailors with boats who have done this.
 

Wansworth

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T
The man in the street doing what big shipping organisations have been doing for years? In a much smaller way of course. More and more Polish flags appearing here in Portugal as well after the clamp down on the Dutch registration dodge by the authorities. I personally know 2 Portuguese sailors with boats who have done this.
thanks,hoping to talk to an agency today about the German registration,it sounds to me to be a bit boarderline legalwise
 

greeny

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I guess you could buy it as it is and operate under the German registration until if or when the Spanish start to clamp down on it. Maybe never. If they do, you just need to de register it from Germany and re-register it in Spain.
That may need you to import the boat to Spain though. It did when I did it in Portugal with my ex SSR UK boat. I had to have inspections and pay import duty though. Just like you would with a car.
Why not just buy it, de register it in Germany and then register it in UK on SSR assuming you qualify for the UK registration. This all depends on where you are living and resident. :)
Or go onto the Polish registration like others before you.
 

Wansworth

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I guess you could buy it as it is and operate under the German registration until if or when the Spanish start to clamp down on it. Maybe never. If they do, you just need to de register it from Germany and re-register it in Spain.
That may need you to import the boat to Spain though. It did when I did it in Portugal with my ex SSR UK boat. I had to have inspections and pay import duty though. Just like you would with a car.
Why not just buy it, de register it in Germany and then register it in UK on SSR assuming you qualify for the UK registration. This all depends on where you are living and resident. :)
Or go onto the Polish registration like others before you.
Talked tothe agency today they recommend going to polish registration,Spanish too complex and expensive cost about 800 euros,to re register with the Poles,will look for Spanish reg boat
 

Wansworth

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My British Reg Boat has been in Spain for 3 years. Not a squeak from anyone.
Having lived in Spain for the best part of thirty years my only comment is that to sleep soundly It’s best to have everything correct,maybe they won’t bother but maybe one day they will,happened to me.The maritime specialists in Vigo,Lex Mar said the best option I have with the German flag is to change to the Polish Flag as being the cheapest option.I am a Spanish resident.
 

Baggywrinkle

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Buck Turgidson

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Having lived in Spain for the best part of thirty years my only comment is that to sleep soundly It’s best to have everything correct,maybe they won’t bother but maybe one day they will,happened to me.The maritime specialists in Vigo,Lex Mar said the best option I have with the German flag is to change to the Polish Flag as being the cheapest option.I am a Spanish resident.
So a Spanish reg for you. I live in Switzerland so my UK reg is fine.
 

Wansworth

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To register a boat in Germany you need to be resident in Germany. It is very cheap and straightforward (€27 or €32). My German friends who have boats in the Med are all German registered and the boats are mostly in Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Turkey.

Details here for those that understand German:

Internationaler Bootsschein – Das ADAC Bootskennzeichen › ADAC Skipper-Portal

In english ...

Google Translate

The OP might be interested in the de-registration section.
So a Spanish reg for you. I live in Switzerland so my UK reg is fine.
yes it’s the most straight forward,looking at a boat next week,locally
 
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