How to Buy a European Car

First, you must decide whether to buy a new or a used European automobile because the process of buying one will be based on your choice. If you decide to buy a new car, further complicating the issue is that you can either buy the European car at a dealer in the U.S. or in Europe. There are as many pros as there are cons to buying them in the U.S. or Europe, so you must decide which way is best for you.

Instructions

1

If buying a used car in Europe, you should decide which make and model you are interested in, then determine its market value by consulting sources such as Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds, which you can find online or in hard copy. In them are listings of most European cars by year, model and condition, and they will provide cost information for cars that either are purchased from a dealer or at a private sale. You can expect to pay more for your European car at a dealer but can take worth in the extra money because dealers generally invest money into the car to improve it.

2

If you buy a new European car at a dealership in the U.S., you should narrow down your list of cars to a manageable few before you begin shopping. Many things should be considered in choosing your next European vehicle such as where you live, what you can afford, cost of service and how new the technology is that went into your choice. Where you live is important because if you intend to drive in the North, you'll probably need four wheel drive to cope with the snow. Unless you are living in the South, you'd be better off with something other than a convertible. European automobile are notorious for costly repairs, so you'll need to factor that in your decision. And BMW, for example put a new vehicle control system in its 700 series several years ago, and it was a number of years later before they worked out the bugs.

3

If you travel to Europe and buy your vehicle from a dealer there, simply tell your dealership in the U.S. to order a vehicle from the factory in Europe then take delivery of it when you arrive. You see several financial advantages to doing that way. First, the dealer will authorize a reduction in its cost from 6 to 8 percent. Furthermore, the factory may agree to certain perks while you are traveling, such as free night's lodging, meals and even your airfare. To be eligible, you must stay in Europe for a minimum of 10 days, the length of time necessary to register the vehicle, get insurance and pay taxes. The perks, alone, can be as much as $5,000 which will offset much of the cost of the trip. Most likely you will have to pay cash to the European automaker, but many dealers in the U.S. will arrange financing before you go.