CarTurf Pricing: What It Costs to Register and Drive Your Own Car in Europe

€249 one-time setup. Autopilot from €99/mo (tiered to €299 for high-value vehicles). Moto from €49/mo. Insurance and tax separate. No hidden fees. Every number, right here.

German-registered company. Active subscribers across 12+ European countries.

Plans

Service Plans

Autopilot has three value tiers; Moto has Basic and Plus. Use the car counter in the cards for extra vehicles. The full list with every fee is in the All Plan Options table below.

All Plan Options

All plans include document storage and CarTurf app access. Free signup available for app-only use. Add multiple cars or vans in the plan cards above; extra vehicles are billed as add-ons. Moto prices match the Moto tab.

PlanMonthly FeeSignup FeeBest For
Autopilot €99 €249 Vehicles up to €100,000
Autopilot Premium €199 €249 Vehicles €100K–€500K
Autopilot Lux €299 €249 Vehicles up to €1,000,000
Moto Basic €49 €249 Motorcycles — entry tier
Moto Plus €79 €249 Motorcycles — expanded coverage

Insurance

Insurance Coverage and Cost

Three levels of German coverage for non-residents. Non-resident policies cost more than standard German policies — insurers price in the additional risk of primary use abroad. Paying annually instead of quarterly saves 10–13%.

Liability Only (Haftpflicht)

Covers damage you cause to others — third-party property and injury only. Your own vehicle is not covered for collision, fire, or theft. This is the minimum legal requirement in Germany and the cheapest option.

  • Annual premium range

    €700–€1,200

    / year

Partial Coverage (Teilkasko)

Adds fire and theft protection to liability. If your car is stolen or burns, you're covered. Collision damage to your own vehicle is still not included. Good for older vehicles where collision coverage isn't worth the premium.

  • Annual premium range

    €900–€1,800

    / year

Full Coverage (Vollkasko)

Covers everything. Third-party damage, fire, theft, and collision damage to your own vehicle. If you hit a guardrail or another car hits you and drives off, your car is repaired. Recommended for newer or higher-value vehicles.

  • Annual premium range

    €1,500–€3,000

    / year

Additional Costs

Separate from the monthly service fee — paid to German authorities or third parties as they apply.

  • German Vehicle Tax

    €150–€300/year

    Invoiced once per year by German authorities. Amount depends on engine size and emissions class. Diesel vehicles pay more than petrol. Newer, cleaner engines pay less. CarTurf handles the paperwork and forwards the invoice.

  • TUV Inspection

    €150–€350 every 2 years

    The Hauptuntersuchung (TUV) is Germany's mandatory vehicle inspection. Every two years, your car needs to pass safety and emissions checks at any TUV station in Germany. If you're buying a used car, ask the dealer to provide a fresh inspection — that gives you two years before your first renewal.

  • Storage (outdoor near office)

    €50/month

    CarTurf offers outdoor storage near the Remagen office for €50 per month. Staff can periodically start your vehicle for maintenance while you're away. General storage in Germany ranges €50–€300/month depending on indoor vs. outdoor and location. If the vehicle is in a 100% secure location, you can fully deregister to stop all payments.

  • Third License Plate for Bike Rack

    Varies

    If you mount a bike rack that covers your rear plate, you need a third plate. CarTurf can arrange and ship one to you. Or stop by any plate printer in Germany to get one made on the spot.

Real Scenarios

What Does It Actually Cost? Three Real Scenarios

Three scenarios based on real customer trips. Every number is published, not a range you have to guess inside. Click a tab to see that scenario's full cost breakdown.

Scenario A: 12-Month Europe Trip, Standard Car

CostAmount
Vehicle purchase€15,000
CarTurf signup€249
12 months service€1,188
Insurance, full coverage€1,200
Vehicle tax€200
Total€17,837

You buy a €15,000 used car in Germany. Reliable, nothing fancy. Compare to 12 months of long-term rental at €1,000 per month: €12,000 minimum, no ownership, country restrictions, return-condition penalties. At €17,837 with CarTurf, you own a €15,000 asset at the end.

CarTurf vs Other Options

How CarTurf compares to long-term rentals, buy-back programs, and workaround registration schemes.

  • CarTurf Autopilot

    ★ Our pick
    Monthly Cost
    from €99 + insurance
    Duration Limit
    No limit
    Ownership
    Full ownership
    Country Restrictions
    None with German plates
    Legal Risk
    None
    Best For
    Any non-resident, any duration
  • Long-term rental

    Monthly Cost
    €1,000+
    Duration Limit
    6–12 months
    Ownership
    No ownership
    Country Restrictions
    Often restricted
    Legal Risk
    None
    Best For
    Short trips under 3 months
  • Citroen buy-back

    Monthly Cost
    €800–€1,200
    Duration Limit
    Max 6 months
    Ownership
    Temporary, French cars only
    Country Restrictions
    France pickup required
    Legal Risk
    None
    Best For
    Want new car, max 6 months
  • Bulgarian plates

    Monthly Cost
    ~€650 one-time
    Duration Limit
    Ongoing
    Ownership
    You own it
    Country Restrictions
    Annual Bulgaria inspection trip
    Legal Risk
    High, legal gray area
    Best For
    Budget, accept uncertainty
  • French SCI company

    Monthly Cost
    €5,000+ setup
    Duration Limit
    Ongoing
    Ownership
    Company owns it
    Country Restrictions
    France-centric
    Legal Risk
    Medium
    Best For
    Already spending time in France
  • Export plates

    Monthly Cost
    Free–€200
    Duration Limit
    6–12 months, no renewal
    Ownership
    You own it
    Country Restrictions
    Valid across EU
    Legal Risk
    Expires, no extension
    Best For
    Temporary trips only
  • Friend's name

    Monthly Cost
    Free
    Duration Limit
    Ongoing
    Ownership
    Friend legally responsible
    Country Restrictions
    Insurance may be void
    Legal Risk
    High
    Best For
    Not recommended

Bulgarian plates and French SCI data from ICP research. Citroen buy-back pricing from manufacturer programs.

Additional Services

Optional services for sourcing, selling, delivery, and storage.

  • Vehicle Sourcing (Auction)

    €750 + 4% of sales price

    CarTurf has access to dealer auctions not available to the public. The brokering fee covers the winning bid, auction fees, shipping to pickup location, and all CarTurf coordination. You get a car ready to drive without navigating German auction systems yourself.

  • Vehicle Selling

    €500 + 1% of sales price

    When you're done with your car, our team handles the sale. Commission covers listing, buyer communication, paperwork, and transfer. You don't need to be in Germany to sell your vehicle.

  • Car Delivery

    Varies by distance

    CarTurf delivers vehicles to Frankfurt, Paris, Bratislava, and other European cities. Distance-based pricing — ask for a quote or what is included with your purchase.

  • Storage Between Trips

    €50/month

    Outdoor storage near the Remagen office. Staff can start your vehicle periodically for maintenance. For extended periods, drop insurance to partial coverage or fully deregister to stop all payments.

"Within three days, we had landed in Germany from America, bought a car, and registered and insured it." — Harriet G., TripAdvisor

"I use CarTurf as it was the easiest and cheapest route." — r/CamperVans discussion

Speed means value. Three days from landing to driving versus weeks of paperwork and dead ends.

— TripAdvisor review, Reddit r/CamperVans

Walk Through Your Numbers With Our Team

Tell us your vehicle, your trip, your budget. We'll walk you through the exact costs for your specific situation. No sales pitch. Just the numbers.

Not Ready for a Call?

Sign up free. Store documents, manage your vehicle search, explore the app. Upgrade to Autopilot when you're ready for registration and insurance.

FAQ

Pricing FAQ

Common questions about what CarTurf charges, how insurance works, and what you can expect each month.

The monthly fee covers ongoing liability. CarTurf keeps your vehicle registered, maintains insurance, handles traffic tickets that arrive at the German address, processes correspondence from authorities, and manages all bureaucratic requirements. This isn't a one-time setup. It's continuous administration for as long as you own the car.

Unlikely. CarTurf's insurance partner is the most reliable option for non-residents. Attempting to secure your own German insurance as a non-resident typically results in declined applications or denied claims when you need them. Insurers require German residency for standard policies. CarTurf's arrangement exists specifically because non-residents can't get coverage otherwise.

Yes. Paying quarterly or semi-annually adds 10–13% to your total insurance cost compared to annual payment. If you can pay the full year upfront, you save money.

Service fees are billed monthly through checkout. If you need a different billing arrangement, contact us and we can discuss options.

Wise (instant transfer), Revolut (few hours), debit card, credit card. Cryptocurrency accepted through the Dubai entity. Insurance is invoiced separately and can be paid quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.

Yes. How you find the car does not change the tiered Autopilot or Moto rates (see the plan options above). Your plan tier is based on vehicle value and product type, not whether you used mobile.de, a dealer, or CarTurf sourcing.