US & Canada: Register a Car for Europe Travel

North American travelers often want a personally owned car or van for months in Europe — without renting every trip or becoming EU residents.

Drivers from 50+ countries · Including US & Canada

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Why North Americans use this

Shipping a North American car is expensive, and long rentals add up fast. Buying in Europe and registering as a non-resident is what makes a multi-month trip work.

With CarTurf you buy and own the vehicle, a partner acts as Halter, and you drive on EU plates valid across Europe.

For most travellers this comes out cheaper than repeated long-term rentals, with the registration and insurance paperwork handled for you.

Purchase paths

  1. Buy in Europe yourself — CarTurf reviews and registers.
  2. Sourcing / auction help — optional; €750 + 4% of the net price.
  3. Already own an EU vehicle — transfer into the Halter structure.

Appear as buyer on the purchase contract.

Customers contract with CarTurf Global FZCO (Dubai IFZA). German partner: CarTurf UG (haftungsbeschränkt), HRB 29662 Koblenz, Dieselstraße 28, 53424 Remagen.

Documents, insurance, costs

Docs: passport, US/Canadian licence (IDP recommended where required), purchase paperwork, vehicle documents, payment proof.

Insurance: non-resident use; typically ~€850–€3,350/yr (cars up to €50k). Default cover is for drivers 23 and up. Adding drivers under 23 (minimum 18) means a higher premium.

Cost: Official pricing: €249 setup; Autopilot €99/mo (≤€100k), Plus €149, Premium €199, Lux €299; Moto €49/€79. Insurance and tax separate.

Storage: CarTurf customers — €50/mo outdoor, €100/mo indoor. Non-customers — €75 outdoor, €150 indoor.

Watch-outs

  • Schengen/visitor day limits apply to you
  • If you later become an EU-country resident, plan local registration
  • LHD is standard; RHD possible but confirm per vehicle
  • Not immigration or tax advice — /contact · support@carturf.com

Start your Europe car from the US or Canada

Most customers buy in Europe rather than shipping from North America. We will walk you through the options.

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FAQ

US & Canada FAQ

Yes, with a valid driving licence. The one exception is if you intend to become a resident of a European country and do most of your long-term driving there — that calls for local registration instead.

Usually not. Most customers buy a vehicle in Europe, which avoids shipping costs, import duty and the compliance work of making a North American car road-legal here.

Typically 1–5 business days once CarTurf has the documents. Vehicles from around 2015 onward can often be registered online immediately, with plates printed locally. Pickup also depends on the dealer’s timeline, when the bank transfer clears, and whether the dealer holds the original vehicle documents in-house.

Your national licence is what matters for driving as a visitor. Some countries ask for an IDP alongside it, so check the rules for each country on your route and carry one if in doubt — they are inexpensive and quick to obtain at home.

Policies are arranged for broad European use, within the Green Card territory stated on the policy itself. Confirm the covered countries against your planned route before you travel.

€249 setup, then Autopilot from €99/mo. Insurance (roughly €850–€3,350 a year for cars up to €50k) and road tax are billed separately. See the pricing page for all tiers.

Yes. Storage near the Remagen partner office is available at €50/mo outdoor or €100/mo indoor for CarTurf customers, and insurance can often be reduced while the vehicle is parked.