Checklist: Which Country to Search In, Based on the Model You Want (2026)

Step 1: identify the segment and the brand

• German premium saloon or sports car (Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche): Germany, without much debate, on volume and price.
• Compact or family car from a French/Stellantis brand (Peugeot, Citroën, Renault, DS): France first, Belgium as a second option.
• SUV or crossover from corporate lease with strong documentation: the Netherlands, for RDW traceability.
• Light commercial vehicle or van: the Netherlands, checking carefully whether it came from a grijs kenteken registration.

Step 2: weigh your fuel-type priority

• Mid- or upper-range diesel: Germany and France offer more variety and better-documented maintenance history.
• Electric car with more model years to choose from (more options on age and price): the Netherlands.
• Recent plug-in hybrid: all four countries have growing supply; compare price across several at once.

Step 3: weigh your comfort with the language

• If you prefer negotiating in English without complications: the Netherlands, and to a lesser extent Belgium (the Brussels area).
• If you have translation or agent support: any of the four countries is viable, France included.
• Without language support and without prior experience: prioritise large dealerships used to international buyers over private sellers.

Step 4: calculate total cost, not just the purchase price

Always add up purchase price, transport (EUR 300-600 depending on origin and vehicle size), paperwork and ITV (EUR 400-700 on average), and IEDMT (based on the applicable CO2 band: 0%, 4.75%, 9.75% or 14.75%). Only with these four items together can you fairly compare the real cost of importing from each country, instead of looking only at the listing price.

Step 5: check who is selling before you fixate on the country

Remember that the tax treatment depends on whether you buy from a private individual (ITP, modelo 620, 4-8% depending on your region, no VAT) or from a professional (VAT of the country of origin, no ITP), and this rule is exactly the same in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium. The country of origin never changes this golden rule — it only changes the available supply, the language, and the logistics.

The best country to import from is not the same for everyone — it is whichever one best matches the car, the budget and the language you actually have.