I want to bring my car from the USA to Europe for a long time....

harry,

I don't know what the legalities are for bringing a car to Europe for a long term visit. However, if you're planning to stay in Europe longer than 90 days in a 180 period, you'll have to be concerned with the terms of the Schengen Visa. Overstaying your limit on a tourist visa can have significant consequences.

I suspect it would be much simpler (and probably cheaper), simply to lease a car in Europe as needed.

No...I have a special sports car I want to tour Europe with, I have a home and family/friends in Greece. I would have no problem going for 3 months, coming back to the US for a few weeks, than going back again. So I don't know if I will need that visa. I could also fly back to the US and leave again using my Greek passport? So much to learn....but the car is a must. There are specific race tracks I want to bring the car to...and can't wait to drive on the autobahn! A childhood dream really...

Harry

You just said that the law is the same in Greece. I'm certainly not going to encourage you to break the law in any country.

Do you think you could find a way to have your car and obey Greek laws?

It is highly unlikely that any contributor here would know how to help you. Yours is, after all, an extremely individual problem. If it were me, and it would never be me as my " childhood dreams" were never as exotic, I would consult both the German and Greek consulates as well as an automobile club, such as AAA. At the very least you may get a hint as how to precede.

Or consult a car forum, such as a Mercedes board, if that is your car. Your questions are not travel questions, they are car enthusiast questions (where, as an aside, from having followed a couple of model-specific car enthusiast boards to find repair and parts information, you are more likely to find people passing ideas on how to break vehicle laws.)

With the costs of shipping, insurance, storage, etc., why not just buy a (relatively) inexpensive car there?

It seems as you are asking for ways to break the law. I don't know how to do what you are asking, but I doubt I would post the info on an open forum if I did.

I know BMW offers an option where you can buy your new car and then drive it around Europe before it is shipped to the US. They handle all of the licensing and other legal issues for you. Mercedes might have a similar option and if they do might be able to help you do what is required to legally have your car in Europe if the auto you want to use there is a Mercedes.

I see many shows where autos are taken to various countries around the world and then are driven there without legal issues. So, yes, it is possible if expensive. Of course a TV show probably has a larger budget for things like this than an individual does as well as contacts in the various countries which make doing this simpler.

You are not going to get an answer here because it is an extremely technical question that, I am sure, no one else has directly encountered. If you are running on a Greek passport why bother using the US passport and Schengen zone requirements. Sounds like you are really trying to import a vehicle to Greece. Second, I would not want to have a prize car sitting around unused and unserviced for a couple of years. You sound like a good Greek - trying to skirt the laws. I would ask your friends and family in Greek to assist you. They would have the contacts with local authorities and probably better ideas. I am sure if you goggle auto shippers you can find a company to handle the physical shipping to Germany.

I agree with what everyone else has already said, but being an insatiably curious type, I just gotta ask some questions.

1. What is your special sports car? What kind of fuel does it use? If it's a high-performance type, do you know if you can get it easily in Europe? And have you researched the details of driving that car legally where you want to drive it?

2. What are the specific race tracks? Do you know the requirements for driving on them? Have you taken any race driving classes or driven on any racetracks in the US?

3. Are you aware that the autobahn and its equivalents in other countries have speed limits in many areas? And that speed cameras are abundant? And that some countries require special stickers on the windshield to drive on them at all without getting a big fine?

Beyond your original question and the suggestions that others have made, I think you have lots to research and learn to operate your vehicle legally, safely and economically on your adventure.

I don't believe ANY of "operate your vehicle legally, safely and economically " applies to this poster. Can't wait until we get the questions from him regarding not paying his speeding tickets.

Hi everyone,

You've all been really good thus far, but this is a reminder of the following rule in this forum:

Do not help people break laws. Speaking of the existence of law breaking is OK. Sharing how to circumvent visa restrictions, scam hotels, or perform other illegal acts is prohibited.

Any post that could be considered as advice that involves breaking a law will not only be subject for removal from the forum, but may also result in your banishment from the forum. Please be careful with your responses. Hopefully we can find a lawful solution here. Thanks everyone.

I very much doubt we will hear from the OP again at any rate.

Meant to add this earlier

There has to be an insurance company that will sell me insurance here
in the US that will be valid in Europe for as long as I keep paying
for it....right?

Wrong, very wrong !!!! If you are a US citizen as you are implying, then you must understand that US insurance companies of any type are licensed state by state to do business. So there is no US insurance company that will insure a car living in Europe. No way to access risk. I am sure that there are International insurance companies based somewhere other than the US, like Lloyds of London, that could be willing to insurance a car in Europe. (that is not Lloyds line of business).

At the risk of being consider impolite, is there a troll element in this question?

Not to mention, you will have to pay up to 20% tax on the value of your car to import it to a European country . . .yeah, the "economically" part of this equation will NEVER add up.

EU directives permit non residents to import on a temporary basis cars without EU registration for 6 months without paying duty. After 6 months have elapsed it should have been shipped back. It isn't 6 months usage spread over an extended period, After that it is liable to seizure.