Documents

If you buy a car, you will need the following documents:

• the sales contract
• the certificate of registration
• the European Certificate of Conformity

Sales contract

Each car sale requires a sales contract. To avoid problems, your sales contract must at least include the following items:

• description of the purchased vehicle
• details of buyer and seller
• price paid or to be paid
• VAT payment, if any
• overview of the documents provided

Car certificate of registration

If the car you intend to buy has already been registered, you should ask the seller for the certificate of registration (also called pink card). This document is essential!

The German certificate of registration consists of two separate parts: the Fahrzeugbrief and the Fahrzeugschein. Together they constitute the so-called grey card. The seller must provide you with both documents.

The Dutch certificate of registration consists of three parts as well as a chipcard. The seller must provide you with all these documents with them purchase.

European Certificate of Conformity

The European Certificate of Conformity confirms that a vehicle complies with the European technical requirements. 

Nowadays, this European Certificate of Conformity is no longer mandatory. In 2012, the European Court of Justice sentenced Belgium for implementing this measure. However, we strongly recommend asking for one from the seller. It will allow you to start using your car more quickly.

However, if you do not have a European Certificate of Conformity, or if your European Certificate of Conformity is illegible or incomplete, the Department for the Registration of Vehicles (DIV) must request the required technical details from the competent authority in the country where you bought the car. This application procedure may drag on for three months – depending on the time the foreign agency needs to process your request.