EU changes required for importing US Cayenne S
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From: Amsterdam
EU changes required for importing US Cayenne S
My family and I are moving to Amsterdam for 14 months this coming June. I would like to bring my 2013 Cayenne S with us. Between higher used car prices and VAT, it would cost an additional ~$20-25k to have the equivalent car during our stay. Bringing an older Cayenne that's been immaculately maintained seems like a better choice for doing EU roadtrips during our 14 month stay.
I'm trying to find out what differences there were between the US and EU versions of the 958 Cayennes besides the lights and the instrument cluster (miles to kilometers). Were there also emissions differences? Anyone know where I can find these answers?
Thanks,
Mike.
I'm trying to find out what differences there were between the US and EU versions of the 958 Cayennes besides the lights and the instrument cluster (miles to kilometers). Were there also emissions differences? Anyone know where I can find these answers?
Thanks,
Mike.
Last edited by gonzobreath; Oct 11, 2023 at 05:44 PM.
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If I recall correctly, that should not be a concern as your residence there is not permanent. I and many others have taken long trips with Sprinter’s, 911’s, and a myriad of others.
I know in conversations of yore, it’s the other way around when importing a vehicle as the US has been more strict on multiple points. I speak regarding difficulty/ease in importation.
What I know definitively is you’ll need a broker for insurance and documentation (at country level) of why you are temporarily importing this vehicle in case the need arises to prove.
As not explicitly mentioned, are you asking because you intend to Register the Cayenne there?
I know in conversations of yore, it’s the other way around when importing a vehicle as the US has been more strict on multiple points. I speak regarding difficulty/ease in importation.
What I know definitively is you’ll need a broker for insurance and documentation (at country level) of why you are temporarily importing this vehicle in case the need arises to prove.
As not explicitly mentioned, are you asking because you intend to Register the Cayenne there?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 88
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From: Amsterdam
For those curious...
EU tail lights differ from DOT. They are different shapes (bowl lights?) and different bulbs fire for signals and brakes. In short, the whole tail light assemblies need replacing (~$1400 shipped for a pair from EU). Also required are lights on the fenders. I'll need to add these.
Netherlands (EU?) also requires cars pay a monthly tax based on their emissions. That's fun. I think this is why most Europeans drive ~1.5 liter ****-boxes. For a Cayenne S, this will be about $135/month.
Being that the Cayenne computer can switch between displaying miles vs kilometers digitally, the car is legal to drive without changing the gauge faceplate. Optionally... you can replace the faceplate to show KM, or ideally MPH and KM. I'll probably do this myself in case I end of leaving the Cayenne in EU when we're done.
Even with all this, it's still a bargain to BYO Cayenne. Used Cayenne S's are about 25-30% higher priced, and that does not include the 21% VAT. As well, I know how well my Cayenne has been maintained. And finally, if you're planning to road-trip all over Europe for a year, is there a finer car to do it in than a Cayenne with a V8 and 18-way seats?
-Gonzo
EU tail lights differ from DOT. They are different shapes (bowl lights?) and different bulbs fire for signals and brakes. In short, the whole tail light assemblies need replacing (~$1400 shipped for a pair from EU). Also required are lights on the fenders. I'll need to add these.
Netherlands (EU?) also requires cars pay a monthly tax based on their emissions. That's fun. I think this is why most Europeans drive ~1.5 liter ****-boxes. For a Cayenne S, this will be about $135/month.
Being that the Cayenne computer can switch between displaying miles vs kilometers digitally, the car is legal to drive without changing the gauge faceplate. Optionally... you can replace the faceplate to show KM, or ideally MPH and KM. I'll probably do this myself in case I end of leaving the Cayenne in EU when we're done.
Even with all this, it's still a bargain to BYO Cayenne. Used Cayenne S's are about 25-30% higher priced, and that does not include the 21% VAT. As well, I know how well my Cayenne has been maintained. And finally, if you're planning to road-trip all over Europe for a year, is there a finer car to do it in than a Cayenne with a V8 and 18-way seats?
-Gonzo
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From: NC
I know everyone is different but I would hate to park a cayenne anywhere in Europe. Amsterdam will be almost impossible and you will soon get so sick of looking for a spot that will fit it, why not simply put the car in storage until you return, saving your car from getting more dents and scratches than you thought possible. Buy a small battered oil burner over there, use it for 14 months and sell it for just about what you paid for it. If you go touring, rent a car. My 2 cents.
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From: Amsterdam
We plan to rent a home with a garage while we're there. I agree on parking in Amsterdam but I don't see us driving around Amsterdam much. The car will mostly be for multi-country road trips. Although the car is mechanically exceptional, this is a 2013 Cayenne - The exterior is a level below exceptional.
It may not make sense for everyone, but it seems to make sense for us; especially since we're planning to purchase a couple new cars when we return in 2025.
-Gonzo
It may not make sense for everyone, but it seems to make sense for us; especially since we're planning to purchase a couple new cars when we return in 2025.
-Gonzo
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Thread Starter
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From: Amsterdam
Thanks for all the advice, but we will be bringing our Cayenne with us. Our plans are to do at least one road trip per month into as many countries as we can.
I'm kinda shocked by the responses on this forum. No one buys a Porsche of any kind to go from point A to point B as prudently as possible. We buy them for the love of driving and the overall experience. Driving in as many EU countries as possible in a Porsche (of any kind) will be the stuff driver dreams are made of. I'm not terribly concerned about the practicality side of the equation in this. This is an experience my family and I will get to do exactly once in this lifetime. Why wouldn't I do it in a Cayenne? If it were just my wife and I, I'd probably figure out how to get my GT3 over there... which I can only assume would totally push this group over the edge!
-Gonzo.
I'm kinda shocked by the responses on this forum. No one buys a Porsche of any kind to go from point A to point B as prudently as possible. We buy them for the love of driving and the overall experience. Driving in as many EU countries as possible in a Porsche (of any kind) will be the stuff driver dreams are made of. I'm not terribly concerned about the practicality side of the equation in this. This is an experience my family and I will get to do exactly once in this lifetime. Why wouldn't I do it in a Cayenne? If it were just my wife and I, I'd probably figure out how to get my GT3 over there... which I can only assume would totally push this group over the edge!
-Gonzo.
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Thanks for all the advice, but we will be bringing our Cayenne with us. Our plans are to do at least one road trip per month into as many countries as we can.
I'm kinda shocked by the responses on this forum. No one buys a Porsche of any kind to go from point A to point B as prudently as possible. We buy them for the love of driving and the overall experience. Driving in as many EU countries as possible in a Porsche (of any kind) will be the stuff driver dreams are made of. I'm not terribly concerned about the practicality side of the equation in this. This is an experience my family and I will get to do exactly once in this lifetime. Why wouldn't I do it in a Cayenne? If it were just my wife and I, I'd probably figure out how to get my GT3 over there... which I can only assume would totally push this group over the edge!
-Gonzo.
I'm kinda shocked by the responses on this forum. No one buys a Porsche of any kind to go from point A to point B as prudently as possible. We buy them for the love of driving and the overall experience. Driving in as many EU countries as possible in a Porsche (of any kind) will be the stuff driver dreams are made of. I'm not terribly concerned about the practicality side of the equation in this. This is an experience my family and I will get to do exactly once in this lifetime. Why wouldn't I do it in a Cayenne? If it were just my wife and I, I'd probably figure out how to get my GT3 over there... which I can only assume would totally push this group over the edge!
-Gonzo.
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Joined: Dec 2024
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2016 Cayenne to Netherlands in 2025
For those curious...
EU tail lights differ from DOT. They are different shapes (bowl lights?) and different bulbs fire for signals and brakes. In short, the whole tail light assemblies need replacing (~$1400 shipped for a pair from EU). Also required are lights on the fenders. I'll need to add these.
-Gonzo
EU tail lights differ from DOT. They are different shapes (bowl lights?) and different bulbs fire for signals and brakes. In short, the whole tail light assemblies need replacing (~$1400 shipped for a pair from EU). Also required are lights on the fenders. I'll need to add these.
-Gonzo
hi - I’m planning to follow your example! Where did you learn about the tail lights, and can that work be deferred until on the ground in the Netherlands, or I need to do it in the states before shipping? We may stay longer than 2 years, but plan to get new cars when we return to the states as well. Any advice would be welcome since aside from the slightly newer vintage we are copying you!
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From: Amsterdam
Hi Ajschwar.
Good news - the 958 Cayenne does not need any changes... not even tail lights. The car is compliant as is. The one thing I would HIGHLY recommend is installing a 'Mr 12Volt ' CarPlay system. I cannot tell you how much easier it is to navigate through Europe.
I have a separate thread about our many adventures, and things we had to learn driving through Europe - https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-...conqueror.html
In general, having a Cayenne here is awesome. I have zero regrets about bringing the Cayenne with us. Keep in mind that if you've owned the Cayenne for more than 6 months, you don't pay import duty or taxes AND... you get to use it as a free shipping container for contents that you don't pay duty or taxes on. WIN-WIN.
What part of NL are you moving to?
-Gonzo
Mike.
Good news - the 958 Cayenne does not need any changes... not even tail lights. The car is compliant as is. The one thing I would HIGHLY recommend is installing a 'Mr 12Volt ' CarPlay system. I cannot tell you how much easier it is to navigate through Europe.
I have a separate thread about our many adventures, and things we had to learn driving through Europe - https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-...conqueror.html
In general, having a Cayenne here is awesome. I have zero regrets about bringing the Cayenne with us. Keep in mind that if you've owned the Cayenne for more than 6 months, you don't pay import duty or taxes AND... you get to use it as a free shipping container for contents that you don't pay duty or taxes on. WIN-WIN.
What part of NL are you moving to?
-Gonzo
Mike.
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Joined: Dec 2024
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Hi Ajschwar.
Good news - the 958 Cayenne does not need any changes... not even tail lights. The car is compliant as is. The one thing I would HIGHLY recommend is installing a 'Mr 12Volt ' CarPlay system. I cannot tell you how much easier it is to navigate through Europe.
I have a separate thread about our many adventures, and things we had to learn driving through Europe - https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-...conqueror.html
In general, having a Cayenne here is awesome. I have zero regrets about bringing the Cayenne with us. Keep in mind that if you've owned the Cayenne for more than 6 months, you don't pay import duty or taxes AND... you get to use it as a free shipping container for contents that you don't pay duty or taxes on. WIN-WIN.
What part of NL are you moving to?
-Gonzo
Mike.
Good news - the 958 Cayenne does not need any changes... not even tail lights. The car is compliant as is. The one thing I would HIGHLY recommend is installing a 'Mr 12Volt ' CarPlay system. I cannot tell you how much easier it is to navigate through Europe.
I have a separate thread about our many adventures, and things we had to learn driving through Europe - https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-...conqueror.html
In general, having a Cayenne here is awesome. I have zero regrets about bringing the Cayenne with us. Keep in mind that if you've owned the Cayenne for more than 6 months, you don't pay import duty or taxes AND... you get to use it as a free shipping container for contents that you don't pay duty or taxes on. WIN-WIN.
What part of NL are you moving to?
-Gonzo
Mike.
Headed for Amsterdam!
Thank you - for your advice and the great news all around!
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Thread Starter
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From: Amsterdam
I used https://sclrotterdam.com/en/. Super easy. They handle everything. all the way through attaching the plates to the car.
One thing - because it takes months to get your NL DL, you will need to register at the local RDW before they can register and plate the car. There is a process for this, but suffice it to say (like most Dutch gov related things) it will take ~3 weeks. In other words, be prepared to not have your car for at least 3 weeks after you land.
Are you moving for a job? Are you a Dutch citizen? Are you arriving on a DAFT visa? If you want to PM me, I can share more info with you.
-Gonzo
One thing - because it takes months to get your NL DL, you will need to register at the local RDW before they can register and plate the car. There is a process for this, but suffice it to say (like most Dutch gov related things) it will take ~3 weeks. In other words, be prepared to not have your car for at least 3 weeks after you land.
Are you moving for a job? Are you a Dutch citizen? Are you arriving on a DAFT visa? If you want to PM me, I can share more info with you.
-Gonzo