When shipping a vehicle to Turkey, attention usually goes to Turkish customs (the 185-day rule, the 730-day limit) — but there are also steps to handle in the EU country of departure. If you're bringing your vehicle to Turkey permanently, an improperly closed registration can later cause tax, insurance, or even fine problems. This guide breaks down the process in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
1. Why does deregistration/export matter?
As long as your vehicle stays registered in an EU country, vehicle tax, insurance obligations, and fine liability remain tied to it there. If you don't close out the registration after shipping to Turkey, annual tax may keep accruing, or issues can arise with theft/loss reports.
2. Germany: the Abmeldung process
To close out registration in Germany, you visit the local Zulassungsstelle (registration office) with:
- The registration document (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I)
- The number plates (for deactivation)
- An ID document
This is usually completed the same day, and you receive an Abmeldebescheinigung (deregistration certificate). Specify that it's a permanent export to avoid accidental re-registration issues later.
3. France: déclaration de cession and administrative certificate
In France, the process runs digitally through ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés):
- Déclaration de cession: a declaration of the vehicle's transfer/export
- Certificat de situation administrative: a document confirming no outstanding debt or lien
- The permanent export is recorded on the carte grise
Since in France the plate is tied to the vehicle rather than the owner, you don't need to return the plates — completing the digital declaration is enough.
4. Netherlands and Belgium: RDW and DIV procedures
In the Netherlands, an "export" notification is filed with the RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer) and the number plate (kenteken) is returned; the record is marked "geëxporteerd" in the system. In Belgium, the export notification works similarly through the DIV (Direction de l'Immatriculation des Véhicules), with plates handed in and an export certificate issued.
5. Returning plates and cancelling insurance
In Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, returning the number plates is mandatory on permanent export. In France, the plate stays with the vehicle. Only cancel your insurance after deregistration is complete and the vehicle has actually been handed over for transport — during transport it's covered by LUNVAX's transport insurance anyway.
6. Is a customs export declaration required?
For vehicles permanently leaving the EU's free circulation, a customs export declaration may be required depending on the country — particularly in Germany if no temporary export plate is used. This requirement varies by route and vehicle value; LUNVAX informs you before transport about the rules applicable to your route.
7. Documents to prepare for LUNVAX
- Registration document (original or with export annotation)
- ID/passport
- If available: deregistration certificate
- Insurance details (cancellation after transport recommended)
Returning plates and cancelling insurance can be handled shortly before or after pickup — our team guides you through the whole process.
Summary: The 5 key points
- Germany: Abmeldung, France: déclaration de cession, Netherlands/Belgium: RDW/DIV export
- Returning plates is mandatory in Germany/Netherlands/Belgium, not in France
- Only cancel insurance after the transport is complete
- A customs export declaration may be needed on some routes
- For LUNVAX, a registration document, ID, and deregistration certificate (if any) are enough — go to the transport page
For Turkish customs rules, see our Turkish-language customs guide, and for overstay fines, our Overstay Penalty & Retiree Exemption Guide.