If you live overseas (preferably in Europe) what kind of car do you drive?
If you bought it over there, how expensive was it?
Also, do you have to test for a drivers license over there? I was told about something called an International Driver's permit you can get for $15 through AAA. Is that the same thing?:puzz

we bought a car thru the aafes car sale it was the same price like it would be in the states its a mustang!
it deosnt really matter what car you will have.if your willing to pay a lot on gas.
yes you will have to test again!it will be arround 10 euro if im right.you will just have to make the written test thats all.
we are in germany if you have any more questions

I'm applying for an international driver's licence - there's not much to it. You do need it to drive in the UK, at least - not sure about other countries. I used to drive a Nissan Micra - it's very cheap, safe and reliable. I drive a Mercedes A class now, which is a little more expensive but a nice car to drive! I also have a Mini which is cheap to run and a lot of fun to drive. You can get cars here for under $2000 easily, and even cheaper on the continent.

I had to get a translation license. It is free through the base.
We bought a BMW here, and it was cheaper than you would pay in the states. They are very nice.

I had to get a translation license. It is free through the base.
We bought a BMW here, and it was cheaper than you would pay in the states. They are very nice.

That's what I'm hearing. We aren't taking our car over there because we don't want a huge American thing, haha. I keep hearing about BMWs. We will be going to Germany.

That's what I'm hearing. We aren't taking our car over there because we don't want a huge American thing, haha. I keep hearing about BMWs. We will be going to Germany.

We brought ours over :rolleyes and it's just too freaking huge. We bought one BMW, it was great....it just died of old age. We are buying another one this year and will probably get a nice enough one to ship back to the states and convert.

We brought ours over :rolleyes and it's just too freaking huge. We bought one BMW, it was great....it just died of old age. We are buying another one this year and will probably get a nice enough one to ship back to the states and convert.

Around how much for BMWs? I've heard 3-4 thousand. How used it that? I'm fine with a used one. It just needs to last us 4-5 years. I just want to have an idea of how much we'll be paying. Do you buy it through the base?

We have a 1990 something VW Passat. It runs fine and we bought it for a dollar. Other places are much nicer, but here in Sicily your car gets tore up! People bring big new SUVs over here or buy brand new cars through the NEX and they get dented and scratched in no time. Ours does the trick for here; we like to travel and never have a problem fitting our lil car down the skinny roads here in IT.

We have a 1990 something VW Passat. It runs fine and we bought it for a dollar. Other places are much nicer, but here in Sicily your car gets tore up! People bring big new SUVs over here or buy brand new cars through the NEX and they get dented and scratched in no time. Ours does the trick for here; we like to travel and never have a problem fitting our lil car down the skinny roads here in IT.

Yeah we will be doing a lot of travel! I've never been to Germany but I have been to Italy and the one thing I remember is how narrow the roads were. So I definitely don't want to bring an American car over.

Around how much for BMWs? I've heard 3-4 thousand. How used it that? I'm fine with a used one. It just needs to last us 4-5 years. I just want to have an idea of how much we'll be paying. Do you buy it through the base?

We're getting a 1994 for 4,500 or so...and in excellent condition. We are buying it through the lemon lot/MVRO here(where all vehicles are registered).

Ok thanks! That helps :)

Hello there, We just got to Germany three months ago, and we bought a 2007 VW GTI before we left the states and had it shipped here.We had been planning on being shipped over here for a few months prior so we knew that the new car would be really great over here. But, we also purchased a 1991 VW Golf when we arriving here. Purchase a economy car if you can, since the gas is expensive. There are usually allot of cars for sell around the military bases since there are some many people coming or going. I am sure you will have no problem finding something that works for you. As far as the DL when you get here, you can get the book to study and usually there is a class that you have to take on post before you can take the test. I think that I only paid $10 to get mine. Make sure to study the signs!!!

Well I live in Germany and I see many Soldiers and Civilians driving around in BMW's,Expaditions,Toyotas and Navigators. I honestly rarely ever see small Europeans cars. But if you have the money you can wait and get a car here, But from experience sweety it isn't easy. I regret not bringing our car and now im stuck at home all the time since we can afford to buy another car; especially with a baby on the way. To get your international License here is only $10. *Plus not to mention the Army pays to have your car shipped over seas for free. Just make sure your husband puts it on his orders.

well i dont know about anyone else. but im in england with the airforce.
car wise you can bring your own car even. if you have to buy one they arent that much. just make sure you get a good one. they like to break down a lot. lol.
as the permit goes. all i had to do is go to a class that was like a hour long on base and got my permit. it didnt cost anything.

We've had shit luck with cars over here.

Our current is a 1992 Toyota Grande (Camry). It's a nice car. We got it for $1600.

That's what I'm hearing. We aren't taking our car over there because we don't want a huge American thing, haha. I keep hearing about BMWs. We will be going to Germany.

DF is in Germany( I will be there in 6 months) and he bought a BMW 335i! Everyone has BMWs because they are great for the Autobahn! :) What part of Germany are you in?

In Germany we had a BMW.

Over in Australia- my mum has a ford falcon, and my dad has a holden commodore.

Holden is Australian- and they are part of general motors- so if you see that GT something around- it's the equiv to a Holden Manaro- however the manaro looks better but the basic idea is taken from Holden.

I found the link for the driving test in Germany http://rmv.hqusareur.army.mil/drivrman/ss190-34.htm

This is what DF gave me to study so I can get a German license.

Basically- BMWS, Mercedez, Audi & VW in Germany.. are just like FORD, CHEVY & DODGE in the US.

They are everywhere- and they are cheap.

If you buy in Europe- they will have EURO specs-- so if you decide to bring it to the US - you will need to transfer your car to US specs.

It's easier to get an older car, drive it around and then just sell it once you leave.

That's what we did.

Or just bring your car over- you can do that, shipping takes a month or so after your house hold goods- but that's a good option, and you can keep the US specs.

All you do is register it with the registration department on base- and they give you a US number plate.

My DF wanted me to give you some reasons why you will love driving in Germany rather than the US!

Some reasons I feel German’s are better drivers than Americans:

1. All Germans learn from driving schools that have a standardized instructional system. Unlike the States where you end up with drivers that seem like they found their license in a cracker jack box.
2. The cost for a German citizen to obtain a license is very expensive thus they are forced to pass the first time around.
3. Germans are not afraid behind the wheel! Some Americans are so scared behind the wheel that just going down the highway at a mere 70-80mph has them with a death grip on the steering wheel.
4. German’s actually obey the left lane is for fast cars! Get with the program America! If you are going slow get to the right lane and stay there.
5. Passing on the right side is illegal! Its not legal in the states either but we haven’t seemed to grasp this concept yet. Left side only!
6. A German driver is always predictable he will follow the rules to a T much more often than an American driver.
7. German cars (Im talking about the likes of BMW, Audi, Merc, Porsche, etc not the lil box cars that are everywhere.) are built for the Autobahn. American cars are simply big frames with the largest engine they can fit in it with no regard to refinement or handling. (And we wonder why our auto industry sucks.) German cars are much more refined with suspension and brakes built to easily handle emergency lane changes and panic stops from high rates of speed that would send most American cars into an uncontrollable situation. Not to mention they are made to be driven at high rates of speed and be fully controllable. Try getting up to 160-mph in an American car and see what happens. (good luck finding one with a governor that would let you reach it in the first place)
8. Germans actually respect their cars and will keep them clean whenever possible and they don’t go slamming their doors into you in a parking lot.
9. Americans see cars as only a means to get from A to B most of us treat our cars like crap and the thought of going out and driving without a destination in mind is almost blasphemous to a lot of us. Germans actually appreciate their cars and the process of driving... Freude Am Fahren!
10. And perhaps the biggest reason: The government actually trusts German drivers enough to allow them speed limit free sections of the Autobahn. You will never see a speed limit free highway system in the U.S. ever!

Dh lovedddddd driving in germany.

We were often clocked at 190.. but on the way to Garmisch- we did 240/260 KM the wholeeeee way.

Funny thing is- if we did that in the US, or Australia- we'd be dead.

Know the difference?

On the Autobahn- if someone is ahead of you in the fast lane- they automatically move out of your way.

No accidents! Everyone knows how to drive!

And road rage is a rare thing too.

You would not have a problem finding a car to buy if you got the money...Just depends whether you drive manual or automatic...There are lot of people selling their cars all the time because they want to get rid of it as soon as possible because they are moving or wanting to buy a newer car when they get back from deployement...Some of the prices are reasonable and some are not..There are also used car lots where they sell american specs car or german specs...
On the side note..driving an american car on the autobahn is different from driving a european car...A european car is design for the autobahn and you can open up the pipes(as DH aslways says) but with american specs car you have to becareful because they are not made for the autobahn..JMO