Are Porsches Cheaper In Germany, Europe or U.S? (With Examples)

First manufactured in Germany during the time and aftermath of the Second World War, Porsche has been a luxury car since its inception.

Because of its luxurious reputation and association with high-end materials and racing, these cars tend to have a hefty price tag.

However, there are Porsche models for the ‘everyman’ and are even cheaper in some places over others.

Are Porsche cars cheaper in Germany than in Europe or the United States?

A Porsche 911 Carrera model will be a bit cheaper in Germany compared to the U.K and the U.S. It will start at:

• €96,000 USD in Germany.
• $103,000 USD in the U.S.
• $108,547.40 USD in the U.K. (equating to £83,000 British pounds).

Generally, the Porsche price tag is a big one, and no matter where you shop, you’re going to get about the same result – depending on currency exchange rates, years, makes and models.

Remember though, there are problems that are specific to German cars.

Are German Cars Generally Cheaper in Germany (than in the U.S.)?

If we reference the chart above once more, we will see that the price tag of a German Porsche is lower than one in the United States.

Let’s take the 2019 718 Spyder model, for example. Though the price range is listed at €93,000 – €120,000 in Germany and $96,000 – $110,000 in the United States, the currency exchange rate can make this a little misleading.

If the 718 Spyder is €93,000 in Euros, then it is $103,901.92 in USD, which is in the middle range of what U.S. dealerships are pricing their cars at. Therefore, as shown in our chart above, you’re better off buying a car at a United States dealership for $96,000 USD than €93,000 in Euros.

Is it Cheaper to Have a Porsche Shipped Overseas?

One of the biggest things to remember when thinking about shipping anything overseas is the currency exchange rate and the cost of shipping that item.

Currency Exchange Rates

When United States customers buy a shirt or laptop from other countries through sites like Amazon.com, the currency it is priced in is usually USD (United States Dollars).

When this occurs, those T-Shirt or laptop companies work with Amazon to price their products so that they will have an acceptable profit despite the exchange rate.

Purchasing from auto companies in other countries is similar to this. If you go to Germany and pick out a Porsche, you will most likely be buying it in Euros, which is worth more than the USD.

This means that the price is going to be bigger than it would be in the United States.

For example, using our chart above, if you purchase a new 2019 Porsche 911 Carrera model at the listed price of €96,000, you will actually be paying about $107,210.40 USD.

This currency exchange rate will apply online as well, as companies will list products in USD based on that exchange rate so that they will still make the profit that they would in their home country.

Instead, if a United States dealership is listing their price at $90,000 USD, then that is the price you will ultimately pay, and you won’t have to worry about the exchange rate, and you won’t have to ship your vehicle.

Shipping Overseas

Furthermore, getting it back to the United States is costly.

Not only are you waiting between 14-28 days for your car to be shipped from one country to another (at least), the overall extra costs will have to be put into your budget.

According to several resources, shipping a car from Germany to Los Angeles – for example – can cost between $900 – $1,200 per car.

That means that you are not only paying the currency exchange rate, but you are also paying the added fees and expenses of shipping that car to the United States – and not necessarily to your own home town!

How Much Trouble is it to Import a Car to the U.S?

One other thing to consider is the transit of your vehicle, and how difficult it can be to import a car.

Importing Your Car

Importing a car isn’t as simple as ordering it online and then waiting for it to show up.

In fact, there are a lot of customs laws, taxes, fees, registration, cleaning, and processing that your Porsche will have to go through before you can take it home with you.

For example, to start, you have to make sure that the vehicle itself is eligible to import to the United States based on U.S. laws.

Shipping a Porsche has been done before, and will happen again, but filling out forms that list your exact year, make, model, VIN# and personal information are legally required first.

Furthermore, you will need to either ship it yourself with the proper paperwork and insurance or hire a company that is a “DOT-Registered Importer” to take care of the details for you – another added expense.

These registered importers are mechanical shops or garages that are certified by the Washington State Department of Transportation to perform conversions on foreign cars to make them U.S. street legal.

Once the Car Arrives

Once your Porsche arrives in a wharf or port, the real work begins.

Introducing a foreign car to a new ecosystem is actually an environmental concern. This means that if vehicles or products have certain bacteria, lichen, or organic materials on them that aren’t native to the United States, the vehicle must be washed and sanitized before it can enter the country – sort of like quarantine for animals or ill people.

After the car is out of quarantine, you’ll have to pay for cleaning, storing, delivery, and port or wharf costs for your Porsche.

Once that is done, you will need to make sure you are adequately insured, registered, and street-legal by converting your Porsche to meet the United States Department of Transportation standards.

This means that, if the headlights aren’t appropriate for your state laws, or if the speedometer is in kilometers and not miles, you’ll have to get it fixed.

Finally, once you get all of this done and can leave the port or wharf, you will need to get your Porsche home.

Transit After Import

Like we mentioned above, shipping a vehicle to cities like Los Angeles is common, and L.A. is an accessible port for that.

However, if you live in, say, Kansas, you will have to get your vehicle from an oceanic port and then send it to Kansas where you live.

Cross-country transit (whether you are driving the car or shipping it on a truck) is going to be another added expense depending on the company you use or how much gas is required.

Furthermore, if, for some reason, your vehicle is damaged, scuffed, or delayed when shipping it to the United States, you will most likely have to jump through hoops to solve that situation.

This may cost extra money and perhaps would make it even more frustrating than if you bought a Porsche from somewhere close to where you live.

But, in the end, your new car is home and ready to go!

Are Porsche Viewed as Luxury Cars in Germany?

Porsche has a long and proud history of being “made in Germany.”

Since its inception and first manufacturing in the 1930s and 1940s, this car has made a significant stamp on the automobile industry that continues to this day.

Regardless of the fact that Porsche cars are made in Germany, and “close to home” for German citizens, the price tag attached and the impressive features of this vehicle continue to make it a “luxury car.”

Each one is crafted to be the next best, and as Porsche continues its legacy, it will also continue to ensure the quality of its product and how they serve their important customers.

Are There any Differences Between Porsche models in Europe and the U.S.?

As of 2019, all Porsche cars are made in Germany except for a few models of the Porsche Cayenne SUV, which is made in Bratislava, Slovakia.

This means that there are very few differences in these models while they are being manufactured in Germany.

However, as we mentioned before about shipping your car to the United States – or outside of Germany – there are a few changes that may need to be made to make them street-legal for the state or country that you live in.

This is where certified auto shops and garages come in. They are hired and used to update or modify those cars to meet the standards of the government departments of transportation.

So while the Porsche models themselves are very consistent based on how they are manufactured in Germany (or sometimes Slovakia), those models are subject to change depending on the law of your area.

Final Thoughts

If you are a United States citizen, it might be incredibly exciting to buy a Porsche directly from Germany – where it all began.

But you also might find that the hassle of transport, the currency exchange rate, and the modifications that have to be done to your new car aren’t worth the trouble.

Consider shopping locally or, if you’re really dedicated to authenticity, going to Germany yourself and rent a Porsche to drive along their gorgeous, cobbled roads and take a drive back in time.

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