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Letting friends and relatives drive your POV in
Germany |
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Updated 7 February
2012
One big plus of being in
Germany is that friends and relatives can visit and get that real European
travel experience. But if you want to let your visitors drive your
USAREUR-plated vehicle in Germany independently, you must get an approval (AE
Form 550-175D) from customs first. You do not need this approval if you or a
member of your household who has a
valid USAREUR driver’s license, is in the car whenever your
visiting friends or relatives drive.
To obtain AE Form 550-175D,
visit your local military customs office. The customs customer service representative will fill out an application form,
the AE Form 550-175C (“Request for Exception to Policy for Authorization to Operate
a Privately Owned Vehicle”) with you, and issue AE Form 550-175D (“Authority to
Operate a Privately Owned Vehicle”). Please bring the following documents with
you: your ID card,
your POV registration(s),
your visitor’s/visitors’ passport(s), and international driving permit(s)* or (a)
driver’s license(s)* valid in Germany with (an) official German translations
for your visitor(s). If your relatives or friends are not in country yet, bring
along clear copies of the above mentioned documents for your visitor(s). Note,
that you cannot apply for AE Form 550-175D if your visitor is a resident of
Germany.
*International driving
permits & other driver’s licenses
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Only international driving permits issued by the American Automobile
Association (AAA) or the National Auto Club (NAC) will be accepted for visitors
from the USA.
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An international driving permit must be issued outside the country of
intended use!
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Official German translations of valid US driver’s licenses or other
countries’ driver’s licenses will be accepted.
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Driver’s licenses issued by a member country of the European Union or
the European Economic Area will be accepted without translation.
·
Driver’s licenses issued by the following countries will also be accepted without
translation: Andorra, Hong Kong, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Switzerland and Senegal.
Once approved, your guests
can use this exception to policy / AE Form 550-175D to drive a USAREUR-plated
POV in Germany independently. AE Form 550-175D must be in the car when your
guests are driving, along with the vehicle registration, proof of insurance,
and their international driver’s license, or an official translation of their (stateside)
licenses. The authorization is only valid inside Germany. AE Form 550-175D can
be granted for 90 days maximum within a six-months-period.
Driving in Germany is tax
and duty-free for US Forces service members
stationed in Germany, members of the civilian component and their dependents. Your
guests do not enjoy this privilege; that is why this customs authorization is necessary.
However, AE Form 550-175D does not allow your guests to use the fuel ration card to buy tax-free
gasoline (whether at an AAFES or ESSO gas station).
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A list of customs customer service offices at Army and Air Force communities in Germany is available by clicking the icon on the right. |
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Exceptions to policy
Visitors who request to extend this privilege past 90 days require an exception to policy coordinated with the German Federal Finance Ministry. Call DSN 370-4978 or civilian 06221-57-4978 for more information, FAX DSN 370-4967 (civilian 06221-57-4967). Forms sent through the German postal system with a self-addressed stamped envelope will be sent back through the German postal system. This is the fastest way to get the forms back by mail. However, you must use correct postage and remember U.S. size 10 envelopes require more postage. Mail addresses are as follows:
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Using APO |
Using German Postal System |
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HQ USAREUR Office of the Provost Marshal |
HQ USAREUR Office of the Provost Marshal |
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ATTN: AEAGC-PDC |
ATTN: Customer Service |
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Unit 29351 |
Postfach: 10 57 09 |
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APO AE 09014-9351 |
69047 Heidelberg |
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DRIVING OUTSIDE GERMANY
People authorized to
operate a USAREUR-plated vehicle should not encounter problems when driving in
other European countries if they keep the following documents with them:
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A valid passport
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Valid insurance, covering the vehicle for use outside of Germany (“green
insurance card”)
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Valid driver’s license with translation or a valid international
driver’s license (issued outside the country of intended use).
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Valid registration for the vehicle
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Written permission from the vehicle owner authorizing the visitor to
operate the vehicle (must be made out in the languages of the countries to be
visited)
VISITING SPOUSES
Visiting spouses are an exception to the procedures
outlined above as they have tax privileges by being the spouse of a SOFA status
/ U.S. ID card holder in Germany. Customs
customer service representatives will issue
AE Form 190-1AQ for visiting spouses. This document, along with all other required
supporting documents, needs to be with the visiting spouse when driving the USAREUR-registered
vehicle of the sponsor. The term “visiting spouse” refers to a non-command
sponsored husband or wife in Germany temporarily for less than 90 days.
Please
bring with you:
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Sponsor’s / vehicle owner’s
ID card
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Vehicle registration(s)
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Full name(s) of the visitor(s)
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Temporary German address of
the visitor(s)
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Passport(s) or clear copy/copies
of passport(s) of your visitor(s)
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Driver’s license(s) or
clear copy/copies of the driver’s license(s)
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International driving
permit(s) (or a clear copy/copies) or official German translation(s) of the driver’s
license(s) (or a clear copy/copies)
All forms will be issued on
a walk-in basis
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