First. If you are moving there on a Work/Resident visa, then EU rules should exempt you from making modifications and any import tax. But this may differ from country to country so check with their "Customs" and Dept. of Motor Vehicles.

In my case it was a piece of cake. First, their Customs agency would clear your vehicle in as a personal item (versus an import), from there you take the paperwork to the local motor vehicles department to register your car. Your car registration should indicate that your is an exempted vehicle so when you go through the annual safety inspection you can sail right through.

Selling the car later on is also no big deal. The exemption status carries through, in my case. But the only stipulation is that you can't sell it within one year of moving abroad.

Second. If you are bringing the car over there for touring only, that should be even easier if you simply declare it with Customs. But you must bring the car back home after the trip though.

good luck!

Permanently or for a limited time?

For a limited time you can usually drive it 'like it is'.

If you want to bring it in permanently then you need some changes. Depends a bit on the country, but most of the time it's not very serious because it basically is a european car which has been modified for the US market.

Most obvious things wil be in the area of lighting, so you'll need to install/change:

- Headlights (need to be european ones, not US-DOT)
- Direction indicators on fender (usually not on US cars, but popular 'upgrade')
- Rear Foglight must be fully functional

As far as I know have US volvo's rear lights with the 'approved' colors (red for brake, fog and regular rear light, yellow indicators, white reversing lights), so that should be no problem.

To get a license for the car it will of course need to pass the emission checks for the build-year of the car and be in good technical shape. It basically needs to pass the same yearly inspection all cars need to go through.

For exact requirements you should probably contact the embassy of the country and request information on this subject.

Bye, Arno.