If you want to buy a yacht, you can count on a 6-month warranty. This applies to EU countries such as Germany, Italy, Turkey and France. For an import from another country such as the USA, China or India, the warranty is transferred to the seller. This can cause considerable problems. After all, small dealers may not be able to provide the warranty services. You are then dependent on the goodwill of the shipyard. Well-known shipyards are generally prepared to stand behind the mistakes they have made. With today's competition, they can no longer afford headlines of that kind. So it's important not only to look at the price, but also to consider the qualities of the builder.

Buying Yachts and What to Look Out For

It is important to find out in advance whether the price quoted by the builder already includes the value-added tax (VAT), which is about 19% (in Germany). On top of that there is the customs fee of 1.7%. From a yacht length of 12 meters (39 feet), the customs fee does not apply. Compliance with a uniform CE directive is a matter of course in many countries. This applies, for example, to yacht building in the EU.

  • Price with or without VAT?
  • Customs fee
  • Compliance with the CE directive

Buying Yachts From Other Countries

With an import from the USA into the EU, things look different.
Re-certification costs in the range of $1,650 - $2,200.
When it comes to really expensive yachts, amounts of this magnitude are probably best described as "peanuts." For the sake of completeness, though, they have to be mentioned.

buying yachts

Buying Yachts: Special Models

Most yachts you can buy on the market are series models. These are produced in series by the builders.
This means that with most builders you don't get a one-off piece. This considerably lowers production costs.
Of course, this comes at the expense of a personal touch.
When it comes to fitting out the interior of the yacht, however, it is quite possible to have an influence. If money is no object, you can of course also commission new designs.

buying yachts

It is generally advisable to involve a trust service, a so-called escrow. The amount agreed with the shipyard is then transferred to a third party. The payment is only released once the goods are received. Even larger shipyards can run into payment difficulties these days. For smaller ones, there is even less room to maneuver.

Financial Handling When Buying Yachts

Normally a down payment is transferred to the escrow account, which is then topped up later in the transaction by payment of the remaining amount. Because control is still better than trust. It also makes sense to make sure that the company you turn to has already been in business for a longer time. That way you are on the safe side, because the reliability of an escrow company is enormously important. Ideally, you can handle the payment directly with the builder.

Buying yachts isn't hard at all overall, as long as you keep a few important things in mind and get informed in advance.