Importing a Range Rover from Germany: Penalty Tax, Hybrids, the Real Maths (2026)
On a 2.5-tonne SUV, the French penalty tax can reach €80,000… or drop to zero. Range Rover and Range Rover Sport: the 2022-2024 plug-in hybrid tax window, the versions to target, the traps to avoid and why Germany remains the right market.
The Range Rover is probably the most desirable luxury SUV of the moment — and one of the trickiest to import. The reason fits in one figure: 2.4 to 2.8 tonnes. On a vehicle of that weight, the French penalty tax can climb all the way to its €80,000 cap. Or drop to zero, if you pick the right version, in the right model year. Here's the real maths.
The range at a glance
Two models, two generations to know:
- Range Rover (L460 generation, since 2022): the flagship, in standard or long wheelbase, up to 7 seats.
- Range Rover Sport (L461 generation, since 2022): more compact, more dynamic.
- The previous generation (Range Rover L405 until 2021, Range Rover Sport L494 until 2022) remains very present on the used market.
Powertrains on the current generation:
- Plug-in hybrids: P440e and P510e (2022-2023), renamed P460e and P550e from the 2024 model year, with more than 100 km of WLTP electric range.
- Diesels with mild hybrid: D250, D300, D350.
- Petrol six-cylinders (P360, P400, then P380) and V8 (P530, then P540), plus the SV versions.
The real issue: the penalty tax
A reminder of the 2026 rules, which also apply to imported used vehicles:
- CO2 penalty tax: it starts at 108 g/km and reaches its €80,000 cap from 192 g/km.
- Weight tax: it starts at 1,500 kg, at €10 to €30 per kilo depending on the band.
- The two add up, within the cap.
For an imported used car, two rules change everything: you apply the scale and exemptions of the year of first registration — even if it took place in Germany — then an age-based reduction. The detail is in our guide to the penalty tax on a car imported from Germany.
The 2022-2024 hybrid window
This is the most valuable piece of information in this article. Plug-in hybrids with an electric range above 50 km, first registered between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024, are fully exempt from the weight tax. And with their official CO2 below the 108 g/km threshold, they pay no CO2 penalty tax either.
The result: a Range Rover or Range Rover Sport P440e, P510e, P460e or P550e first registered in 2022, 2023 or 2024 is imported with €0 of penalty tax, on an SUV weighing close to 2.8 tonnes. The example appears in the official French tax guidance: a plug-in hybrid registered in Germany in 2024 and imported afterwards pays no weight tax.
Careful, the window is closing: from 2025, plug-in hybrids only get a 200 kg allowance on the weight tax. On a recent plug-in hybrid Range Rover Sport, that's in the order of €20,000 to €25,000 of penalty tax.
Orders of magnitude
Estimated penalty tax for a Range Rover Sport imported and registered in France at the end of 2026, by year of first registration:
| First registration | Plug-in hybrid | D350 diesel | V8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | €0 | ≈ €11,000 to €15,000 | ≈ €25,000 |
| 2023 | €0 | ≈ €14,000 to €19,000 | ≈ €33,000 |
| 2024 | €0 | ≈ €43,000 | ≈ €43,000 |
| 2025 | ≈ €20,000 | ≈ €59,000 | ≈ €59,000 |
| 2026 | ≈ €25,000 | ≈ €75,000 | ≈ €75,000 |
These amounts are calculated with the official scales and the data from the technical sheets: they are orders of magnitude. The exact figure depends on the CO2 and mass shown on the car's certificate of conformity (options and wheels included) and its precise date of first registration. The heavier Range Rover follows the same logic.
Why Germany
In 2025, 13,061 new Land Rovers were registered in Germany, versus 671 in France (KBA and CCFA figures). Germany applies no penalty tax or weight tax at purchase: large SUVs sell normally there, and the used market is in another league — more choice, rich configurations, 2022-2024 hybrids available.
Points to watch
- Theft. In Germany, Land Rover is the most stolen brand in proportion according to insurers (GDV), and the previous-generation Range Rover Sport is among the most targeted models. Check the key, the security updates, and plan suitable protection and insurance.
- History and recalls. A complete service book, and manufacturer recalls carried out: this is checked against the chassis number.
- The mechanicals. Air suspension, electronics and, on a hybrid, battery condition: a full dealer diagnosis before purchase is the best insurance.
For the full method, see checking a German car before buying.
The warranty
The manufacturer warranty is valid across the whole Land Rover network in Europe. According to Land Rover Germany, it's 5 years or 150,000 km for vehicles delivered since summer 2023, versus 3 years or 100,000 km before: a 2022 model is therefore often already out of manufacturer warranty. The hybrid battery is covered separately, often for 8 years or 160,000 km, with terms that vary by market and model: check against the chassis number. How it all works is explained in our article car imported from Germany: what warranty do you get?.
How Auto M Import handles your Range Rover
We target the powertrain and model year that optimise the penalty tax, we check the certificate of conformity (CO2, mass), the history, the recalls and the remaining warranty, then we have a full diagnosis carried out before any purchase. Then: negotiation, import, paperwork and home delivery.
In summary
- On a 2.4 to 2.8 t SUV, the penalty tax can reach €80,000: it decides whether the import makes sense.
- A plug-in hybrid first registered in 2022 to 2024 is imported with €0 of penalty tax.
- Since 2025, the hybrid only gets a 200 kg allowance; recent diesels and V8s approach the cap.
- Germany offers a used market in another league from France.
- Watch out for theft, history and mechanicals; check the warranty according to the year.
Got a Range Rover in mind? Write to us: we target the right version in the right model year and give you the real cost, penalty tax included. The analysis is free.
Frequently asked questions
- What penalty tax applies to a Range Rover imported from Germany in 2026?
- It depends on the powertrain and the year of first registration. A plug-in hybrid (P440e, P510e, P460e, P550e) first registered between 2022 and 2024 pays no penalty tax at all: its CO2 is below the threshold and it's exempt from the weight tax. A D350 diesel or a V8 registered in 2024 or later approaches the cap, in the order of €43,000 to €75,000 depending on the year. The exact amount is calculated from the CO2 and mass shown on the vehicle's certificate of conformity.
- Why does a 2022-2024 plug-in hybrid Range Rover pay no penalty tax?
- Because the rules that apply are those of the year of first registration, even if it took place in Germany. Plug-in hybrids with an electric range above 50 km first registered between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 are fully exempt from the weight tax. With their official CO2 below the 108 g/km threshold, the total penalty tax drops to zero. Since 2025, they only get a 200 kg allowance.
- Range Rover or Range Rover Sport: which one to import?
- The Range Rover is the flagship — longer, more luxurious and heavier; the Range Rover Sport, more compact and more dynamic, remains more affordable to buy. Tax-wise, the logic is the same for both: the plug-in hybrid in the right model year avoids the penalty tax, while diesel and V8 bear it heavily. The choice is made first on use and budget, then on powertrain.
- Does a Range Rover bought in Germany keep its warranty in France?
- Yes. The manufacturer warranty is valid across the whole Land Rover network in Europe. According to Land Rover Germany, it's 5 years or 150,000 km for vehicles delivered since summer 2023, versus 3 years or 100,000 km before: a 2022 model is therefore often already out of manufacturer warranty. The hybrid battery is covered separately, often for 8 years or 160,000 km, with terms to check against the chassis number.
- What should you check on a used Range Rover?
- Three priorities: theft protection (Land Rover is the most stolen brand in proportion in Germany according to insurers), the service and recall history (checked against the chassis number), and the condition of the air suspension, the electronics and, on a hybrid, the battery. A full dealer diagnosis before purchase is strongly recommended.
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