To make your transition smoother, it is recommended that any needed repairs be done prior to shipping your car to Germany. Labor repairs and parts are very expensive, and parts may take a while to arrive in Germany. So, it would be to your advantage to make all repairs stateside. Check for rust, torn fenders, chips, cracks or star fractures in the windshield. Any type of oil leak, or inoperative lights, horn, speedometer, etc., can prevent your car from passing inspection.
Car insurance is expensive.
Variables such as age of car, engine size, make, model and weight of car can influence the insurance. Also, if you are making payments on your car, you must have collision insurance. Shop around when purchasing car insurance. Ensure that your stateside driver's license is current and not near expiration. Military personnel and particularly civilian personnel and dependents of both should therefore ensure that they have a valid stateside license not close to expiring.