How to Buy Heating Oil Overseas

As most off-base houses in Germany are heated with heating oil instead of gas or electric, it will be necessary to buy heating oil from time to time. For most, it's about twice a year.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Euros
• VAT form
• Friends in your area

Heat Your Home With Oil

1. Determine how much heating oil you will need. Most oil tanks hold 1,000-1,500 liters and most houses have two or three tanks. Eyeball how much oil you have left. Are the tanks half full? less? more? You should have a good idea of how much oil you will need if you know how big your tank is and approximately how much oil you have left.

2. Gather a group of friends who live in the same area as you who also need to buy heating oil. Most oil companies will give discounts on oil if they have several orders in the same location on the same day.

3. Purchase a VAT-Value Added Tax-form at the VAT office. This will ensure that you don't pay the German tax on the oil.

4. Make an appointment with the oil company. Call the local housing office for a list of oil companies. Generally, there will be someone who can speak English. If not, have the housing office call the oil company to schedule the appointments. The oil company will arrive with a large truck and will pump the oil into your tanks. You usually don't have to do a thing but get out of the way!

Tips & Warnings

• Oil is expensive, as is the German tax so be sure you get a VAT form.
• Your house will smell like heating oil for one to two days. You may want to keep the windows open for a while.
• Appointments generally aren't exact so make sure you clear your morning or afternoon.