If you have arrived at this article, I am assuming that you are wondering if it’s legal to own a tank, probably because you want one. Tanks are sweet, but they are not cheap.

We will go into detail if it’s legal or not, but you need to keep in mind that a second-hand tank can still easily cost one million dollars. A brand new main battle tank with all the equipment can cost five million dollars.

In this article, we are assuming you cannot go about tank ownership in the usual way. We assume you are not a country leader, and you don’t have millions of dollars to spend. Check with a local lawyer before importing parts of a tank. Laws are different in different places.

For example, if you are in the USA, you will need to speak to the ATF, the Bureau of Alcohol (for some reason), and the NFA. You will need to get legal advice on the National Firearms Act. It’s a cool idea to own tanks, but you don’t want to get yourself in trouble.

Military vehicle for sale

If you decide that it’s impossible to go through with your plan, we read there are places in Russia and Vietnam where you can drive a tank. We found the link for Russia. You have got to love Russian tourism. The cost is 267.19 United States Dollars for around five hours of action. Not bad!

It’s obvious that if you buy a tank you won’t be able to fire shells from it that explode (from the main gun.) And you can forget about machine guns, destructive devices, armaments, and other projectiles. But what about just driving a street-legal military vehicle or military tank?

Can you buy an old WWII tank, or maybe just savage one from an island in the Pacific and fix it up? You can see a picture of an old army tank below. It has no tank owner.

Photo: This tank was abandoned by the Japanese in the Soloman Islands in the 1940s

Is it legal to own a tank?

You can also find a Sherman Tank (M4 Sherman) on these islands.

But there are much more recent abandoned tanks in places like Iraq. The war between Iran and Iraq left entire areas of the desert filled with tanks.

Below is a picture of a Chieftain tank from the Iraq-Iran war. It’s in pieces, which could make it easier to transport back to your country. Once you get it back home, you can work on the tank and try and put it back together again. It will certainly be a lot cheaper than buying a tank for millions of dollars.

Photo: Chieftain tank

It’s unlikely that you will be able to find a World War II panzer, as the European war was cleaned up much better than the war in the Pacific.

If you have seen the movie “The God of War” you will notice that the cold war left entire warehouses full of tanks. These tanks made their way to strange places. While it’s unlikely that you will be able to buy one tank in an ex-Soviet Union country, you might be able to get tank parts to fix up your tank.

Maybe you can hire some retired US Army or Soviet Union tank mechanic to help you with a project. Get a legal memo from an attorney first, explaining that what you are doing doesn’t violate state laws or federal laws.

Purchase a main battle tank

Let’s assume you find a tank in a country that doesn’t have strict laws, and maybe you pay a local fee to get permission to get the tank, you will have to get a ship to transport it back to your country. That will likely be the most realistic way to get the tank back.

By working with an attorney, you will have any paperwork that you needed ready for customs. Everything will be clear, so the border police won’t be concerned about what you are doing. They might hold your military tank in customs for a while, just to make sure everything is legal.

Again, they are going to want to make sure you don’t plan to make the main gun live and fire projectiles. It might help if you pour cement into the main gun, to make it impossible to fire. You will also want to make it clear that you don’t want to drive on main roads, and just on your private property.

Maybe if you can get permission from your local city, you can drive it in WW2 parades, or remembrance day parades.

Restoring a WW2 tank would probably get a lot of views on Youtube… We found a video where someone fixed up an army tank.

Street legal tank ownership

While doing research for this article, we noticed there are tank collectors. One of the names that came up in the video above was Jacques Littlefield, who owns a bunch of tanks in California. He even had Panzer tanks… Sadly he died in 2009.

So in short, yes you can own tanks, but it’s going to be expensive, and you need to be committed to finding them. You are going to need a team of mechanics (and lawyers.) Expect to travel to old battlezones, and make deals to get ownership of the tanks.

If you just want to fire a tank, it’s probably cheaper to just go to Russia or Vietnam. If you enjoyed this article, then please share it on social media! Let’s get more people interested in restoring motor vehicles.

Read other articles about if things are legal or not:

• Are you allowed to keep the money you find?
• Can you file a lawsuit to get a gift back?

As of the writing of this article, the Russia/Ukraine war of 2022 is going on. There will be a lot of blown-up tanks in Ukraine that you will be able to tow away.

Owning a tank is an exhilarating prospect

Owning a tank is an exhilarating prospect. Imagine piloting this massive behemoth of steel and power through an open field, the earth shaking beneath its enormous treads. This dream, far-fetched as it may seem, could become your reality.

A considerable number of military enthusiasts have successfully procured and restored decommissioned tanks, driving them on private land as a testament to their passion for military history.

Many decommissioned tanks end up at military surplus auctions, a goldmine for enthusiasts seeking out these mammoth machines. They come from a range of eras, each representing a different stage of warfare technology.

The 2018 year, for example, saw an average of 60 decommissioned tanks up for auction in the US. Now, these numbers are expected to rise by 8% each year until 2026.

Potential costs before buying a tank

You must consider the potential costs before buying a tank. While a used armoured vehicle might cost you between $15,000 to $50,000, a decommissioned tank often demands a price tag upwards of $75,000. It’s worth noting that these prices fluctuate, depending on the tank’s condition, rarity, and historical significance.

Russian T-72s, for instance, sold for around $50,000 in 2021, yet the price has risen by roughly 5% each year.

The tank’s condition is crucial. Ensure the engine is in working order or can be reasonably repaired. In 2020, about 67% of tanks sold at surplus auctions required extensive engine repairs.

Look for tanks with intact treads and functional turret systems. Tread replacements cost an average of $5000 per set while refurbishing a turret can set you back as much as $10,000.

Fixing up a tank

Once you’ve procured your tank, the real work begins. Fixing up a tank is an intricate process, requiring both mechanical aptitude and a deep understanding of your tank’s design. In 2022, the average tank restoration took between 1,000 and 1,500 hours. It’s a long process but a rewarding one for the committed hobbyist.

Start with the basics. Rebuilding the engine, for instance, is often necessary. Remember, tank engines are unique, operating under vastly different conditions compared to car engines. Around 30% of tank restorations require significant engine overhauls.

Focus on the suspension and treads, key components that keep your tank mobile. Approximately 40% of restorations involve replacing or fixing treads. Remember, a tank’s performance significantly depends on these, much like how a car’s performance hinges on its tires.

Then, refurbish the interior. This step can be a complex endeavour since it often involves both restoring and modernizing elements of the control systems. In 2022, around 45% of restored tanks incorporated some form of modern technology within their controls.

Is it legal to own a tank?

Attend to the tank’s exterior. Most tanks require a fresh coat of paint and some minor bodywork. About 80% of tank restorations involve repainting, and 65% require significant body repairs.

Restoring a tank is not merely a financial investment. It’s a time-intensive project requiring mechanical skills, patience, and a passion for military machinery.

But the payoff is immense. You can immerse yourself in history, learn an incredible amount about these formidable machines, and gain a tangible, powerful symbol of the past. It’s a journey like no other. With the right dedication and resources, owning and restoring a tank can be an extraordinarily rewarding experience.