Buying a Car

Both new car and a used car can be purchased in Germany. Buying a new car is very much similar in all countries.

When buying a used car, there are several things to take into account:

  • Mileage
  • Date of initial registration (Erstzulassung or EZ)
  • When the next technical inspection is due
  • Number of owners
  • Fuel consumption

Schwake Liste

The value of second-hand cars can be known by a scale called schwake liste. It is a vehicle rating index which gives the value of all cars every year for all the modals. It is an effective guide to compare the prices when we buy a car.

There are certain cheaper versions of the used cars like

EU cars

This type of cars can be ordered through certain dealers normally carrying a sign, EU-Fahrzeuge. It is the right of an every EU citizen to purchase goods and services in any place in the EU. This also goes for cars. The new cars can be imported into different EU markets and sold at often considerably lower prices. In some cases, you may find that the difference in price can be up to EUR 10,000. Buyers should also pay special attention to the clauses in the contract concerning arrangements for service.

Jahreswagen

These are cars which the employees of German carmakers have used as a company benefit for around a year, and which are then sold by authorised car dealers. This is a common practice at car makers to increase the number of produced/sold cars. Auto dealerships in all cities generally offer Jahreswagen -- including guarantee.

Buy/Sell a Used Car

There are some car magazines listing used cars for sale privately with a clear overview of car brands, models and prices.

Allrad Foto is a specialist publication for four-wheel drive vehicles with private and commercial picture classifieds, and is published monthly on the last Friday of the month. Oldtimer Inserat is a monthly magazines especially for vintage cars and spare parts covering all of Germany.

The seller

The seller should provide the following:

  • Ownership and registration documents (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil l und ll, formerly known as the Fahrzeugbrief and the Fahrzeugschein)
  • Proof of exhaust emission testing (AU-Bescheinigung) is required to re-register cars which are more than three years old
  • A dealer should supply a service history (Inspektionsheft) recording previous vehicle defects
  • Dealers must provide used cars with a roadworthiness certificate (TÜV)that is valid for two years. When buying a used car privately, buyers should check when the next vehicle inspection is due
  • A written contract of sale (Kaufvertrag)
  • KFZ Brief. It comes in two parts:
    (i)   Big A4 Size page with car information such as previous owners, cars year of production etc.
    (ii)  Smaller part that you will always have to have on you when you drive the vehicle.
  • The seller should inform the insurance company, in writing, that the vehicle has been sold

Registration

The buyer must then register the vehicle at the local vehicle licensing department (KfZ-Zulassungsstelle).  New number plates will be issued to the buyer.

The following documents are required:

  • Proof of identity (current passport or identity card)
  • Proof of residency (Meldebescheinigung)
  • TÜV Certificate
  • Proof of insurance (Doppelkarte)
  • Original vehicle registration documents
    • If the vehicle is to be registered as a company vehicle, then a copy of the extract from the commercial register (Handelsregisterauszug) or business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) is required
    • If a third party is registering the vehicle on someone else's behalf, they need a letter from the vehicle owner confirming authorisation (Vollmacht) and this must be presented to the registration authorities, along with the owner's passport
  • Written contract of sale (Kaufvertrag)

The vehicle owner does not receive a copy of the proof of insurance documents (Doppelkarte) for the purpose of registering the vehicle. Due to data protection regulations between insurance companies, vehicle registration offices and the German driver vehicle licensing agency (Kraftfaht-Bundesamt), as well as for environmental issues to save paper. Instead, the owner receives an insurance confirmation number from the insurer (VB-Nummer), which is stored in a central database for other agencies for the purpose of confirming insurance. Some vehicle insurers allow a copy of the "Doppelkarte" document to be printed online.

Useful information

  • You can ask the seller to get the TÜV done before you buy the car. If he/she refuses, chances are there is something very seriously wrong with the vehicle and you are best to avoid it.
  • Dealers often assist you with TÜV, insurance and registration process.
  • Private individuals who buy used cars from a professional dealer have the right to claim for body defects within six months of purchase, as decreed by Germany's Federal Court (Bundesgerichtshof)
  • DO NOT BUY A CAR THAT HAS NO KFZ BRIEF!!!