Below is information on buying a new car from a dealer in Germany, and buying and selling a used car privately.

Buying a New Car

Buying from a dealer has the advantage that the dealer will usually help with registering the car and finding suitable insurance.

In line with Germany's general environmental and energy saving awareness there are many state-of-the-art cars on the market which use alternative energy such as hybrid, natural gas, liquid gas (LPG) or ethanol. However, it is always wise to check the availability of the alternative fuel supply in the area before buying.

Most car dealers in Germany specialise in selling cars from one particular manufacturer. Occasionally they will offer ex-demonstration vehicles (Vorfuehrwagen) or ex-employee vehicles (Jahreswagen), bought by employees at a discount but resold after a year. Some car dealers also sell used cars (Gebrauchtwagen). Dealer discounts on new car prices are not as common as in other parts of the EU but special offers can be found.

In addition to buying outright, cars can be leased or bought on hire-purchase through schemes offered by the dealers. Generally, dealers ask for a deposit of around 15 to 20 percent at the time of purchase before the financing scheme payments commence. If buying a right-hand drive car which has to be specially ordered, then the deposit is payable at the time of ordering.

To purchase a new car in Germany from a dealer the following documents are required from the buyer:

• Proof of residency (polizeiliche Anmeldung)
• Proof of identity (passport)
• Bank account details from a German bank (if not paying cash for the vehicle)

To find a local dealer follow the link to Händlersuche:

• Volkswagen
• Chrysler
• Ford
• Toyota
• Volvo
• Chevrolet
• Audi
• Mazda
• Opel
• Mercedes

Buying and Selling a Used Car

There are some car magazines listing used cars for sale privately, many of which also have a website (for example, Auto-News). In Berlin there is regular monthly magazine called Zweite Hand Autohandel ("second hand cars") with a clear overview of car brands, models and prices. In North Rhine Westphalia there is a monthly second hand car magazine called Top-Automobile. In addition, ZH Autonet magazine covers Berlin and surrounding areas and is published on the first Friday of the month.

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 and Oldtimer Anzeiger are two specialist bi-monthly magazines especially for vintage cars and spare parts covering all of Germany.

Dealers sometimes sell used cars:

• Volkswagen has a search facility for finding specific used VW models/dealers
• Ford (follow the link for Händlersuche to find used Ford car dealers)
• QUOKA
• Autoscout24
• Imperial Cars
• Mercedes

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

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 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
• A sample contract of sale (Kaufvertrag) for private car sales can be downloaded here (in German). This document details the condition of the vehicle at the time of the sale
• The seller should inform the insurance company in writing that the vehicle has been sold

The buyer

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

• To find a local vehicle licensing department: Click here (in German)

The following documents are required:

• Proof of identity (current passport or identity card)
• Proof of residency (polizeiliche Anmeldung)
• 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)

• For further tips on buying a used car in Germany: Click here (PDF in German)

Consumer rights & information

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).

• For more information on consumer rights: Click here (in German)
• Mobile.de also has advice in English on buying/selling cars over the Internet: Click here
• To find test data and appraisals of individual makes and models: Click here
• For information on environmental appraisals of vehicles: Click here

Further Information

• ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club e. V.) is the national German car club offering many vehicle services including breakdown and recovery
• VCD (Verkehrsclub Deutschland) - the German transport association is a more environmentally aware alternative to ADAC offering similar services
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Vehicle Roadworthiness in Germany
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Driving in Germany
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Insuring a Vehicle in Germany
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Registering a Foreign Vehicle in Germany

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