Used-car code · 11 min · By Vehilo · ·
The used-car code: 15 German advert phrases to know before you buy
What this guide can help you do
Some words in an advert are a prompt for a question rather than a warning. It is worth asking before you invest time or money, or get your hopes up. The used-car code turns typical advert wording into specific questions for buyers.
The aim is not to talk down every offer. A good car may have a brief description, and a detailed advert may still have gaps. What matters is whether the price, evidence, seller's role and vehicle history are consistent.
15 phrases at a glance
The review priority shows which claim should be clarified in more detail before you take the next step. It is not a measured likelihood of defects or a judgement about the seller.
Im Kundenauftrag
Check needed: High- Listing wording
- The advert describes a sale on a client's behalf. Clarify who is acting as an intermediary and who is to be named as the seller in the contract.
- Buyer question
- Who is named as the seller in the purchase contract?
- Clarify the contracting party in writing before the viewing.
- Ask whether the dealer is selling in their own name.
- Discuss statutory liability for defects and the intermediary's role before the appointment.
Scheckheftgepflegt
Check needed: Medium- Listing wording
- The car is said to have a service history.
- Buyer question
- Which records show what was actually done?
- Compare the service book with the invoices.
- Check the mileage recorded at each service.
- Ask about major maintenance items such as the timing belt, oil changes and brake fluid.
Unfallfrei
Check needed: Medium- Listing wording
- The advert describes the car as accident-free. Ask what damage and repairs are known and what assurances will be given in writing.
- Buyer question
- What repairs, repainting or previous damage are known?
- Ask for repair invoices and pictures.
- Have the paint, panel gaps and marks on screws or bolts checked on the car.
- Read the wording in the purchase contract carefully.
Bastlerfahrzeug
Check needed: High- Listing wording
- The car is being offered more as a project or as needing work.
- Buyer question
- Is this still an everyday car, or is it a project?
- Get a written account of known defects.
- Clarify transport and registration.
- Work out a realistic repair budget before buying.
Selbstabholer
Check needed: Medium- Listing wording
- You need to arrange and handle collection yourself.
- Buyer question
- Is there a lawful, practical way to move the car?
- Clarify registration, number plates and insurance.
- Ask whether driving it is a sensible option or whether a trailer is needed.
- Confirm the handover location and documents in advance.
Keine Garantie
Check needed: Medium- Listing wording
- The advert does not mention a voluntary warranty. Check separately which statutory rights concerning defects apply.
- Buyer question
- What liability for defects applies under this specific contract?
- Consider voluntary warranties separately from statutory rights concerning defects.
- Clarify the seller's type: private individual, dealer, business or intermediary.
- Read the contract without rushing before signing.
Gekauft wie gesehen
Check needed: High- Listing wording
- This 'bought as seen' wording appears in the advert or draft contract. Ask about known defects and which checks are actually documented.
- Buyer question
- Which points were actually checked and documented?
- Do not rely only on photos and gut feeling.
- Document the test drive, records and known defects.
- Allow for professional help if you are unsure.
Unter Ausschluss der Gewährleistung
Check needed: High- Listing wording
- The advert announces an exclusion of liability for defects. To assess it, you need the contract wording and the seller's status.
- Buyer question
- Is the exclusion appropriate to the seller's role, and do you understand its implications?
- Clarify the contracting party and the seller's status.
- Do not leave verbal assurances unchecked.
- Seek qualified advice on specific legal questions.
TÜV neu / HU neu
Check needed: Medium- Listing wording
- The seller states that a German roadworthiness inspection (Hauptuntersuchung, or HU) was carried out recently.
- Buyer question
- What does the HU report say, beyond the information on the sticker?
- Request the HU report.
- Read the notes and any minor defects recorded.
- Still check the service history, tyres, brakes and suspension.
Fahrbereit
Check needed: Medium- Listing wording
- For a car sold for immediate use on public roads, 'fahrbereit' ('ready to drive') can mean more than 'the engine runs'. The specific agreement and the car's condition at handover are decisive.
- Buyer question
- What limitations or defects are known, and how will the condition be checked before handover?
- Clarify known limitations in writing.
- Read all available inspection documents in full.
- Arrange the necessary technical inspection before buying.
In judgment VIII ZR 72/06 of 22 November 2006, Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH) discussed operability and roadworthiness in connection with 'fahrbereit'. A broader guarantee of durability does not follow automatically. The legal meaning in an individual case must be assessed separately.
Exportfahrzeug
Check needed: High- Listing wording
- The offer appears to be aimed more at sales outside the German private-buyer market.
- Buyer question
- Why is the car not intended for a regular sale to private buyers in Germany?
- Clarify whether the car can be registered and check the documents.
- Ask specifically about known defects.
- Budget particularly cautiously if you intend to use it as an everyday car.
VB / Verhandlungsbasis
Check needed: Low- Listing wording
- The price is not necessarily fixed.
- Buyer question
- What facts support a different price?
- Compare market prices.
- Use records, tyres, maintenance, the number of keepers and defects as discussion points.
- Do not just ask for a blanket discount; negotiate using specific points.
Standschaden
Check needed: Medium- Listing wording
- The seller describes damage they associate with the car having stood for a long time. That is not the same as simply saying that the car has been driven little.
- Buyer question
- What specific damage is meant, what has been established about it, and what work is already documented?
- Ask how long the car stood and under what conditions.
- Request any existing workshop findings.
- Use the documents to clarify repairs and the car's return to use.
The word alone does not establish which components are affected, whether the car can be driven or what the costs are.
Reparaturbedürftig
Check needed: High- Listing wording
- Known work is due or has not been carried out.
- Buyer question
- What exactly remains outstanding, and what would it realistically cost?
- Get the defect list in writing.
- Ask for a repair estimate or look up parts prices.
- Allow a buffer for further costs.
Nur an Gewerbetreibende
Check needed: High- Listing wording
- The offer appears to be aimed at business buyers rather than private individuals.
- Buyer question
- Does this offer fit your position as a private buyer?
- Do not rush into the offer as a private individual.
- Clarify the seller's role, contract and liability in advance.
- If in doubt, look for an offer with clearer terms.
Check what each record covers
Fictional example: An advert says “scheckheftgepflegt” (service history recorded). The seller sends a service printout with dates and mileages, but when asked about a brake repair says only, “The workshop did it.” The printout shows the recorded service entries; without an invoice and details of the work, the repair remains unverified. This does not show that the work was completed, and the gap is not evidence that the brakes are defective.
A useful follow-up is: “Could you show me the invoice for the brake repair? I’d like to see the date, mileage and parts replaced. You can redact previous owners’ personal details as long as the document still identifies this car.”
Turn three claims into specific questions
For each claim, write down what remains unresolved. This turns a phrase into a specific follow-up question without anticipating the answer.
| Claim in the advert | What remains unresolved | Next question |
|---|---|---|
| Scheckheftgepflegt (documented servicing) | Which work is documented | Which service entries and invoices can you show before the viewing? |
| HU neu (recent HU inspection) | What the inspection report says | Can you show the complete current HU report? |
| Fahrbereit (ready to drive) | What work or unusual observations are known | Are there any known defects, warning lights or repairs due? |
Message to the seller: “Hello, I am interested in the car. Before arranging a viewing: Which service records and HU documents are available? What defects or upcoming work are you aware of? Can outstanding questions be clarified at a viewing and, if needed, an independent inspection? Thank you.”
Do not ask for personal documents to be made publicly available. Even complete answers do not confirm safety, an accident-free history or specific legal entitlements. If information is contradictory, pause your plans and clarify the discrepancy first.
If you are comparing two specific diesel estates, the Passat B8 / Octavia III comparison (German) shows how to apply the same checks to both offers.
Frequently asked questions, sources and a note
- Is 'im Kundenauftrag' automatically a reason to rule out a car?
- No. What matters is who is named as the seller in the purchase contract and what role the dealer actually takes. Clarify the contracting party, seller status and statutory liability for defects before the viewing.
- Does 'TÜV neu' prove that the car is in good working order?
- No. A recent HU inspection covers specified checks on the day of inspection. It replaces neither the service history nor a technical inspection suited to the car and its condition.
- Which documents should I request before a viewing?
- Ask for the registration certificate, HU report, service book and available service or repair invoices. Also ask about known damage, outstanding defects and who is selling the car.
Sources and further guidance
- German Civil Code (BGB), section 434 – Material defects
- German Civil Code (BGB), section 437 – Buyer's rights in the event of defects
- German Civil Code (BGB), section 438 – Limitation periods for claims concerning defects
- German Civil Code (BGB), section 444 – Exclusion of liability where defects are fraudulently concealed
- ADAC – Buying a used car
- ADAC – Vehicle defects after purchase
- Federal Court of Justice (BGH), VIII ZR 72/06, 22 November 2006 – Original judgment
- BGH VIII ZR 72/06 – full text reproduced by prinz.law
- ADAC Südbayern – Effects of a prolonged period out of use, 19 January 2021
This guide provides general information for buyers and is not legal advice. If you are unsure, have contracts and specific legal questions reviewed by a qualified legal adviser. Vehilo does not replace a workshop inspection, an HU roadworthiness inspection, an expert assessment or a lawyer's review of a contract.
Relevant next step
First Look
A free first read on one listing before you go deeper.