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Car dealership and workshop

Sales appraisal

With the TÜV NORD sales appraisal, car dealerships and garages document the condition of used vehicles transparently and with legal certainty - ideal for minimising risk and building confidence when selling.

Prüfingenieur bei der Überprüfung der Lkw-Reifen an einer TÜV NORD Station

New warranty law for car dealers

The simple note in the purchase contract "Vehicle is not accident-free" will no longer be sufficient when purchasing consumer goods. Since 1 January 2022, the visual and technical condition of vehicles (including electronic components and software versions), among other things, must be clearly demonstrated to prospective buyers before the contract is concluded.

We have the solution for you as our car dealership and workshop partner: the TÜV NORD sales report. Find out in an interview with the technical manager of TÜV NORD Autoservice GmbH, Dennis Zittlau, what advantages this service offers you.

Changes to the new purchase law since 2022

From 6 to 12 months warranty obligation

The extension of the reversal of the burden of proof is of central importance for retailers. The assumption here is that defects discovered by the buyer during the defined period were already present when the product was purchased and the seller must therefore take care of rectifying them.

Previously, the dealer was able to defend against this after six months - in future only after 12 months. Especially when buying a used car, it must therefore be very clearly regulated in the purchase contract which defects are already known. After all, a defect in a car can quickly run into thousands of euros.

The bureaucratic burden for dealers has increased significantly since 2022

Bureaucracy and the associated paperwork have also increased significantly. In future, a warranty declaration must be provided to the consumer on a durable medium. This must clearly state that the guarantee exists in addition to the statutory warranty rights and that the utilisation of these rights is free of charge. The question of whether the vehicle has been in an accident is of considerable relevance.

The simple note in the purchase contract "Vehicle is not accident-free" is no longer sufficient when purchasing consumer goods. According to the new sales law, the item must be both subjectively and objectively free of defects. This means that the objective defect must affect the subjective defect.

Software updates in the on-board electronics can lead to a material defect

The law also introduced further points that influence the relationship between seller and buyer. The challenge is that it covers many different product groups. All regulations relating to the so-called "digital elements" also affect used cars, although the legislator had completely different goods and services in mind here.

As a result, software updates can also lead to a material defect. For smaller used car dealers, the possible consequences are difficult to calculate. However, there could be a way out here if sellers exclude this update obligation from the warranty.

Your advantages

The TÜV NORD sales appraisal provides a recourse-proof basis for the sale of used cars, which has been agreed with specialist lawyers.

  • Comparison of standard, special and additional equipment
  • Creation of visual and damage images
  • Definition of damage without monetary representation
  • Documentation by logging the fault memory and software statuses
  • Documentation of the pre-contractual condition within the meaning of sales law
  • Optional extension of the overview images for sales purposes (cost extension)

The scope of the TÜV NORD sales report

  • 17 defined tests
  • Photo documentation
  • Compliance with the purchase law in the B2C segment
  • Independent evaluation of the vehicle
  • Commercial use of the images and the appraisal in marketing
Download a sample TÜV NORD sales appraisal
Prüfingenieurin erklärt Fahrzeugprüfungsdetails an der TÜV NORD Station

Procedure and data collection for the sales appraisal

On behalf of the customer, an inspection is carried out by our TÜV NORD expert before the vehicle is sold to a potential customer. This is an expert report to document the pre-contractual condition.

In the data recording, all damage is allocated with corresponding image material. This enables (with date, time, signature) a controlled information to the potential buyer. The damage is documented without monetary values. In addition, the appraisal report contains defined viewing images, which can be extended at the customer's request.

The expert examines the vehicle on the following points:

  • Identification: Registration number, licence plate number, mileage, registration date, model description, motorisation
  • Equipment: completeness check of standard, additional and optional equipment
  • Determination of additional visible modifications to the vehicle (e.g. tuning)
  • Vehicle body: Visual inspection of the body for dents/dings, scratches, other paint damage, glass damage and existing and repaired damage
  • Paint layer thickness measurements per component
  • Tyres: visual inspection of fitted and additional tyres and rims
  • Inspection of on-board tools for completeness
  • Visual inspection of the interior fittings for completeness, damage and soiling
  • Visual inspection of engine, transmission, drivetrain, visual inspection of exhaust system and panelling parts
  • Chassis and underbody: visual inspection for damage and leaks
  • Visual inspection of the brake system for wear and/or damage
  • Functional check: Engine running, transmission check, functional check of gearshift and control elements and interior equipment (navigation system, air conditioning, auxiliary heating, etc.)
  • Test drive/test run: Carrying out a short test run on the company premises to determine obvious malfunctions or acoustic anomalies (e.g. dual mass flywheel)
  • Our TÜV NORD experts use every opportunity to identify and describe any previous damage
  • The vehicle's fault memory is read out or made available by the dealership
  • The software status of the control units is read out or made available by the dealership

Good to know

Frequently asked questions about the sales appraisal

You receive a neutral sales appraisal that all parties involved can use to protect themselves. TÜV NORD supports car dealerships in the complex and difficult task of drawing up a vehicle appraisal for the sale that is legally secure. TÜV NORD has specialists with expertise in all vehicle manufacturers. This means that the car dealership can also sell on third-party vehicle brands without hesitation.

When a used car is sold.

The new sales law has significantly increased the legal requirements for dealers' sales processes. Among other things, the visual and technical condition of vehicles (including electronic components and software versions) must now be clearly demonstrated to prospective buyers before the contract is concluded.

One service that offers you security here is the TÜV NORD sales appraisal. This provides a recourse-proof basis for the sale of used cars, which has been agreed with specialist lawyers.

The TÜV NORD sales appraisal costs 95 euros net.

The order is placed via

  • personal assignment
  • e-mail or
  • by telephone using the free service telephone number 0800 80 69 600.

In the car dealerships, the order can also be placed via the process chain of the production systems or internal communication channels.

The most important change concerns the definition of defects in Section 434 of the BGB. This regulates the circumstances under which an item is to be considered defective. All deviations must be pointed out before a purchase contract is concluded. If these conditions are not met, the customer can subsequently assert claims against the seller.

The warranty cannot be excluded under any circumstances. This is prescribed by law and always has a term of at least 2 years. This applies to new and used cars.

According to the new regulation of § 434 BGB, a used car must fulfil all objective and subjective requirements. A subjective requirement is an agreed quality that is suitable for the contractually stipulated use. This includes, for example, a functioning air conditioning system and the corresponding roof rack described. The objective requirements are fulfilled if the vehicle is suitable for normal use. Among other things, the visual and technical condition of the vehicle (including electronic components and software versions) must be clearly demonstrated to the potential buyer before the contract is concluded. If not everything is sufficiently described, the buyer may subsequently be liable for material defects.

Additional services for workshops and car dealerships

Beratungsgespräch im Autohaus

CarBuyCheck

Do you know the used cars that would delight your customers, but the perfect offer is hundreds of kilometres away? With the TÜV NORD AutoAnkaufCheck, you can find out whether the journey is worthwhile. Our experts will check the vehicles for you directly on site.
Find out more about the AutoAnkaufCheck
Prüfingenieur hält TÜV NORD Onboard Diagnose im Fahrzeug

TÜV NORD Onboard Car Diagnosis

TÜV NORD Onboard Car Diagnosis is a plug-and-play system for digital vehicle inspection. It enables fast and precise diagnosis of vehicles, which is particularly useful for workshops and fleet operators.
Learn more about TÜV NORD Onboard Car Diagnosis
Prüfingenieurin bei der Reifenprüfung eines Fahrzeugs an der TÜV NORD Station

Damage assessment

Garages and car dealers need precise information on repair costs and repair forecasts in order to make informed decisions. TÜV NORD offers detailed expert reports for this purpose.
Learn more about damage appraisals

Contact

We look forward to receiving your inquiry!

TÜV NORD Mobilität

Car dealership and workshop