Used Car Check: Check First, Then Buy

The Used Car Check is completely free in its basic version and usable without registration. You receive technical data directly from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), fuel consumption and CO₂ values, all relevant recall campaigns from the European workshop database, a vehicle tax estimate and links to current spare parts prices. This free part is ready in under 10 seconds after entering the VIN. For deeper analyses we offer two premium reports as a one-time payment with no subscription: the Market Value Analysis from 14.99 EUR with expert market value, depreciation in percent and real listings from AutoScout24 and Mobile.de. The Vehicle History report from 24.99 EUR covers accident history, repair costs, mileage history and theft check via Cardentity. Both reports together as a bundle cost 34.99 EUR – saving you 5 EUR compared to individual purchase.

Free and without registration you receive seven data blocks: First, vehicle identification with manufacturer, model, engine variant, vehicle image and manufacturer logo. Second, complete technical data – power in HP and kW, 0–100 km/h, top speed, transmission, drivetrain, doors, seats and body type. Third, all dimensions (length, width, height) with a visual blueprint diagram. Fourth, engine and weight data: displacement, cylinder count, engine code, kerb weight, gross vehicle weight, axle loads and towing capacity. Fifth, fuel consumption urban, extra-urban and combined plus CO₂ emissions and Euro emission standard. Sixth, an automatic vehicle tax estimate based on displacement and CO₂ value (for electric vehicles with tax exemption). Seventh, all relevant recall campaigns from the European workshop database, grouped by relevance for the model year, plus direct links to spare parts prices for battery, wipers, brake discs and oil.

No, registration is not required. The entire free Used Car Check works without a login, and the purchase of premium reports (Market Value Analysis 14.99 EUR, Vehicle History 24.99 EUR, bundle 34.99 EUR) is also possible without an account – you receive the PDF report by email immediately after payment. Data is not stored permanently after the check, the entire process is GDPR compliant and hosted on German servers. Optionally, you can create a free account and unlock the full value of the Fahrzeugschein.de platform: your check history remains accessible anytime, you receive a digital vehicle registration, a fuel log with real consumption values, a workshop history with OCR receipt scanning, automatic MOT and emissions inspection reminders, and a total cost overview. Registration takes less than a minute via email, Apple or Google login and is permanently free for up to 3 vehicles – no trial phase, no automatic conversion to a paid plan. Learn more about the platform →

The premium "Vehicle History" report provides a complete overview of the vehicle's past and is based on Cardentity, one of the most comprehensive European vehicle databases. Five core areas are included: an accident and damage history with date and type of reported events, an overview of documented repair costs, the mileage history to uncover odometer tampering, a theft check against European registers, and general owner information. The report costs a one-time fee from 24.99 EUR, with no subscription and no login required. After payment, the full report is available within seconds as a PDF download and by email. If we find no damage information on a vehicle, no other provider has it either – our database is the most comprehensive on the German market. Bundled with the Market Value Analysis, you pay only 34.99 EUR instead of 39.98 EUR.

The premium Market Value Analysis delivers an expert-backed market value for a specific vehicle for a one-time fee of 14.99 EUR – ideal before price negotiations or when selling. The report contains seven building blocks: first, the expert market value based on current market data. Second, the original price (MSRP) compared directly to the current value including depreciation in percent. Third, a price corridor with minimum, average and maximum for realistic upper and lower bounds. Fourth, comparable listings from AutoScout24 and Mobile.de with price and equipment. Fifth, market statistics such as average days on market and listing count to assess supply and demand. Sixth, a VIN decoder with complete vehicle equipment – the 17-character VIN is decoded via DAT and provides the original list price (MSRP) including itemized optional equipment with individual prices, plus the full standard and optional equipment list. Lets you check in seconds whether the seller's claims match the factory equipment. Seventh, the full report as a PDF download and by email. No subscription, no login, one-time payment. Bundled with the Vehicle History report, both cost 34.99 EUR together instead of 39.98 EUR.

Checking a vehicle before buying protects you from three typical risks in a used car purchase: hidden accident damage, open safety-relevant recalls and an inflated asking price. The Used Car Check covers these points in under 10 seconds. For free, you see all relevant recall campaigns from the European workshop database – open recalls can concern brakes, airbags or steering and must be resolved before registration. For the purchase decision, the premium Market Value Analysis (from 14.99 EUR) shows whether the asking price is realistic, and the Vehicle History report (from 24.99 EUR) uncovers accident damage, odometer tampering and owner changes. A check therefore gives you a solid negotiation basis with reliable figures – and protects you from discovering expensive surprises only after purchase. Every year, thousands of used cars with hidden defects are sold in Germany.

The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number, in Germany also called FIN) is located on the vehicle registration – the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I – in field E. It is exactly 17 characters long and consists of letters and digits; the letters I, O and Q are not used. On the vehicle itself there are three typical locations: on the driver's side door sill (stamped into the paint or on a sticker), visible behind the windshield at the bottom edge on the driver's side, and on a metal plate in the engine compartment, usually on the firewall or strut tower. For a check, the VIN does not need to be typed: simply photograph the registration document – our OCR recognition reads the VIN in under 30 seconds automatically and starts the check directly. All registration document fields explained →

After purchase, the free Fahrzeugschein.de app becomes your digital vehicle manager and handles the complete ongoing management of the vehicle. Five core functions are included: a fuel log with real consumption values and cost per kilometer based on your actual fill-ups, a workshop history with OCR receipt scanning (invoices are automatically read and archived), automatic MOT and emissions inspection reminders ahead of their due dates, a total cost overview covering fuel, tax, insurance, repairs and maintenance, as well as an album for vehicle photos and important documents. A completely documented vehicle history significantly increases the resale value at a later sale – buyers demonstrably pay more for a car with clean documentation. The app is free for up to 3 vehicles and available for iOS and Android, with a user base of over 100,000 vehicle owners in Germany. Learn more about the app →

For the Used Car Check itself and for purchasing the premium reports, no registration is required – both work completely anonymously and in compliance with GDPR. A free account is only necessary if you want to use the vehicle management in the Fahrzeugschein.de app long-term. It gives you access to all app functions: fuel log with consumption tracking, workshop history with OCR receipt scanning, automatic MOT and emissions inspection reminders, cost overview per vehicle, digital vehicle registration and your complete check history of previous inspections. Registration is done with email and password or via Apple and Google login and takes less than a minute. The account is permanently free for up to 3 vehicles, there is no trial phase and no automatic switch to a paid plan. More than 100,000 users already manage their vehicles in the app. Register for free now →

The VIN decoder in the premium Market Value Analysis decodes the 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) and returns the exact factory equipment of your vehicle. Data source is DAT (Deutsche Automobil Treuhand), one of the largest European vehicle databases with access to manufacturer configuration archives. The VIN decoder shows three data blocks: First, the complete vehicle identity – brand, model, series, exact variant (for example "A 250 e (177.186)"), body type, engine with kW rating, transmission, fuel type, trim line, exterior color and build date. Second, the full original list price breakdown with net and gross MSRP of the base vehicle plus itemized optional equipment with individual prices – so you see at a glance what the vehicle cost from the factory and how the configuration markup is composed. Third, the complete standard and optional equipment list with all installed components – from airbags and driver assistance systems through comfort equipment like Burmester sound system or ambient lighting to OEM codes for workshop lookups. This data is especially valuable before a test drive: in seconds you can check whether the seller's claims match the factory equipment, whether promised extras like AMG Line, M Sport or premium sound system were actually installed, and what they originally cost. Protects against false descriptions in listings and provides a solid basis for price negotiation. The VIN decoder is part of the premium Market Value Analysis from 14.99 EUR – one-time payment, no subscription, full report available immediately as a PDF download.