Certcar
Check VIN

Germany car history check by VIN.

The VIN shows what has been recorded about the car in Germany and other countries: mileage readings, services, reported damage and a check in stolen vehicle databases. You check the German papers and the HU inspection separately, and this page shows you how.

Enter VIN number (17 characters)

See which car it is for free. You only pay if you want the full report.

On the rear number plate
The inspection sticker HU
Illustrative example
12345678910111227
The year on the sticker
The month at the top of the sticker
6 · June
Inspection valid until the end of June 2027

The sticker shows the due date. The mileage at the inspection is in the HU report, which you ask the seller for.

The colour repeats every 6 years, which is why the numbers in the middle matter too. The sticker only tells you how long the inspection is valid, not what was found.

Ad, papers or report: where to check each thing.

A German ad makes the same few claims. For each one, see which document can prove it and what the report can show.

The mileage
In the ad
148,000 km
The figure the seller wrote.
In the German papers

The last HU inspection report and the service invoices have the mileage noted, with a date.

In the Certcar report

The readings found, on a chart. A drop against an older reading is flagged.

Accidents
In the ad
Unfallfrei
Accident-free, according to the seller.
In the German papers

No document confirms this. Ask for the statement to be written into the contract.

In the Certcar report

Damage claims found in Germany and other countries, with the damaged areas and estimated cost.

Services
In the ad
Scheckheftgepflegt
Services done and recorded in the service book.
In the German papers

The service book (Serviceheft) or, for cars with a digital service record, a printed service list.

In the Certcar report

The service records found, with the date, mileage and work, when available.

Owners
In the ad
1. Hand
One owner.
In the German papers

The Teil II shows the registered keepers. Count them there.

In the Certcar report

The report doesn't count owners.

Technical inspection
In the ad
HU neu
Inspection recently done.
In the German papers

The sticker on the rear number plate and the HU report (Prüfbericht).

In the Certcar report

The report shows the history from Germany. Romanian ITP inspections appear after registration in Romania.

Theft
In the ad
—
The ad says nothing about it.
In the German papers

The VIN on the car must be identical to field E in the Teil I and Teil II.

In the Certcar report

A search of the VIN in stolen vehicle databases.

A history that starts in Germany.

From the car's German years, the report can gather three types of records. Below you see them in the sample report's timeline, with example data.

Services and repairs

With the date, mileage and work done.

Damage claims

With the damaged areas and the estimated repair cost.

Earlier listings

With photos and the mileage stated at the sale.

Sample reportSee the full report
Timeline
An overview of the entire report. All events are listed chronologically for a quick history review.
15 records saved
Note
Events are displayed chronologically, from the most recent to the oldest. The period covered depends on the data available for this vehicle.
Vehicle reported stolen
There is a record indicating that this vehicle was reported stolen. Please check the "Theft" section for more information.
07.2024
Romania
Mileage record
A mileage reading was recorded for this vehicle.
07.2024
Romania
Damage recorded
A record linked to a damage event was found in the car's history.
04.2023
Romania
Maintenance carried out
A periodic maintenance operation was recorded.

The German papers, field by field.

The German registration document has two parts. Both must come with the car, in the original, with the same VIN.

Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I
Fahrzeugschein · The registration certificate. It stays in the car.
E
VIN
Compare it with the VIN on the car and in the report.
B
First registration
The car's real age, to put next to the year in the ad.
D.2
Variant and version
Helps confirm the engine, together with P.2 (power in kW).
Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II
Fahrzeugbrief · The document kept at home. Without it, the car can't be registered.
E
VIN
The same as in the Teil I and on the car. Any difference stops the deal.
—
Registered keepers
The seller's name must be the last one. This is also where you see how many there were.
—
The original
Ask for the original, not a copy or a photo.
Kaufvertrag

The sale contract. It states the VIN, the mileage, the date and what the seller says about accidents.

HU-Bericht

The last technical inspection report. It has the mileage at the inspection and the defects found.

Serviceheft

The service book, with stamps and invoices. Gaps in the history are explained here.

Zwei Schlüssel

Both keys. A missing key costs money and may raise questions.

From Germany to your own number plates.

Four stages, what to do at each and which papers to keep for the next.

  1. Stage 1 · From home

    Before you travel

    • Ask for the VIN and a photo of the Teil I showing field E.
    • Check the history and put it next to the ad: year, engine, mileage, equipment.
    • Ask whether the Teil II, the service book, the HU report and both keys come with it.
    You keep
    The Certcar reportThe saved ad
  2. Stage 2 · Germany

    At the seller's

    • Find the VIN on the car and compare it with the Teil I and Teil II.
    • Take the car to an independent garage or a station that does used-car checks.
    • Sign a contract stating the mileage and the accident statement. Pay once you have the papers in hand.
    You keep
    KaufvertragTeil I and Teil IIServiceheftThe keys
  3. Stage 3 · On the road

    Deregistration and transport

    • The car is deregistered in Germany (Außerbetriebsetzung). Keep the proof.
    • For the trip, choose export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen), which come with insurance, or transport on a trailer.
    • Photograph the dashboard when you set off, so you have the starting mileage.
    You keep
    Proof of deregistrationExport insuranceThe dashboard photo
  4. Stage 4 · Romania

    Registration at home

    • In Romania, the RAR authenticity check comes first and you receive the vehicle identity card; other countries have their own registration checks.
    • Ask your local registration office which documents it needs for your car.
    • At the first inspection, the mileage must be higher than the last reading from Germany.
    You keep
    Vehicle identity cardThe registration certificate

After registration in Romania, the report for the same VIN can also show the ITP inspection and mileage from the Romanian vehicle register.

Questions about cars from Germany.
Short answers for anyone buying a car from there.
Yes. All you need is the VIN, which you ask the seller for or read in field E of the Teil I. You see which car it is for free and only pay for the full report if you want it.
Yes, when there is a damage claim for the VIN in the damage databases we check. You see the date, the damaged areas, the estimated cost and, if applicable, a total loss. No record doesn't mean the car was never hit.
The report shows the records found for the VIN: mileage, services, reported damage, a check in stolen vehicle databases and earlier listings. You check Teil I, Teil II and the HU report in the original, with the seller.
That the seller declares the car accident-free. It isn't a document. Check the damage records in the report, have an independent garage look at the car, and ask for the statement to be written into the contract.
You see the number of registered keepers in the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II, which you must receive in the original.
The Hauptuntersuchung, Germany's technical inspection (often called the TÜV). For cars, the first is due 3 years after registration, then every 2 years. The due date shows on the sticker on the rear number plate; the mileage and defects found are in the inspection report.
Didn't find the answer?
See all frequently asked questions

Also check.

Found the car in Germany?

Check the history before the deposit and the trip.

Enter VIN number (17 characters)