mobile.de explained: how to read a listing and what to do next
Prepared with AI, reviewed by SIA Baltic Oranges
On 17 October 2026 the platform’s own app description names more than 1.4 million cars on mobile.de and more than 14 million people searching for vehicles there every month (App Store, 17.10.2026). The site has no Latvian; Russian is available, and the seller’s text is always German. This guide covers how to switch the language, how to read the listing fields, what should make you cautious and how to write to a dealer in German.
mobile.de is another company’s platform. AutoPase is not affiliated with mobile.de, and no logos or screenshots of it are used here.
What mobile.de is
mobile.de is a German classifieds site where both dealers and private sellers offer cars. The platform is only the place where the ads are posted: the seller writes the text and the deal is with the seller, not with the platform. So two ads for a similar car can differ widely in accuracy.
Among dealer offers there are some meant only for businesses or only for export. Before you start talking, find out whether the seller sells to a private buyer.
Language and currency
The interface can be switched to Russian and other languages in the page header; there is no Latvian (checked 21.09.2026 — see our guide to German car portals), so a browser translator helps. The interface translates, but the seller’s text stays German, and machine translation is exactly where the meaning can flip — read the key words in the original.
Prices in Germany are in euros, as in Latvia, so there is nothing to convert. The only thing to watch is whether the price includes VAT.
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These fields and marks come up in most listings:
| German term | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Erstzulassung (EZ) | Month and year of first registration | Age of the car; for VAT a “new” car is under six months or 6,000 km |
| Kilometerstand | Mileage | Compare with the service book, inspection dates and VIN history |
| HU (Hauptuntersuchung) | The German mandatory inspection; the month it is valid until | “HU neu” means a fresh inspection; ask for the report |
| Scheckheftgepflegt | Service book kept up | Ask for photos of the stamps and the invoices |
| Unfallfrei | “Accident-free” by the seller’s word | Get it confirmed in writing and check by VIN |
| Vorbesitzer | Number of previous owners | Many owners in a short time is a question for the seller |
| MwSt. ausweisbar | The dealer can show VAT separately on the invoice | Matters to a company that reclaims VAT; for a private buyer it is an ordinary price |
| Export / nur für Gewerbe | Sold only for export or only to businesses | Find out whether they sell to a private buyer |
VAT in words. “Brutto” or “inkl. MwSt.” is the price with VAT — what a private buyer pays. “Netto” and “zzgl. MwSt.” is the price for a business with a VAT number. For a used car bought in the EU no VAT is normally payable in Latvia; the exception is a “new” car — used under six months or driven under 6,000 km (VAT Act, 17.10.2026). Confirm the exact regime for your case with a tax adviser.
What should make you cautious
- A price far below similar listings, with the seller pushing you to hurry
- A request to pay into another person’s account or through an “intermediary” site before you have seen the documents
- A refusal to give the VIN, copies of the documents or a video call
- Photos that do not match the description or do not show the interior and wheel arches
- Marks such as “Bastlerfahrzeug”, “defekt”, “Motorschaden”, “Unfallfahrzeug” — the car is damaged or meant for repair
Check the VIN history and the mileage before you pay — see our VIN check and the guide to checking a car in Germany.
How to write to the dealer
Write in German or English and ask for the answer in writing — it is your evidence if a dispute comes later. A ready message you can copy:
Guten Tag, ist das Fahrzeug (Inserat-Nr. …) noch verfügbar? Ich bin Käufer aus Lettland (EU) und interessiere mich ernsthaft. Bitte senden Sie mir: 1. die Fahrzeug-Identifizierungsnummer (VIN), 2. Fotos des Scheckhefts und der letzten Rechnungen, 3. eine schriftliche Bestätigung, ob das Fahrzeug unfallfrei ist, 4. den Endpreis mit allen Zusatzkosten und die Angabe, ob Sie an Privatkunden verkaufen. Vielen Dank und freundliche Grüße
Hello, is the car (ad no. …) still available? I am a buyer from Latvia (EU) and seriously interested. Please send me: 1) the VIN, 2) photos of the service book and the latest invoices, 3) written confirmation of whether the car is accident-free, 4) the final price with all extra costs and whether you sell to private buyers.
A dealer in Germany owes a consumer statutory liability for defects: two years on a used car, which can be cut to one year only by an agreement notified beforehand and stated expressly and separately (§ 476 BGB). A private seller normally takes on none.
What to do next
Once you have chosen a listing: check the history and mileage, find out the full cost to Riga, agree on an inspection and delivery, then register the car with CSDD. Each step has its own guide — links below.
If you do not want to do all of that yourself, AutoPase helps on request to select cars, check the history and organise delivery. The seller is the author of the listing (the dealer), not AutoPase.
Frequently asked questions
Does mobile.de have a Latvian version?
No. The interface can be switched to Russian, but there is no Latvian. The seller’s text is always German, so a browser translator and a check of the key words in the original help.
Can a private buyer from Latvia buy a car on mobile.de?
Yes, if the seller sells to private buyers. Some dealer listings carry “Export” or “nur für Gewerbe”, which means sale for export only or to businesses only; ask in writing before you start talking.
What does “MwSt. ausweisbar” mean?
The dealer can show VAT separately on the invoice. That matters to a company reclaiming VAT; for a private buyer it is an ordinary price with tax. In Latvia no VAT is normally due on a used EU car, except a “new” one.
How do I spot a scam on mobile.de?
Compare the price with similar listings, ask for the VIN, document copies and a video call, never pay into a third party’s account and do not hurry. If the seller dodges questions, walk away.
Is AutoPase affiliated with mobile.de?
No. AutoPase is not affiliated with mobile.de. We help select cars, check the history and organise delivery; the seller is the author of the listing (the dealer).
Where to go next
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Related Guides
German Car Ad Sites
Where to look, how to read an ad
Checking a Car in Germany
TÜV, history and scam patterns
What a Car from Germany Costs
Full cost calculation with examples
Car Delivery from Germany
Prices, times and carriers
Ordering a Car from Germany
How it works and what it costs
Cars from Germany
Import, risks & tips
How to Read a VIN Report
Empty fields & seller questions
Car Auctions in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands
Who can bid, fees and risks
AutoPase car selection
A car from Germany, all-in: AI picks the 5 most suitable, delivered in about 21 days
Search abroadUseful Tools
Sources
Figures and rules checked on 17.10.2026. Sources:
- mobile.de — App Store — The platform’s own app description: “over 1.4 million cars” and “over 14 million people a month”. A company statement, not an independent measurement. (2026-10-17)
- Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch § 476 (gesetze-im-internet.de) — For used goods the seller may shorten the warranty period to one year only by an agreement notified beforehand and stated expressly and separately. (2026-10-17)
- Pievienotās vērtības nodokļa likums (likumi.lv) — Article 1, point 9(a): a new land vehicle is one used for under six months or driven under 6,000 km. (2026-10-17)