Where to look for a car in Germany and how to read the ad
In September 2026 the German used-car market online rests on three sites: mobile.de with more than 1.6 million listings, AutoScout24 with more than 2 million listings across Europe, and Kleinanzeigen with 813,772 used cars in Germany. None of them speaks Latvian; two of the three speak Russian. Below: where to look, how to switch the language, how to read a price with and without VAT, and a glossary of 78 German ad terms.
Where to look in Germany: three sites and what separates them
The three sites cover nearly the whole German offer in 2026, and they differ in who sells there. mobile.de works with more than 40,000 registered dealers, AutoScout24 shows several European countries in one search, and Kleinanzeigen, with its 813,772 used cars, is a classifieds site where the deal is directly with the seller.
| Site | How much is there | Who sells | Languages | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mobile.de | More than 1.6 m listings (cars, vans, motorcycles, e-bikes) | Mostly dealers: the platform works with more than 40,000 registered car dealers | Interface in ten languages, Russian among them; no Latvian | Dealer offers can be marked export-only or trade-only — those are not for a private buyer |
| AutoScout24 | More than 2 m listings across Europe, more than 30 m monthly users | Dealers and private sellers; one search also covers Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and France | Eleven languages in the German site footer, Russian and Ukrainian included; no Latvian | Listings from several countries sit in one result list — check the country before you call |
| Kleinanzeigen | 813,772 used cars in Germany (formerly eBay Kleinanzeigen, renamed in May 2023) | A classifieds site: private sellers post here, and dealer ads also arrive automatically from mobile.de (same owner) | German only — anything else means the browser translator | The deal is directly with the seller, with no platform in between — never send a deposit |
| autoscout24.at · autoscout24.ch | The Austrian and Swiss sites, each with its own stock | Local dealers; the Swiss site is run by a different company (SMG Swiss Marketplace Group) | German, French, Italian, English | Austria is in the EU — same procedure as Germany. Switzerland is not: a car from there is an import with duty and VAT, so run the calculator |
Sources
- mobile.de — Source: autohaus.de, 28.07.2026 (company figures); dealer count — autohaus.de, 17.01.2024; language list — Wikipedia, 2024
- AutoScout24 — Source: autoscout24.com company page and the autoscout24.de footer, read 21.09.2026
- Kleinanzeigen — Source: the kleinanzeigen.de "Autos" section, read 21.09.2026; rename — Adevinta release, 16.05.2023; ad export from mobile.de — autohaus.de, 17.01.2024
- autoscout24.at · autoscout24.ch — Source: the autoscout24.de footer and swissmarketplace.group, read 21.09.2026
Switching the language — and what to do about Latvian
On 21.09.2026 the German AutoScout24 footer offers eleven languages, Russian and Ukrainian among them; the mobile.de interface runs in ten languages, Russian included. None of the three sites has Latvian, so a browser translator has to stand in.
- AutoScout24: the language switch sits in the footer and works on every page, listings included.
- mobile.de: the language is chosen in the header; the interface changes, the seller text stays German.
- Kleinanzeigen: German only, so only the browser translator helps (Chrome and Edge offer it automatically).
- Machine translation flips meaning exactly where it is expensive: "kein Unfallschaden" and "Unfallschaden" look nearly the same after translation. Read the key words in German — the glossary below is for that.
How to read a German ad: the six fields that decide the deal
Six fields are worth reading before you call in 2026: the price (with or without VAT), Erstzulassung, mileage, the HU date, the number of owners and the seller type. The rest of the ad is decoration.
- Price. "Brutto" or "inkl. MwSt." is the price with VAT — what a private buyer pays. "Netto", "zzgl. MwSt." and "Nettopreis für Exportkunden" are business prices for a VAT-registered buyer.
- VAT in Latvia. A used car bought anywhere in the EU carries no Latvian VAT. A car that counts as new for tax — under 6 months old or under 6,000 km — is taxed at 21% in Latvia.
- "Unfallfrei" is a claim, not a document; "Scheckheftgepflegt" is a claim you can verify — ask for photos of the stamped service book.
- The HU date tells you whether the car may be driven in Germany at all. If it has run out, the way home is a carrier or export plates.
- The seller type changes liability: a German dealer owes two years on a used car by law and may cut that to one year only by an explicit clause in the contract (§ 476 BGB); a private seller owes nothing.
- Ask for the VIN before you travel. It is the only free check you can run without leaving home.
Source: Latvian State Revenue Service guidance on VAT for new means of transport and the VAT Act, checked 21.09.2026
The German ad glossary: 78 terms
78 terms in six groups — the ones that actually appear in German ads in 2026. For each: the translation, what it means for the buyer and what to look at.
A ⛔ marks wording that puts the car out of reach of a private buyer from Latvia, or that declares damage. AutoPase recognises these ads and keeps them out of the showroom.
Condition and history
| German term | Translation | What it means and what to look at |
|---|---|---|
| Unfallfrei | accident-free | A claim, not a document — measure the paint, check the VIN history. |
| ⛔ Unfallfahrzeug | accident car | Damage declared openly; price and insurance change. |
| ⛔ Vorschaden | prior damage | Repaired damage — ask for the repair invoices and before photos. |
| ⛔ Unfallschaden (repariert) | repaired accident damage | Usually a replaced body panel — check panel gaps in daylight. |
| ⛔ Bastlerfahrzeug | project car | Does not run properly — you are buying a repair bill. |
| ⛔ Nicht fahrbereit | not roadworthy | Costs more on the carrier: it has to be winched on. |
| Fahrbereit | runs and drives | Says nothing about a valid roadworthiness test. |
| ⛔ Motorschaden | engine damage | A declared defect — the repair costs more than the discount. |
| ⛔ Getriebeschaden | gearbox damage | An automatic rebuild often costs more than the discount. |
| ⛔ Defekt | faulty | Usually names one part — read which one. |
| ⛔ Hagelschaden | hail damage | Dented roof and bonnet; repairable but it follows the car. |
| Gebrauchsspuren | signs of use | Honest shorthand for wear — ask for close-up photos. |
| Kratzer / Dellen | scratches / dents | Small in the ad, hundreds of euro per panel to paint. |
| Rost / Durchrostung | rust / rust-through | Rust-through fails inspection — ask for underbody photos. |
| Scheckheftgepflegt | full service history | The best sign in an ad — ask for photos of the stamps. |
| Serviceheft / Wartungsnachweis | service book / service record | Often digital now — ask for the printout. |
| Zahnriemen gewechselt | timing belt replaced | Ask for the invoice with date and mileage. |
| Nichtraucherfahrzeug | non-smoker car | Smell never fully leaves a cabin — check it yourself. |
Age, mileage, roadworthiness
| German term | Translation | What it means and what to look at |
|---|---|---|
| Erstzulassung (EZ) | first registration | Given as 03/2019 — Latvian tax counts from this date. |
| Baujahr (Bj.) | year built | Can be a year older than first registration. |
| Laufleistung / Kilometerstand | mileage | Cross-check against the test report and service entries. |
| Anzahl der Halter / Vorbesitzer | number of keepers | Taken from the papers; many owners in a short time is a question. |
| 1. Hand / 2. Hand | first / second owner | A company first owner often means a leasing fleet car. |
| HU (Hauptuntersuchung) / TÜV | German roadworthiness test | Valid in Germany; Latvia still requires CSDD registration. |
| AU (Abgasuntersuchung) | emissions test | Part of the HU; a fail usually means catalyst or DPF. |
| HU neu / TÜV neu | fresh test | A snapshot of one day, not a guarantee. |
| HU 03/2028 | test valid until 03/2028 | If it has expired you need a carrier or export plates. |
| HU-Bericht / TÜV-Bericht | test report | Lists mileage and every defect found — always ask for it. |
| Neuwagen | new car | For VAT "new" means something else — see the price section. |
| Gebrauchtwagen | used car | The normal case: no Latvian VAT on a used EU car. |
| Tageszulassung | day registration | A new car briefly registered to the dealer — discount, almost no mileage. |
| Jahreswagen | one-year-old car | Often an employee car: one owner, full history. |
| Vorführwagen | demo car | Low mileage but many different drivers. |
Papers and plates
| German term | Translation | What it means and what to look at |
|---|---|---|
| Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (Fahrzeugschein) | registration certificate part I | Technical data and keeper; travels with the car. |
| Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II (Fahrzeugbrief) | registration certificate part II | The key document — no CSDD registration without it. |
| COC / EG-Übereinstimmungsbescheinigung | certificate of conformity | CSDD asks for it; ordering a copy costs money and time. |
| HSN / TSN | maker and type code | Two codes that pin the exact variant. |
| FIN / Fahrgestellnummer | VIN | Ask for it before you travel and run a free check. |
| Abgemeldet / Stilllegung | deregistered | Cannot be driven in Germany without short-term or export plates. |
| Kurzzeitkennzeichen | short-term plates | A few days only and they need German insurance cover. |
| Ausfuhrkennzeichen / Zollkennzeichen | export plates | What you take when driving the car home yourself. |
| Umweltplakette / Schadstoffklasse | emissions badge / class | Needed inside German city zones; Latvia looks at the class. |
| Standort / PLZ | location / postcode | The five digits tell you how far the car is. |
Price and VAT
| German term | Translation | What it means and what to look at |
|---|---|---|
| VB (Verhandlungsbasis) | negotiable | The seller invites an offer — usually against found defects. |
| Festpreis | fixed price | No haggling invited; defects still reopen it. |
| Brutto / inkl. MwSt. | incl. VAT | The price a private buyer pays — use it in the calculator. |
| ⛔ Netto / zzgl. MwSt. | net / plus VAT | A VAT-registered business price; a private buyer pays gross. |
| MwSt. ausweisbar | VAT can be shown | Matters to a company reclaiming VAT, not to a private buyer. |
| Differenzbesteuert (§ 25a UStG) | margin scheme | VAT is not shown separately and cannot be reclaimed. |
| ⛔ Nettopreis für Exportkunden | net price for export customers | For companies exporting with a VAT number. |
| ⛔ Nur Export / Exportfahrzeug | export only | Sold out of Germany only, usually with no liability at all. |
| ⛔ Nur an Gewerbe / Gewerbetreibende | trade buyers only | A private person will not be sold this car. |
| ⛔ Gewerbeangebot / Händlerangebot | trade offer | The same idea in other words: business to business. |
| Anzahlung | deposit | Money sent before seeing the car is the classic loss. |
| Finanzierung / Leasingübernahme | financing / leasing takeover | German bank products, rarely open to a Latvian buyer. |
Seller and deal
| German term | Translation | What it means and what to look at |
|---|---|---|
| Privatverkauf / Privatanbieter | private seller | Cheaper, with no liability at all. |
| Händler / Autohaus | dealer | Dearer, but you get an invoice and statutory liability. |
| Gewährleistung | statutory liability | Two years by law; for a used car a dealer may cut it to one only by an explicit clause (§ 476 BGB). |
| Garantie | warranty | A separate contract — read what it covers and where. |
| Gekauft wie gesehen | sold as seen | No claims after payment — check before you pay. |
| Keine Garantie, keine Rücknahme | no warranty, no returns | Standard in private ads and legally valid. |
| Probefahrt | test drive | Ask for 20 minutes from a cold start, autobahn included. |
| Besichtigung nach Vereinbarung | viewing by appointment | Normal — unless viewing keeps slipping while a deposit is asked. |
| Reserviert | reserved | Often just a verbal promise — ask until when. |
| Lieferung / Überführung möglich | delivery possible | Usually inside Germany only. |
| Reimport / EU-Fahrzeug | re-import / EU version | Built for another EU market; equipment can differ. |
Drivetrain and equipment
| German term | Translation | What it means and what to look at |
|---|---|---|
| Schaltgetriebe | manual gearbox | More common in Germany, therefore cheaper. |
| Automatik / DSG / Tiptronic | automatic gearbox | DSG is dual-clutch — ask for its oil-change record. |
| Allradantrieb (4x4, quattro, xDrive, 4motion) | all-wheel drive | Different names, one thing; thirstier and dearer to fix. |
| Leistung kW / PS | power kW / PS | Both are printed; 1 kW is about 1.36 PS. |
| Hubraum (ccm) | engine capacity | Used for the Latvian tax when CO₂ is unknown. |
| Kraftstoff: Benzin / Diesel / Elektro / Hybrid | fuel type | For diesels check the emissions class. |
| AHK (Anhängerkupplung) | tow bar | A towing life means a harder-worked gearbox and clutch. |
| Standheizung | auxiliary heater | A real plus in a Latvian winter — test that it works. |
| Sitzheizung / Klimaautomatik | seat heating / climate control | Often front seats only — test, do not trust the list. |
| Einparkhilfe (PDC) / Rückfahrkamera | parking sensors / reversing camera | Cheap on paper, not cheap to replace. |
| Alufelgen / Winterreifen | alloy wheels / winter tyres | A second set of wheels is real money — ask if it is included. |
| Vollausstattung / Ausstattungslinie (S line, M-Sportpaket, AMG Line) | full spec / trim line | A trim line is looks, not engine — ask for the factory list by VIN. |
The car is found — what happens next
In 2026 a found car costs another 550–800 € for the carrier to Latvia, and 856–1186 € in total above the car price — transport, CSDD registration with the first roadworthiness test, and first-year OCTA (our cost module, prices verified 12.09.2026).
- Check the car before you travel: the test report, the service history, the VIN. How to check a car in Germany
- Price the way home and choose: a carrier, or driving it yourself on export plates. Car delivery from Germany — prices and times
- Run the full cost with your own price and CO₂ figures. Import cost calculator
- If searching and hauling is not for you, look at cars already priced for Latvia. Cars from Germany priced for Latvia
- Once in Latvia the car must be shown to CSDD for the VIN/unit-number comparison — within five days under the CSDD rules (csdd.lv, read 21.09.2026).
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Frequently asked questions
Which German site has the most cars?
By count, mobile.de: more than 1.6 million listings, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and e-bikes included (autohaus.de, 28.07.2026, company figures). AutoScout24 states more than 2 million listings, but that is all of Europe, not Germany alone. The Kleinanzeigen "Autos" section showed 813,772 used cars in Germany on 21.09.2026.
Are the German car sites available in Russian or Latvian?
In Russian, yes, on two of the three: the German AutoScout24 footer listed eleven languages on 21.09.2026, Russian and Ukrainian among them, and the mobile.de interface runs in ten languages including Russian. Latvian is on none of them, so a browser translator has to do. The seller text itself is German, and that is exactly where machine translation can flip the meaning.
What does "Unfallfrei" actually mean?
It means the seller claims the car has never been in an accident. There is no document behind the word and no register entry that proves it. Three things do check it: a paint-thickness measurement, the roadworthiness test report and the VIN history. If "Vorschaden" or "Unfallschaden" appears nearby, damage has been declared openly.
Can I buy a car in Germany without VAT?
The net price is for VAT-registered businesses; a private buyer is not sold at that price. The separate question is VAT in Latvia: a used EU car carries none, while a car that counts as new for tax — under 6 months or under 6,000 km — is taxed at 21% in Latvia. Source: Latvian State Revenue Service guidance and the VAT Act, checked 21.09.2026.
What should I do about "Nur Export" or "nur an Gewerbe"?
Those ads are sold to businesses only, or only out of Germany, and a private buyer will not be served. Move on and find the same model elsewhere. On our side such ads are recognised automatically and never reach the showroom.
Is a fresh HU enough to skip the paperwork in Latvia?
No. A fresh HU certifies one day in Germany. The car still has to be registered with CSDD in Latvia: registration with the first roadworthiness test and the natural-resources tax is part of our cost table, and the car must be presented for the VIN/unit-number comparison within five days of arriving (csdd.lv, read 21.09.2026).
What does it cost to bring the car home?
A carrier from Germany to Latvia costs 550–800 €, and the full extra above the car price is 856–1186 €: transport, CSDD registration with the first roadworthiness test, and first-year OCTA. Verified 12.09.2026 against published Latvian carrier prices and the CSDD price list.
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