Prepare documents, an independent inspection and export before travelling. A Germany-specific route for buyers based in Romania.
Travel to Germany after the car, documents and seller pass your remote checks. This route is for a used passenger car being brought to Romania; exact formalities depend on the vehicle and local authority.
Start with the vehicle number
Start with available technical details for free. The OBDAuto decoder does not provide accident, mileage, theft or service history.
Free checks and what a paid report may addHow to read a history reportRead the evidence, not just a verdict
Public carVertical demonstration screenshots, not reports purchased or cases investigated by OBDAuto. An example does not guarantee the same data for your car and does not replace an inspection.
carVertical · demonstration exampleRead the event type, date and estimate range. An assessment is not a paid invoice, and amounts should not automatically be added together.
Screenshot source: carVertical ↗ carVertical · demonstration exampleCompare the specifications with the documents and the actual car. This screenshot shows technical details, not a mileage timeline.
Screenshot source: carVertical ↗ Buying guide Editorial review: 22 October 2026Resolve any difference between vehicle markings, documents and the report before paying a deposit. An empty report does not confirm that the car has never been damaged.
Request a clear photo of the VIN on the car and the relevant documents, then arrange dates and mileage readings in order. Keep a budget for an independent inspection.
Check the VIN and book an inspection before travel tickets or a deposit. Treat purchase, export and Romanian registration as separate steps.
Your first check at the car
Illustrative windscreen photos from different vehicles. The exact position depends on make, model and market; these images are not model-specific instructions for every car in the guide.
Look from outside at the base of the windscreenWesha · Public domain · Resized and compressed as WebP; cropped for display.
GM example: the plate seen through the windscreenHans Haase · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and compressed as WebP; cropped for display.
Some models show the VIN through the windscreen. A door-frame label or a stamped marking may be elsewhere; check the manufacturer’s manual for your model.
Compare the marking with the vehicle documents and report. Do not confuse an engine code or a part number with the VIN.
Do not scrape or alter markings. If a number is missing, hard to read or does not match, ask a specialist to verify the vehicle’s identity.
Request the full VIN, a photo of its vehicle marking, a saved advert and legible copies of registration Parts I and II, with unnecessary personal details masked. At the viewing, check originals, seller identity and authority to sell. Successful VIN decoding does not establish any of these.
Request HU inspection reports, invoices and available service history. Put dates and readings in order and question gaps or decreases. If buying a commercial report, use this exact VIN and compare the result with documents; an empty section is no accident-free certificate.
Sources: ADAC — used-car buying checklistNHTSA — odometer fraudIf driving home, confirm the Ausfuhrkennzeichen procedure with the relevant registration authority: original documents, export insurance, valid HU and tax formalities. Check non-resident requirements and appointments locally. Do not assume the seller's ordinary or temporary plates cover the journey.
For a transporter, agree in writing on the carrier, cargo cover, price, keys and document handover, and loading/unloading photographs. Do not pay an alleged shipping company solely through a link received in advert messages.
Sources: Service Berlin — AusfuhrkennzeichenPolizei — Vorkasse / advance-payment fraudKeep the contract or invoice, original foreign registration, export documents and COC where available or required for your case. Check RAR's CIV requirements and then registration paperwork. Verify current requirements for the specific vehicle.
Budget for the final price, checks, travel, transport, insurance, RAR, registration and identified repairs. VAT treatment depends on the seller and the vehicle's tax status; cars advertised as used do not necessarily receive identical tax treatment.
Romanian documents and registration → Sources: RAR — documente pentru CIVYour Europe — VAT on carsTick off completed checks. The list resets when you reload the page.
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I compared the VIN with photos and documents. I checked the HU and service chronology. I booked an independent inspection. I confirmed the seller and payment recipient. I clarified export, transport and insurance. I calculated the cost through registration.No. It can supplement records but cannot confirm current mechanical condition or the seller's identity.
Does a valid HU mean the car has no problems?No. Arrange a pre-purchase inspection; HU is not a comprehensive guarantee for your purchase.
Should I pay a reservation deposit?Do not send money before verifying the seller, vehicle and written reservation/refund conditions.
Do you offer vehicle inspections, history reports or transport?
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