Posted by Jenna Davis | Getting Around, Living
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Life in a new city no matter where in the world you are livingcan be relatively difficult when getting started. Regardless of how long you’ve been an expat in your new city, there are always a few bumps along the road that cantake you on a bit of a learning curve. Finding out how to buy a used car is often one of those bumps.
So, to make your life in Düsseldorf a little bit easier, we’ve set out to find the best websites for you to use in order to find a used car in Düsseldorf. However, there are a few steps you might need to take before buying a vehicle here in Germany.
What to consider before you buy
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You’ll need to finance the car
Depending on how affordable your new (used) car is, you’ll need to make sure you’ve either set up a payment plan or have the funds to pay the seller upfront. When buying a used car, more often than not you will need to pay the seller the entire cost of the car upfront.
TIP: If you are planning on financing your purchase from a bank account abroad, make sure you check and compare exchange rates ahead of time. Expats often go with the more popular money transfer services like CurrencyFair or Wise because many of the newer companies today offer the best exchange rates and no hidden fees.
You’ll need insurance for the car
Before you can register the car (since you will need proof of insurance in order to register it) you will need to make sure you have insurance for the car. Insurances in Germany can be tricky, why? Because there are tons of them! However, this is a good thing too – this means you have tons of different options to choose from and many affordable options.
Make sure you compare car insurance prices before making your pick (the comparison websites might be in German, but it’ll save you a ton of money in the long run). Another neat option is to book an insurance package where you only pay for the KM’s you drive (you’ll receive a back payment if you drive less than anticipated).
You’ll need to register the car in Germany
This requires you to head to the road traffic office (KFZ-Zulassungsstelle) in Düsseldorf (or the city you live in). If you change cities, you will need to re-register your car to your new location. Once you have an appointment to register the car, you’ll need to bring in a number of documents including:
- Proof of German ID (German passport or your temporary/permanent ID card)
- Driver’s license
- Proof of registration in the city
- Proof of insurance
- TÜV certification (proof of inspection)
Registration costs may change, but at the moment it should be around 30 Euros.
Here are 10 of the best websites to buy used cars in Düsseldorf (and around Germany)
WirKaufenDeinAuto.de
If you’ve ever watched German TV commercials, you may already be able to recognize the wirkaufendeinauto.de commercial – it’s catchy. However, it’s not only a website where you can sell your own ratty old car but a site where you can find some great deals on other used cars around the area. You’ll need to translate your way a bit through the website, but it’s a relatively simple search to understand.
AutoScout24
AutoScout24 is a European-wide classifieds site for selling new and used vehicles. It is often the first site that comes to mind when you ask a German where the best place to go is when you’re looking to buy a used car. Their site is also offered in multiple languages, so while the postings themselves might be in German, it’s a much easier site to navigate if you’re not fluent in German quite yet.
Mobile.de
Mobile.de is known as “Germany’s Biggest Vehicle Marketplace Online”. It is also a popular online classifieds site that is run in 10 different languages including English, Turkish, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, and many more.
eBay Kleinanzeigen
eBay Kleinanzeigen might not be run in English, but it’s certainly a fan favorite when it comes to buying and selling second-hand items online in Germany. It is more like a one-stop-shop for all your second-hand needs, so if you’re looking for a washing machine and a sofa while you’re at it, this the place to search.
AutoBild
AutoBild is known Germany-wide as a popular vehicle magazine. They run in cooperation with AutoScout24, so while it might be an easier search (in English) on AutoScout24, AutoBild is also a great place to get news updates and tips on all sorts of different vehicle-related topics (in German).
12Gebrauchtwagen.de
Similarly, 12Gebrauctwagen is a classifieds search engine used to find second-hand vehicles. There is not much of a difference between all these platforms, so if you haven’t found your dream vehicle on the other sites, try giving this one a try.
kalaydo.de
kalaydo.de is similar to eBay Kleinanzeigen when it comes to being a one-stop-shop kind of website. You can find new or second-hand vehicles here, as well as your next job opportunity, your new apartment, and your second-hand bed.
gebrauchtwagen.de
gebrauchtwagen.de is not much different than the rest, but another good option when searching for a used vehicle. The search engine is in German, but they offer a number of used vehicles for sale in the area.
hey car
hey car isa used car portal owned by VW and Daimler that offers every car with a guarantee in order to give customers peace of mind. They have over 350.000 vehicles currently listed, with many more coming up.
Find a used vehicle at a local car dealership
Your alternative option and oftensafestoption is simply to head to the dealerships in Düsseldorf and start asking questions. Höherweg is a popular street in Düsseldorf often referred to as the “automeile”/”car mile” due to the overwhelming number of car dealerships in the area.
If you’re looking for alternative ways to get around Germany without owning a car just yet, you might enjoy our post“How to Get Around Germany Without a Car“.
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