Sell Your Car - Sell It Directly to a Dealer or List It

Selling your car made easy with mobile.de

Germany's largest vehicle marketplace
Online via a listing or locally at mobile.de car-buying locations
No obligation to sell

Make

Model

First Registration Date

Mileage

How would you like to sell your used car?

Traditional: Sell via a listing	Direct: Direct sale to verified mobile.de partners
14 million potential buyers	Sell your car within 24 hours
Get the best possible price	Over 600 car-buying locations, including near you
Manage the sale yourself	Professional on-site car valuation
Options for greater visibility	Payment is made immediately
Selling a damaged car? Find a buyer here	Free deregistration service

Illustration: Mann und Frau schütteln Hände vor einem Auto

Direct

Sell your car within 24 hours

Sell quickly, conveniently and risk-free to verified car-buying locations. We’ll also handle deregistration for you.

Online valuation in just a few clicks
Professional on-site inspection
Easy and fast sale

Traditional

Get the best price with a mobile.de listing

Want to handle inquiries, viewings and test drives yourself? No problem!

Create a listing
Receive inquiries, arrange appointments
Sell your car at the best price

Compare your car-selling options

Your benefits	Listing	Direct
Safety We provide maximum support and security when you sell your car. Our customer support is available to you at any time.	2 stars	5 stars
Selling price With a listing, you may achieve a higher price through your own negotiating skills, or rely on our market knowledge and sales expertise with a direct sale.	5 stars	4 stars
Convenience With a direct sale, we make selling your car as convenient as possible—for example, with our deregistration service.	2 stars	5 stars
Speed Use a listing on Germany’s largest vehicle marketplace to find the highest bidder, or sell your car through a direct sale to a mobile.de car-buying location within 24 hours.	3 stars	5 stars

More than 2 million satisfied customers

4.5Stars

“Professional, relaxed and friendly! Pleasant negotiations and a fair offer. I’d be happy to come back!”
4.0Stars
Markus F.
Hamburg, 06/10/2020
“If I ever sell a car again, it will be through mobile.de. Everything was very quick and straightforward. I’m extremely satisfied.”
5.0Stars
Klaus-Peter S.
Essen, 06/28/2020

Car selling made easy: Everything you need to know

You’re about to sell your old used car, and because a significant amount of money is involved, you naturally want everything to go smoothly. But few people are experienced car sellers or know the answers to every question about selling a car.

Today, there are several ways to turn your used car into cash, and there are a number of things to consider. We’ve clearly summarized here how best to proceed, what options are available for selling your car, and what matters in each case.

Where can I sell my car?

Anyone who wants to sell their car has several options today. Besides the classic note in the car window, you have the best chance of success as a seller if you want to sell your car online.

With an online car sale, you can sell your car either to a certified dealer or to a private buyer through a listing. Speed and reach are particularly valuable here, as is the fact that you can conveniently create the online listing from home—usually completely free of charge.

Sell your car: privately or to a dealer?

Changing circumstances and today’s fast pace of life ultimately affect how we use our cars. Maybe your growing family no longer fits in a small car, or perhaps you want to swap your old diesel for an electric vehicle?

Maybe you’re even moving and can’t take your used car with you? Depending on the situation, car owners have different time frames for selling a used car. Fortunately, there are several ways to sell your old car flexibly today.

Sell your car to mobile.de dealers

If you want to sell your old used car quickly and easily, you should contact a professional dealer. Car-buying and brokerage platforms such as mobile.de offer an online form to help you find a suitable car-buying location nearby and arrange an appointment.

On the agreed date, the car is thoroughly inspected on site so its actual selling value can then be determined. The condition of your car is important, but so is the general market value of the model. If the price is right, the sale can be completed the same day, meaning the money can be in your account shortly afterwards. So if you need to sell quickly and value complete security when selling a used car, you can sell your car to a dealer this way—quickly, safely and easily.

Sell your used car privately

If, on the other hand, you have a little more time and patience and want to sell your car privately, you can list your used car yourself on an online car marketplace. The biggest advantage is that the seller sets the price and terms. You also have a better chance of selling the used car at a higher price. On used-car platforms such as mobile.de, you can easily create a free listing and reach up to 14 million potential buyers.

In addition, you can offer your car for sale on social networks, for example in relevant Facebook groups. With a little luck, you may even find the right buyer in your neighborhood. You can leave a notice on community bulletin boards or place one directly in your car to draw passersby’s attention to the sale. It’s important to include an email address and/or phone number and remain available.

After that, you’ll need to handle numerous inquiries, viewings and test drives, which can sometimes be very stressful. We’ve put together a detailed guide on the best way to proceed and what to watch out for: “Sell your car privately—here’s how it works”.

When should I sell my used car?

Alongside personal reasons, timing can also be an important factor when selling your car. A car loses value with each passing year, minor and major repairs accumulate sooner or later, and new-car offers are everywhere. Especially when repairs are needed, you have to weigh up whether keeping the car is still financially worthwhile.

As a general rule of thumb: If upcoming repairs cost more than half the car’s residual value, selling the car makes more financial sense. Of course, the car should still be roadworthy. Minor repairs and a service inspection generally have a significantly positive effect on the selling price, so you should plan them before selling.

Even if the vehicle is no longer worth very much, a new TÜV inspection sticker can make a price difference of up to €2,000. Find more tips for selling your car here: “Selling your car: tips and tricks from a professional”.

These selling options are available on mobile.de

Traditional: Sell your car privately	Direct: Sell your car to a dealer
Chance to achieve the best price	You receive the estimated residual value of the car
Listing with maximum reach	Security through certified dealers
14 million visitors per month	Sell your used car in the shortest possible time
Established car-buying and selling brand since 1996	No test drives
High level of personal responsibility	Official deregistration included

Sell your used car for free now

Make

Model

How do I sell my car?

Whether you want to sell your car privately or to a dealer, there are several things to consider. Use the following list to work through the process step by step and make sure you don’t miss anything important.

Research the market and set a price

If you are well prepared, you can also approach the sales conversation with confidence. The most important factor is the price of the used car. If it is set too high, it is more likely to deter potential buyers and you will receive no inquiries. If the price is too low, your phone will probably ring constantly and you may end up making no real profit.

To find out your car’s exact residual value, you can have an appraisal carried out by TÜV, DEKRA or Schwacke. Since this involves certain costs, you can alternatively research the market yourself and get an idea of current prices. On mobile.de, you can enter all your used car’s details—such as make, model, equipment and registration—in a search form and then receive a realistic selling value.

It is also worth looking at other sellers’ listings to get a sense of how much you can ask for your car. Most sellers initially set the price higher to leave some room to negotiate down to their desired price.

Car care and preparation

First of all, a used car should have no major defects and should be roadworthy. A trip to the main inspection is therefore unavoidable and should ideally be scheduled shortly before the sale. It may be worthwhile to repair minor scratches, dents and paint damage, as a well-maintained appearance stands out positively and usually leaves a good overall impression on the buyer.

A thorough cleaning of the car, both outside and inside, also pays off. A used car is not a new car, of course. But the more you can create that impression, the better your chances of selling and the higher the price you can achieve. Anyone creating an online listing should also take appealing photos. The car should be shown from its best “side”, while any defects must also be clearly visible in the photos.

Create a listing for a private sale

Once the car is in the best possible visual and technical condition and you have taken photos, it is time to create a listing on used-car platforms such as mobile.de. If you want to sell your used car successfully, you should describe its condition particularly carefully at this point. This means providing all important details truthfully and explicitly highlighting special equipment such as electronic parking assistance, cruise control, Apple CarPlay and more.

Existing defects should be communicated honestly and documented with appropriate photos. This not only creates transparency, but also establishes a degree of trust before the meeting, so interested buyers know exactly what to expect. It also prevents unpleasant surprises or disappointments later on. Finally, you need to choose a pricing option. The decision between a negotiable price and a fixed price is entirely up to you; however, leaving room for negotiation gives the buyer a sense of having a say.

Find the right dealer

If you want to sell your car to a dealer or car-buying location, the vehicle will be inspected there at an agreed appointment. This means you do not have to worry about suitable photos or listing descriptions. A thorough cleaning will still benefit you here, too.

A well-maintained car also makes a better impression on a dealer and can have a positive effect on the residual-value estimate. On mobile.de, you can easily find a suitable dealer near you and arrange an appointment directly.

Required documents

To make sure nothing goes wrong on the day of the sale, collect all documents in advance and keep them within reach. These include the vehicle keys, registration certificates Part I and II, the inspection certificate and the service booklet. You should also bring documents relating to maintenance and repairs, warranty certificates, and any inspection or registration documents for modifications to the car. When selling to a private buyer, both parties should have a verified sample sales contract.

Test drive and sales contract

Before an interested buyer decides to purchase, there is the important test drive. This gives the potential new owner a clear feel for how the car drives and handles. There are several things to keep in mind. First, check with your insurance provider whether another driver is permitted to drive your car.

If the car has already been deregistered, you will also need to arrange a temporary registration plate or a so-called red plate. As a general rule, ask to see the interested buyer’s ID and driver’s license before the drive begins. And the golden rule for every test drive is: Always ride along in the car yourself. If everything goes well and both parties agree on a price, the purchase can be finalized by signing the contract. Both the buyer and seller should provide all details carefully.

Notify the relevant authorities

After the sale, you must also notify the relevant vehicle registration office and motor insurance provider of the purchase or sale. It is also advisable to record the buyer’s obligation to re-register the car in the contract, so you do not continue paying taxes on a vehicle you have already sold. If you sell your car through a dealer, the dealer will also handle deregistration.

Selling your car in 10 steps

Research and realistic price estimate
Inspect the car and carry out minor repairs
Additional documents, such as the report from the last inspection
Thoroughly clean the exterior and interior
Write the online listing and upload photos
Prepare all required documents