How to Fill in a Car Purchase Agreement – Which Fields Cause 80% of All Disputes

1. Vehicle Data and VIN – How to Check Correctly

The vehicle data is the backbone of the purchase agreement. A single transposed digit in the VIN can mean the contract describes the wrong vehicle – with serious consequences for both parties. Keep both parts of the vehicle registration document (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and II) to hand before filling in a single line.

Make, model and variant

Enter the full model designation as it appears in the registration document – not just 'BMW' but 'BMW 320d xDrive Touring (F31)'. Discrepancies between the contract and the vehicle documents give the buyer grounds to dispute later. The body variant and engine type further help with unambiguous identification.

The VIN – never copy it blindly

The 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is the most important identifier. It appears in the registration document under field E. But that alone is not enough: always compare it with the VIN stamped on the vehicle itself. Depending on the manufacturer, you'll find it on the A-pillar (visible through the windscreen), on the driver's door frame, in the engine bay or under floor trim. Warning sign: if the VIN appears to be stuck on rather than stamped, or if the characters look uneven, abort the purchase and have the vehicle inspected by a workshop.

HSN, TSN and registration plate

The manufacturer key number (HSN, field 2.1) and type key number (TSN, field 2.2) identify the model for insurers and authorities. They are optional but recommended – especially for less common models. The current registration plate enables quick identification; after the transfer of ownership the buyer must re-register the vehicle.

First registration and mileage

The date of first registration appears in the registration document under field B. For the mileage: enter the reading at the time of handover, not at the time of signing. If several days pass between signing and handover, more kilometres may be driven – note in the contract that the final mileage will be confirmed at handover.

Registration plate

seo.kaufvertrag_ausfuellen.fahrzeugdaten.kz_p

2. Buyer and Seller Details

Both contracting parties must be identified clearly enough that they can be pursued in court if necessary. That sounds dramatic – but it is simply the basic requirement for the contract to have any protective effect.

What must be entered

• Full name: First name and surname exactly as on the ID document – no nicknames or abbreviations
• Full address: Street with house number, postcode and town. A missing apartment detail can be relevant in a dispute.
• Phone number or email: Not legally required, but useful for quick follow-up questions after the sale
• Check ID: As a buyer, always ask to see a valid passport or national ID card and compare the name with the contract

Special case: the seller is not the registered owner

What if the car is registered in someone else's name – a spouse or a company director? The registered owner (name in Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II, field C.1) must either sign personally or provide a written power of attorney. Without this, the contract does not protect you against third-party ownership claims.

3. Purchase Price and Payment Method

The purchase price sounds like the simplest part – and yet it is a frequent source of disputes. Always write the amount in both figures <em>and</em> words: '5,500 € (in words: five thousand five hundred euros)'. This prevents subsequent manipulation or misunderstandings.

Payment methods and their risks

• Cash: The safest option for the seller – the amount is immediate and irrevocable. Tip: acknowledge receipt in writing in the contract or on a separate receipt. Note: amounts above €10,000 require the seller to verify the buyer's identity under anti-money laundering law.
• Bank transfer: Convenient, but risky for the seller: transfers can sometimes be reversed. Recommendation: only hand over the vehicle once the amount has actually been credited to your account – a transfer confirmation alone is not enough.
• Bank-certified cheque: Rarely used, but maximally secure. A bank guarantees the payment in writing.
• Digital payment services (PayPal, Revolut): Not recommended. Chargebacks are possible, and some services' buyer protection applies even to private vehicle purchases.

Golden rule: Only hand over the vehicle and keys once the full purchase price is in your account or you have counted the cash in your hands. A signed contract is not a substitute for money.

4. Vehicle Condition – the Most Dangerous Section

This section offers the seller the strongest protection – but only if it is completed fully and honestly. Defects that are fraudulently concealed create liability even if you have agreed a warranty exclusion. In the worst case the buyer can unwind the entire transaction.

'Accident-free' – what it really means

One of the most common traps: many sellers write 'accident-free' even though the car once had a minor parking scrape that was repaired. Legally, 'accident-free' is a strong statement. Safer alternatives: 'no known accident damage', or – if there was a repaired previous damage – 'previous damage: front section 2021, professionally repaired per workshop, no follow-on damage apparent'. Whatever you document, you cannot be accused of concealing it.

Naming known defects precisely

Blanket phrases like 'signs of wear' do not protect you. Describe each defect concretely: 'dent in rear left wing (approx. 3 cm diameter, no paint damage)', 'air conditioning weak', 'driver's window closes slowly', 'rust at rear wheel arch right'. The more precise you are, the less the buyer can complain about later. Use the condition section in autovertrag.eu to work through all fields in a structured way.

Warranty exclusion – correct wording

In a private sale you can exclude the statutory warranty (2 years). The standard wording is: 'The vehicle is sold excluding any liability for material defects.' This exclusion does not apply to defects you fraudulently concealed – honesty pays off legally too.

MOT / main inspection (HU)

Enter the expiry date of the current main inspection. This is value-relevant information: a fresh MOT increases the sale price and gives the buyer confidence. If the inspection is due soon, be transparent – that should be reflected in the price.

5. Documenting the Handover

The handover is the legal moment of transfer of ownership. What you document now determines, in any dispute, the condition in which the vehicle changed hands. Make sure to record:

• Date, time and place of the handover
• Mileage at handover – have both parties read and confirm the odometer
• Number of keys (main key, spare key, electronic / data key)
• Documents handed over: Zulassungsbescheinigung Part I and II, service booklet, MOT report, repair invoices
• Accessories: winter tyres with/without rims, sat-nav SD card, tow bar, roof rack

Photograph the vehicle immediately at handover from all four sides, and also the dashboard showing the mileage reading. Time-stamped photos (your smartphone camera automatically stores date and time in the EXIF data) are powerful evidence in a dispute.

6. Signatures and Two Originals

The purchase agreement only becomes legally effective once both parties have signed. The most common mistake: there is only one copy – and the seller keeps it. The buyer then has nothing to show.

• Two originals: Print the agreement twice. Both parties sign both copies. Each takes one original home.
• Place and date of signing – to be entered at the time, not filled in later
• Handwritten signature: No block capitals. Electronic signatures are theoretically valid but uncommon in private sales.
• Power of attorney: If someone signs on behalf of another person, the written power of attorney must be present in original and attached to the agreement.

autovertrag.eu automatically generates a PDF containing two print-ready copies – simply print, have both parties sign, and each takes half.

7. Special Agreements – Put Them in Writing

This is the section most guides leave out – and the one most often missing in a dispute. Verbal commitments carry little weight in German law: what is not in the contract is, in case of doubt, deemed not to have been agreed.

Typical agreements that belong in the contract in writing:

• MOT to be passed: 'Seller will arrange for the vehicle to pass the main inspection by [date].' – without a deadline and consequence this clause is worthless
• Winter tyres to be included: 'Four winter tyres [size] on steel rims to be supplied.' – specify size, tread depth, with or without rims
• Paint repair before handover: 'Seller will have [description] professionally repaired before handover.' – what happens if this is not done?
• Price reduction for a defect: 'The purchase price was reduced by [amount] € on account of [defect]. The buyer accepts the defect in its current condition.' – prevents subsequent claims
• Delivery costs: 'Vehicle to be delivered by seller to [location]. Fuel costs to be borne by the buyer.'

Be as specific as possible: what exactly, by when, by whom, at whose cost – and what happens in the event of non-performance.

8. The 8 Most Common Mistakes When Filling In the Agreement

1. VIN not verified on the vehicle: Copying the VIN from the registration document without checking the car is risky. Always compare it with the stamped VIN on the vehicle.
2. Mileage taken at the wrong time: The mileage in the contract must correspond to the moment of handover, not contract signing – especially when there is a gap between the two.
3. 'Accident-free' without qualification: Even a small repaired previous damage means the vehicle is no longer unconditionally 'accident-free'. Use precise wording.
4. Defects stated vaguely or not at all: 'Signs of wear' does not protect you. Describe each defect concretely and completely.
5. Special agreements left verbal: What is not in the contract was not agreed. Record every commitment in writing.
6. Only one copy: Both parties need an original. Without one, neither party can prove their version of events in a dispute.
7. Vehicle handed over before payment is complete: Classic mistake. No key without money – no exceptions.
8. Address incomplete: Missing house number, wrong postcode or missing apartment detail makes it harder to contact or sue the other party.

Frequently Asked Questions