Step 1 - prepare the truck

The (residual) value of a commercial vehicle depends, of course, on its use. This means minor damage to the body and normal signs of wear are less significant. But everyone knows the saying: the eye eats with you. For this reason, one should not only limit oneself to the technical condition, but also prepare the truck vehicle in a presentable way. The renewal of the TÜV can also be useful. The certificate reduces the risk for buyers of buying a pig in a poke.

Step 2 - Where to sell

When purchasing a new vehicle at the same time, trade-in is always an option. Others go through your local trader in the area. The following applies to both: on average, 10 - 15% lower sales prices are achieved for used trucks. The explanation is simple. Before the trucks finally arrive at the buyer and user, they were at at least 2 traders. And every truck buyer wants to earn something. Another way is via mobile de, truckscout or eBay classifieds. However, language barriers and unreliable interested parties cause frustration. We go a different way. truckoo is the only point of contact. Vehicle data is translated into 14 languages. More than 500 traders from 23 countries place bids on your truck.

Step 3 - determine the residual value of the truck

In contrast to passenger cars, the issue of residual value and valuation of trucks and commercial vehicles is far more difficult. Nevertheless, it is possible to get an initial truck rating online. It is typically worth taking a look at the offers from Autoline or mobile. But there are two main disadvantages here: On the one hand, truck trader sales prices are displayed. Traders do not buy at this price because they include a security for downtimes, goodwill claims, etc. On the other hand, it is extremely difficult to find a comparable truck due to the variety of commercial vehicles. Important commercial vehicle data that has an impact on the value is sometimes hidden in the running text. With truckoo you get a truck rating completely free of charge. Your commercial vehicle will be checked at one of our partner workshops in your area - the whole thing takes less than 30 minutes. So we have all the data to give you a realistic selling price. How we do this? We automatically scan all commercial vehicle advertisements that are online on autoline or mobile de. At the same time, we have experience, especially with regard to sales abroad.

Step 4 - create a truck ad

If you want to sell your truck successfully, you should put some effort into advertising. In the end, this saves you a lot of time when answering questions. That means sharp images of the most important components. Complete overview of truck specific information. Without this data, your truck may not be found or there may be inquiries from people who are looking for something else. many requests. You should also consider giving your phone number. There are now phishing and spam calls that call once just to check if the number exists. Simply start the sales process here.

Step 5 - Get offers

If you have advertised your truck yourself, in the best case buyers will approach you. Nevertheless, it always makes sense to get a few offers. This is how you collect arguments for or against the residual value of your truck and prepare yourself for the final discussion. It makes sense not only to contact local truck traders, but also those who specialize in certain types. Ideally, you can even find a trader in the country where your truck will later land or be driven.

Step 6 - test drive

Most buyers want to take a test drive. If this cannot happen on the premises, you should make an agreement about the test drive. That sounds like more effort in the first step, but saves you discussions and stress in the second step. Typically, these data are included in the test drive agreement:

Personal data owner and prospect
Date, time, duration of the test drive
Marking of the truck
Condition of the truck with damage and defects
Clarification of the assumption of costs for the fuel
Liability Furthermore, the registration certificate part I (formerly known as the vehicle registration document) must be carried with you during the test drive.

Step 7 - negotiation

The negotiation itself is certainly the lesser evil. There are more things to consider beforehand. Unfortunately, we are also talking about experiences that other customers have had before us. Never surrender the vehicle without full payment. There are already instant transfer solutions here. This means that you no longer have to pay in cash. Request an identity card and/or business license in advance. If this is a hurdle for the buyer, you know where you are. Know weaknesses and strengths in advance and know at what price the truck is being traded.

Step 8 - The truck sale

What you have to consider for the sale - commercial or private, you can read in our other blog post - click here! In short: If you sell the truck to a private individual, you cannot exclude liability. Specifically, you have to give a statutory liability for material defects (liability for material defects means: the seller is liable for the fact that the truck sold has no unknown defects. This excludes age-related wear and tear). The warranty cannot be completely excluded contractually. At the same time you have to show sales tax (19%) and pay it to the tax office. In addition to the total price, the following must therefore appear on the invoice: net price, sales tax, total price. Unlike when selling to a private person, liability for material defects can be excluded when selling to another company or trade. However, this must also be noted in the contract. For example, a wording can be as follows: “The commercial vehicle with the vehicle identification number XXX is being sold with the exclusion of liability for material defects. Claims for damages that intentionally or through gross negligence violate the seller's obligations are excluded. The same applies to claims resulting from injury to health, life and body.” In addition to information about the buyer and seller, all data about the vehicle must be included in the contract: mileage, first registration, previous owner and any damage are important. In addition to accessories, you should list any known faults and defects. If there is not enough space, an additional page can be attached.

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Selling trucks abroad: Lots of paperwork

If you read reports in forums, it quickly becomes clear: Selling and transferring your old truck from Germany abroad involves a lot of organization, paperwork and stress. There are a few things to consider, especially if the used truck is transferred independently. Selling to Africa or another country outside the EU is even more complicated! A lot has to be done to export the vehicle to Eastern Europe. The truck must be deregistered from the registration office, the vehicle registration document must be handed over and further appointments must be made. You also have to find a buyer who organizes the transfer for your truck and who is reliable. Here, most turn to online sales portals. However, once you have found a truck trader or buyer, you have to take care of the paperwork. To do this, you apply for an export license plate and need, among other things:

Registration certificate I & II
Certificate of Insurance
Test report of the main inspection (HU)
SEPA direct debit mandate for debiting the tax

Beware of scammers

Caution is the mother of the china box! You quickly get to people whose scam works again and again. Suddenly, defects appear that affect the purchase price. He discovered damage that may have come from a hidden accident. All of these are aspects that the buyer wants to use to price the truck down. In addition, the dubious prospect asks you to organize short-term Polish license plates, which would involve additional effort for you.

What is the value added tax for sales abroad?

Caution is required, especially when selling a company truck abroad. Our first tip: Leave it alone. The danger that you will end up with a not quite serious buyer is quite high in this industry. You run the risk that the sale will not be processed properly and the tax office will want 19%. First of all: a sale to a private individual within the EU is subject to VAT like a sale in Germany. If you want to sell to a foreign entrepreneur tax-free, you have to submit a stack of documents showing who bought the car and that it was actually brought to this company.

What is the value added tax for sales abroad? How do I prove that my truck was sold to a company abroad?

In addition to the papers, a confirmation of arrival is required: the recipient must confirm that they have received the delivered item. This confirmation can also be sent by fax; it should be included on the invoice so that it is not necessary to repeat all the information on the invoice. From a purely legal point of view, the confirmation of arrival has been sufficient since July 2013. But: you only get them afterwards - or not. In addition, it may be forged or signed by someone who is not authorized to do so. Therefore, as before, the following information is required so that you can be considered bona fide in the event of a problem: The VAT ID of both business partners must be on the invoice. If you do not have a number, you must apply for one. The number of the business partner must be verified by a qualified confirmation from the Federal Central Tax Office. Checks on other sites or the customer's homepage are invalid. Print out the test result and keep it with the copy of the invoice! The invoice is made without sales tax. The note "tax-free because Intra-community acquisition” must be included. (In the EU). It is advantageous to also note this in the recipient's national language or in English. When the vehicle is handed over, the recipient must identify himself. Copies must be made of all identification papers. If a third party accepts the car, you need authorization from the recipient. In addition, a document is mandatory that the signatory of the power of attorney is authorized to do so (extract from the commercial register of the recipient country with the entry of Jose Santos or similar as managing director).

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LAST PRICE DISCUSSION

Anyone who has ever wanted to sell their commercial vehicle knows the tiresome problem and the question of the final price. So what to do? We provide four specific ways to avoid or respond to “last price” requests:

Specify a fixed price on your sales page or ad instead of using "negotiable" or "price on request". This can discourage potential buyers from asking for a discount or a lower price.
Be clear and concise when describing the condition and equipment of the truck. When potential buyers know the condition and equipment of the truck, they can better assess whether the price is reasonable or not.
Explain in a friendly and professional manner that you are not willing to negotiate the price. You can phrase this in a polite and professional manner, for example by saying, "Our price is firm and we are not willing to negotiate. However, we are willing to answer any questions you have about the condition and equipment of the truck."
Refer potential buyers to similar trucks in similar condition and with similar features that have been sold at similar prices. This can help buyers better understand the price and prevent them from asking for a lower price.

It's important to remain friendly and professional when responding to "last price" inquiries, as this can deter potential buyers from losing interest in your truck.

BUYER NOT SHOWING UP

There are several ways to find out if a potential buyer is really interested in buying:

Ask specific questions: Ask the prospective buyer about their vehicle needs and preferences. A serious buyer, as a rule, will be willing to provide information and provide detailed answers to your questions.
Arrange a Viewing: A buyer who is genuinely interested in your truck will usually arrange a viewing to personally inspect the vehicle and take a test drive. A buyer who is unwilling to arrange a viewing may not be seriously interested in buying.
Check the contact history: Check if the potential buyer has already contacted you several times and if he has asked questions about the vehicle. A serious buyer will usually ask several questions and may also offer a basis for negotiation.
Check the buyer's purchase history: When you sell on an online platform, you can usually check the buyer's profile and view their purchase history. If the buyer has already bought several commercial vehicles, this is a good sign that he is serious about buying them.

It is important to note that none of these methods offer a 100% guarantee that the buyer is genuinely interested in the purchase. However, by using several of these methods, you can minimize the risk of wasted time and disappointment.

FIND THE RIGHT BUYER

Without the right network, it is not so easy to find the right buyer. But there are different possibilities:

Use online platforms: There are various online marketplaces where you can advertise your truck. These include, for example, mobile.de, truckscout24.de or autoscout24.de.
Advertising on social media can sometimes also work: Use Facebook or Instagram to offer your truck and reach potential buyers.
Talk to a trader: Some truck traders also offer to buy used vehicles. Contact these traders to find out if they are interested in your vehicle.
A fourth option is online auctions: Here you have the option of selling vehicles in an online auction.

VALUE OF THE TRUCK

There are several ways to find out the value of your truck:

Online assessment tools: Unfortunately we have to disappoint you. You cannot use classic online assessment tools. Not just to get an estimated value for your truck. But there are websites where you can find comparable or identical vehicles, such as mobile.de, autoscout24.de. Unfortunately, the search is limited to a few pieces of information: e.g. make, model, mileage, year of construction and condition and is typically not sufficient to create a serious estimate.
Truck trader: You can also visit a specialist trader and request a valuation of your truck. A trader can assess the condition of your truck better than an online tool and can give you a more accurate reading.
Appraiser: An independent appraiser can also help determine the value of your truck. An appraiser can accurately assess the condition of your vehicle and provide an accurate value. When in doubt, appraisers are less informed than truck traders.

It is important to note that the value of your truck depends on various factors such as age, mileage, condition and equipment. It can therefore be advisable to obtain several evaluations in order to determine a realistic selling price for your vehicle.

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