How Much Does a Used Car Cost in Germany? [2023]
Buying a used car is almost always a better deal than getting a new vehicle. In Germany, where thousands of cars get produced every year, buyers have a wide range of choices. You can find some of the cheapest used cars in Europe and some of the most expensive ones.
According to the statistics, the average price of a used car in Germany in 2020 was 18,750 EUR at the dealership and 13,310 EUR when buying from private sellers.
Are you looking for a used car in Germany with the best value and price? Then you need to know some information about the German market of used vehicles. Which car is the best? Where to look? How to negotiate the price with the seller? How to finance the car? All this and more read in this article.
Used car prices in Germany in 2023
In the last five years prices for used cars have been rising in many countries, including Germany.
In March 2021, the average price of a used car in Germany was 22,258 EUR, which is more than 1,000 EUR higher than in March 2020. In comparison, in the US, the average price for a used vehicle has jumped more than 21% to about $25,400 from $20,900 a year ago.
Looking for the cheapest car to buy in Germany in 2023? Check out this article, we have picked the most affordable new and used cars on the German market.
In fact, right now prices for used cars in Germany are high as never before.
See the average second-hand car prices in Germany from 2001 to 2020 in the table below.
Germans love to buy used cars. It’s a great value for money! For example, according to statistics in 2016, there were around 8,37 million used car sales.
Moreover, the used car market is booming, where 20,1% of sold cars were under one year old.
However, do you actually need a car in Germany? Well, maybe not. Figure out in this article.
The brands of used cars most preferred by buyers included VW, Opel, and Mercedes. According to the statistics, Germans spent around 18,800 EUR for a used car in the dealerships and around 13,300 EUR when buying from private sellers.
Some buy in cash; some use financing options such as a car loan at Auxmoney – Germany’s biggest marketplace for loans from private investors.
Prices for used cars in Germany continued to rise in summer 2021. Among all engine types, electric cars cost significantly more than the average used car on the market.
In the table below, you can see the development of the average price for a used car in Germany in the last three years:
On average, car buyers in Germany had to pay 22,695 EUR for a used car in June 2021.
In 2021, the price increase for used cars was on average 2,700 EUR from 2020. In Hamburg, used cars are more expensive than anywhere else in the country.
Moreover, you can see the price increase accordingly to the engine type.
Consequently, the electric cars got a lot in price, and at the same time, vehicles powered by natural gas lost around five percent compared with January 2021.
Regarding the location, buyers can get the cheapest used car in the Brandenburg and Saarland regions. There you can purchase a good used car for a price between 19,598 EUR and 19,809 EUR.
The highest prices can be expected in regions of Hamburg and Bavaria, where you pay 25,492 EUR on average.
Ultimately the price of a used car in Germany depends on:
- brand
- power
- emissions
- age
- location
The most commonly owned car in Germany is the VW Golf.
You can get VW Golf from 2010 with under 100,000 km, plus a valid TÜV certificate (required by law) for at least 7,000 EUR, according to Autoscout24.
However, you can also pay for the same car for as much as 25,000 EUR if it’s in excellent condition.
If you are looking to buy a car in Germany, read our article on the cheapest cars in Germany and some other car-related posts:
- Can a foreigner buy a car in Germany?
- Used car prices in Germany
- Getting a car loan in Germany
- How to buy a car in Germany for export
- Best websites to buy a used car in Germany
- Car insurance in Germany
- Cheapest car insurance in Germany
- Buying vs leasing a car in Germany
- How much does it cost to own a car in Germany?
Why to buy used car in Germany?
Buying a used car can be a great deal for many, especially when you are considering depreciation. Just think about it: a new car will depreciate about 10% when it leaves the shop and another 20% within its first year.
After just three years of use, the average car is worth only about 60% of the purchase price. Hence, you should think twice before buying a new car.
On the other hand, a model that is one to three years older than the new one will still be probably under the manufacturer’s warranty.
Hence, you can get great value for money when buying a used car in Germany, even when prices have been rising lately. Another option will be car leasing. .
Here are the main benefits of buying a used instead of a new car:
- Due to the depreciation it’s financially better deal.
- Get a good price through buying from private sellers.
Negotiating with selers in Germany
Buying a used car from a private seller is must cheaper than at the dealership. You often can get a good value for money that has been paid. Another benefit of buying from a private person is the possibility to negotiate the price.
Here, everything will depend on the seller and how willing he is to sell the car. You might be able to negotiate a price, especially if a seller has an urgent need to sell.
On the other hand, if a seller claims there’s no pressing reason for the sale, other than wanting to get rid of the car, you may have a tougher time taking them down.
You can set your negotiation starting point at some particular maximum amount that represents your absolute limit.
For example, if you only have 8,000 EUR as a budget but came across a great car that’s priced at 8,500 EUR. You should still contact the owner and try to start negotiating.
Yet, start with a lower amount, such as 7,500 EUR, so that you can negotiate your way to 8,000 EUR.
Most common car brands on the German market
In Germany you can find all types of cars, the vehicle market has unlimited options. However, opt for German brands when looking for the best price for value and the most reliable car.
Here are the most common brands of used cars offered on the German market:
- BMW
- Audi
- VW
- Mercedes-Benz
- Ford
- Hyundai
- Opel
- Peugeot
- Skoda
Most common cars on the German market
These cars you can see more often in Germany, thus, on the German market.
- BMW 3
- VW Golf
- VW T-Roc
- VW Polo
- VW Passat
- Ford S-Max
- Ford Focus
- Fiat Ducato
- Smart Cabrio
- Mini
- Audi Q5
- Audi A4
- Opel Astra
- Opel Corsa
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Nonetheless, VW Golf remains to be the most common car in Germany.
Expenses to keep in mind when buying a car
The purchase price of the used car isn’t the only expense you need to calculate in the budget.
There are other additional one-time expenses, plus we need to consider monthly and annual expenses of having a car in Germany.
Initial expenses when buying a used car in Germany:
- Car financing costs. Do you have enough cash, or do you need a car loan? Private sellers won’t offer any financing options, but dealerships do in some cases. The best solution will be taking out a small private loan at a financial institution like Auxmoney.
- Car tax and registration. In Germany, you must register the car and pay taxes on it as a new owner. It doesn’t cost much, but it must be done right after the purchase. The total for everything comes to around 50 EUR.
- Car insurance. Car insurance is a must to have when owning a car in Germany. It’s an initial as well as long-term ongoing expense for you. The price ranges depending on coverage and provider but expect to pay at least 250 EUR per year.
Read all about car tax in Germany.
Are you looking for the cheapest insurance coverage for your car? Then check our article about the cheapest car insurance deals in Germany.
Monthly and annual expenses when owning a car in Germany
According to German statistics, the average costs for a normal car are 520 EUR and 788 EUR for an electric car per month. Estimated costs of owning a standard car such as VW Golf:
- Car insurance (Teilkasko) 500 EUR per year
- Car taxes 150 EUR
- Fuel 1,150 EUR per year
- Car inspection 100 EUR every 2 years
- Garage/Parking place 100 EUR per month
- Changing tires 100 EUR per year
VW Golf, you can expect to pay between 200 EUR and 400 EUR per month.
Also read: How much does it cost to own car in Germany?
How To Finance a Car in Germany?
Learn about car loans and car financing in Germany in this article.
Where to look for used cars in Germany?
The best websites to find a used car in Germany are:
- AutoScout24
- Mobile.de
- eBay Kleinanzeigen
- Gebrauchtwagen.de
- 12Gebrauctwagen.de
Other websites you might want to check out:
Also, read the article: The best websites to find a used car in Germany.
Don’t forget to buy an insurance for your used car
The cost of car insurance is the most complicated on our list. The amount is very hard to estimate, and you will only know it after signing for the coverage and using it for several months.
The basic liability car insurance will cost you the average of 260 EUR per year. A better, partial cover (Teilkasko) will be another 90 EUR to it annually.
Finally, the third option, the full comprehensive cover (Vollkasko), will cost an additional 330 EUR to the standard liability coverage.
Consequently, comprehensive coverage will cost around 590 EUR per year (of course, on average).
Generally, the price for car insurance can range from as little as 100 EUR to as much as 1,000 EUR per year. The final price will mostly depend on the car and the driver.
You can use Verivox or Tarifcheck to compare car insurance prices in Germany
In Germany, there are three main and best overall companies offering packages: Allianz, CosmosDirekt, and AXA.
Allianz is the largest insurance company and CosmosDirekt has some of the cheapest car insurance in Germany.
CosmosDirekt
CosmosDirekt is a car insurance provider that stands not only for low prices but also for excellent value for money. With coverage from CosmosDirekt you can save up to 40%. In 2018, CosmosDirekt was announced as the most popular car insurance provider in Germany.
Save money with CosmosDirekt:
- 5% customer bonus by signing a policy
- 10% discount for electric cars
- up to 10% family bonus
- up to 10% for house owners
- discounts when purchasing a new or used car
Read all reviews about CosmosDirekt on Trustpilot.
Are you looking for the cheapest insurance coverage for your car? Then check our article about the cheapest car insurance deals in Germany.
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