How to Check a Used Car's Mileage and History
Odometer fraud is a real and widespread problem in the German used market, and it is illegal under §22b StVG. A rolled-back odometer adds thousands to a car's apparent value. These checks cost little and catch most of it.
Cross-check recorded mileages
Every HU report records the mileage at the time of the test. So does every service invoice, every tyre receipt, and often the inspection sticker in the door jamb. Line them up chronologically — the numbers must only ever increase, at a plausible rate.
- Ask for the last two or three HU reports, not just the current sticker
- Service book stamps with mileages
- Workshop invoices — even an oil change receipt is a datapoint
- Old TÜV or DEKRA inspection reports
Check the car against the number
A genuine 90,000 km car and a rolled-back 250,000 km car look different if you know where to look.
- Driver's seat bolster wear and the shine on the steering wheel rim
- Pedal rubbers — worn-through pedals on a "low mileage" car is a red flag
- Gear knob lettering worn away
- Shiny, polished ignition key and worn key blade
- Replaced steering wheel or seat covers hiding wear
- Mismatched tyre wear and age codes
Paid checks worth the money
| Check | Cost | What it finds |
|---|---|---|
| Carfax Europe | ~€30–50 | Recorded mileages, US/EU import history, damage records |
| CarPass (for BE/NL imports) | Free–low | Official mileage log |
| DEKRA/TÜV Gebrauchtwagencheck | €100–200 | Technical condition and accident evidence |
| Carly / OBD reader | €60–100 | Reads stored mileage from multiple control units |
Checking for accident damage
- Paint thickness gauge — under €40 and the single most useful tool at a viewing
- Look for overspray, mismatched gloss and non-original VIN stickers on panels
- Check that the boot floor, spare wheel well and inner wings are unwrinkled
- Ask the seller to confirm "unfallfrei" in the written Kaufvertrag
- A HU report noting "Fahrzeug instandgesetzt" or frame measurements is a strong signal
Imports need extra care
Cars imported from Italy, Poland, Eastern Europe or the US arrive with broken history trails. That is where manipulated mileage concentrates. Ask why the car was imported, get the original foreign registration document, and run a Carfax check before you view.