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Germany Specifics8 min read
What Do All the Numbers in a German Car Advertisement Mean?
German car ads are dense with abbreviations. Here is a real listing, decoded line by line, followed by a full reference table.
A real listing, decoded
"BMW 320d Touring, EZ 03/2019, 140 kW (190 PS), 98.500 km, Automatik, HU 06/2027, Scheckheft, 1. Hand, unfallfrei, Euro 6d-TEMP, AHK, SHZ, Navi, 8-fach bereift, VB 21.900 €"
- EZ 03/2019 — first registered March 2019. This is the car's legal age.
- 140 kW (190 PS) — power in both units
- 98.500 km — note German uses "." as the thousands separator
- HU 06/2027 — roadworthiness test valid until June 2027, so no immediate cost
- 1. Hand — one previous keeper
- Euro 6d-TEMP — emissions class; acceptable for a diesel in German cities
- AHK — Anhängerkupplung, tow bar
- SHZ — Sitzheizung, heated seats
- 8-fach bereift — comes with both summer and winter wheel sets
- VB 21.900 € — Verhandlungsbasis; the price is negotiable
The full abbreviation table
| Abbreviation | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| EZ | Erstzulassung | First registration date |
| HU / AU | Hauptuntersuchung / Abgasuntersuchung | Roadworthiness / emissions test |
| VB | Verhandlungsbasis | Price negotiable |
| FP | Festpreis | Fixed price |
| 1. Hd. | Erste Hand | One previous keeper |
| Vorbesitzer | Vorbesitzer | Previous keepers |
| TÜV neu | — | Fresh HU at handover |
| KM / Laufleistung | Kilometerstand | Mileage |
| kW / PS | — | Power |
| Hubraum | — | Engine displacement in cm³ |
| Getriebe | — | Gearbox: Schaltgetriebe = manual, Automatik = auto |
| Antrieb | — | Drive: Vorderrad / Heck / Allrad (4x4) |
| AHK | Anhängerkupplung | Tow bar |
| SHZ | Sitzheizung | Heated seats |
| Klima / Klimaautomatik | — | Air con / climate control |
| PDC | Park Distance Control | Parking sensors |
| Standheizung | — | Auxiliary heater — genuinely valuable in winter |
| Xenon / LED / Matrix | — | Headlight type |
| 8-fach bereift | — | Two sets of wheels included |
| Scheckheftgepflegt | — | Full stamped service history |
| Unfallfrei | — | Declared accident-free |
| Unfallwagen | — | Accident damaged |
| Bastlerfahrzeug | — | Project car — expect major faults |
| Export | — | Sold for export; often not roadworthy |
| MwSt. ausweisbar | Mehrwertsteuer | VAT can be invoiced — matters for businesses |
The consumption and emissions block
Every ad must legally show fuel consumption and CO2. You will see Verbrauch innerorts (urban), außerorts (extra-urban) and kombiniert (combined), plus CO2-Emissionen in g/km and an Energieeffizienzklasse from A to G.
These are WLTP lab figures. Add roughly 10–20% for real-world consumption, more if you drive Autobahn speeds.
Price signals worth reading
- "MwSt. ausweisbar" usually means a dealer or ex-company car — good documentation
- A price ending in 990 with "VB" invites an offer 5–8% below asking
- No VB and a round number often means a firm seller
- "Preis auf Anfrage" on a private ad is a time-waster
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