Car inspection in Hamburg and surroundings — Sicher-Check comes to you

Why a mobile pre-purchase inspection in Hamburg is so important

Buying a used car always involves risk, even in Germany with its strict technical inspections. The regular TÜV test only confirms that the car meets minimum safety requirements at the time of the test. It does not tell you whether the car has had major accident repairs, hidden rust, timing chain problems or electrical issues waiting to appear.

This is particularly critical if you:

• are travelling a long way for the car or buying completely remotely,
• don’t speak German well enough to negotiate confidently with the seller,
• are choosing between several similar cars and want to avoid wasting trips,
• plan to export the car to another EU country or beyond and need reliability.

Market studies and our own experience show that a large share of used cars in Germany has some “story”: mileage manipulation, accident repairs, overdue service, leaking engines or gearboxes. Many of these issues can be hidden in photos, but they are much harder to hide from a detailed inspection with a paint thickness gauge and diagnostic tools.

That’s why a mobile car inspection in Hamburg is a smart filter before you transfer your money. Instead of trusting an advert and a friendly voice on the phone, you receive an independent opinion from a specialist who has actually seen and driven the car.

And one more important point: a VIN report from CarVertical or CARFAX alone is not enough. It shows historical events, but it does not show the car’s real condition today. Combining a VIN report with a live inspection on site gives the best protection against bad purchases.

Step-by-step: how our on-site inspection in Hamburg works

Our process is structured and transparent so that you always know what is happening with “your” car.

✔️ 1. Your request and clarifying details
You send us a link to the advert or basic details about the car (brand, model, year, mileage, location). We clarify what is important for you: typical weak points you worry about, potential export, budget limits and deadlines.

✔️ 2. Contact with the seller
We call the seller, check whether the car is still available, ask technical questions and agree a time for the inspection. If anything sounds strange at this stage, we will already warn you.

✔️ 3. Identification and document check
On site we start with the basics: we check the VIN on the body and in the registration documents, look through the service book and invoices, and compare them with the information in the advert. On request we also order a VIN history report (CarVertical) with a −20% discount.

✔️ 4. OBD diagnostics of all control units
Our expert connects a professional OBD scanner and reads error codes from all available modules: engine, automatic transmission, ABS/ESP, airbag, comfort modules and assistance systems. This allows us to see hidden faults that are not yet visible on the dashboard.

✔️ 5. Paint thickness measurements and body inspection
Using a paint thickness gauge we measure the paint on all panels and look for body filler. This reveals repainted or repaired parts and shows whether the car has had serious accidents or just small cosmetic work. We also check the underside as far as possible, wheel arches, sills and typical rust spots.

✔️ 6. Interior and equipment check
Inside the car we test all electrically operated functions: windows, mirrors, central locking, seat heating, climate control, infotainment and assistance systems. We also look at wear on the steering wheel, pedals and seats — this often tells more about the real mileage than the odometer does.

✔️ 7. Test drive
If the seller agrees, we carry out a test drive on suitable roads. We listen for noises from the suspension, feel how the engine pulls, how the gearbox shifts, how the brakes bite and whether the steering tracks straight.

✔️ 8. Second OBD scan after the drive
After the test drive we perform a second diagnostic scan to see whether new errors have appeared under load (for example misfires, gearbox errors, overheating).

✔️ 9. Preliminary feedback from the expert
Directly after the inspection you receive a short verbal summary (by phone, WhatsApp or video call): what was good, what was bad, and whether we would personally buy this car or not.

All this happens during one visit. In most cases we can organise a car inspection in Hamburg within the same or the next working day after your request.

Small details that reveal big problems

Experienced car inspectors know: often it’s not the big, obvious defects that matter most, but small inconsistencies that betray a problematic car. During inspections in Hamburg we pay particular attention to the following details — and you can keep them in mind too.

Production dates on glass, lights and seat belts

Most original parts are marked with a production year. On a healthy car, these dates usually match the vehicle’s age.

• Glass: All windows (windscreen, side windows, rear window) should be from the same year or very close. A much newer glass panel may indicate accident damage or attempted theft.
• Headlights: Dates and markings on both headlights should match. Brand-new headlights on an older car can be a sign of a previous crash or water damage.
• Seat belts: Labels on the belts show their production year. If one belt is noticeably newer than the car itself, it may have been replaced after airbag deployment in an accident.

A single replacement part is not automatically a problem, but a pattern of “too new” parts in the front or rear area often points to past collisions.

Wear on pedals, steering wheel and seats versus mileage

The interior often tells the truth when the odometer does not.

• Strongly worn pedal rubbers and a shiny, smooth steering wheel do not fit a supposedly “low-mileage” car.
• Deeply sagged driver’s seat, cracked leather or heavily worn fabric also suggest intensive use.
• Conversely, a very fresh interior in an old car can mean that wear parts have been replaced shortly before sale to hide the real mileage.

We always compare the overall look and feel of the interior with the claimed mileage and the car’s age — and mention any mismatch in the report.

Bolts, panel gaps and traces of repainting

Even after professional repairs, bodywork often leaves subtle clues.

• Bolts on hinges of doors, boot lid and bonnet should have factory paint. Scratches from tools or shifted positions indicate that the part was removed.
• Panel gaps around bonnet, doors and bumper should be even and symmetrical on both sides. Unequal gaps can point to previous damage or poor repairs.
• We look for paint overspray on rubber seals, plastic trims and inside door openings — a classic sign of repainting.

Individually these signs are not proof of a bad car. Together they often show whether the body has had serious damage or only minor cosmetic work.

All of this is part of our standard procedure during a car inspection in Hamburg, Bremen, Lübeck and other cities. The goal is simple: reveal the car’s real story before you sign anything or transfer money.

What you receive in the report and recommendations

After the on-site inspection you don’t just receive a few photos and a verbal opinion. We prepare a structured report that you can safely rely on when deciding whether to buy or not.

The report typically includes:

• results of paint thickness measurements with comments on repainted or filled panels,
• a list of all stored and active fault codes with a short explanation of what they mean in practice,
• photos of visible defects (scratches, dents, rust, oil leaks, worn tyres and brakes),
• an assessment of the interior’s condition and whether it matches the claimed mileage,
• a summary of potential future costs (for example, timing belt replacement, tyres, brakes, suspension parts),
• and most importantly — a clear recommendation: “buy”, “buy with price reduction” or “better walk away”.

We explain our recommendation in plain language, for example: “We do not recommend buying this car: high probability of manipulated mileage, multiple error codes in airbag and ABS systems, traces of serious body repairs in the front”. Or: “Car in generally good condition, minor cosmetic issues, front wing repainted, front brake pads and discs due soon — purchase is reasonable with a small discount.”

If you wish, we can also help you negotiate. Using the identified defects as arguments, we discuss the price with the seller. Very often the discount that you obtain thanks to the inspection is higher than the cost of our service.

Packages and prices for car inspection and car search in Germany

To keep everything predictable, Sicher-Check works with clear packages. In brief:

• Remote pre-check (from 50 €): we call the seller, clarify critical questions and, if desired, order a VIN report. Ideal for quickly filtering out obviously bad offers before sending an expert on site.
• Standard on-site inspection (from 200 € + travel): full pre-purchase inspection of one car anywhere in Germany, including paint thickness measurements, OBD scan, test drive and written report.
• Berlin + Potsdam special (from 150 €): full inspection in the capital region at a reduced flat rate (without VIN report).
• Full search and purchase support (from 350 €): complete car buying assistance in Germany — searching, shortlisting, inspections, negotiation, contract check and help with registration or export.

Current prices and any promotions are listed on our Prices page. For Hamburg, Bremen, Lübeck or Kiel we usually apply the Standard package plus travel costs, which we always calculate transparently in advance.

How to book a car inspection in Hamburg

Booking a mobile inspection is straightforward:

• Step 1. Send us a request via the contact form or WhatsApp, or call the number listed on the website.
• Step 2. Provide a link to the advert or basic information about the car and seller. Tell us where the car is located and when an inspection would be possible.
• Step 3. We agree the time with the seller and confirm it with you. If you are abroad, we can coordinate everything online.
• Step 4. On the day of the inspection we keep you updated via chat or call. On request we can show you the car live via video.
• Step 5. After the inspection you receive our verbal summary and then a written report with photos. Based on this, you decide whether to buy, negotiate or continue searching.

Whether you are in another German city, elsewhere in Europe or overseas — with Sicher-Check you can buy a car in Hamburg with the same confidence as if you were standing next to it yourself.