Buying a used car in Austria: what to check

In brief

1. Compare the asking price. Look at similar models and check the year of manufacture, mileage and equipment for each comparison.
2. Check the Pickerl. Compare the punched month on the sticker with the latest inspection report and ask about repairs that have been completed.
3. Arrange a pre-purchase inspection. According to Arbeiterkammer, a positive Pickerl inspection does not replace an independent pre-purchase inspection.
4. Check the car’s history against the documents. Compare the service book, garage invoices, previous Pickerl reports and displayed mileage.
5. Check the vehicle identification number. It should match on the car and in the documents provided. Resolve any discrepancy before paying.
6. Check who you are buying from. If buying from a dealer, find out whether they are selling the car themselves or simply arranging a sale between private individuals.
7. Plan the handover and registration. Ask for the vehicle approval document, record the sale and handover, and obtain proof of insurance.

Used car prices in Austria

The table shows the used car models most frequently listed in our data for Austria. It includes the median dealer asking price, the middle half of asking prices (P25–P75) and the number of cars recorded. These are asking prices, not confirmed sale prices.

Dealer asking prices on 3 Nov 2026, not sale prices. Models with at least 30 cars for sale; the range is the middle half of asking prices (P25–P75).

Find more models on the Austria page. You can also check the asking price of a specific listing. Compare cars with as similar a mileage, date of first registration and equipment as possible.

What to check before buying

Pickerl and inspection report. For a typical privately used passenger car, the first periodic inspection is due three years after first registration. The next is due two years later, then annually. The month punched on the Pickerl indicates the month the inspection is due. According to oesterreich.gv.at, the inspection window for these cars runs from one month before to four months after that month. Still check the report date: a valid Pickerl does not tell you how the car’s condition has changed since the inspection.

Ask to see the latest report. Read the notes and ask whether any issues found have been fixed. If anything is unclear, take the report to the pre-purchase inspection. Periodic inspections are carried out at an authorised inspection centre; a pre-purchase inspection helps you decide whether to buy that particular car.

Mileage and maintenance. Under the Kraftfahrgesetz, interested buyers can access pseudonymised inspection reports online using the date of first registration and either the registration number or vehicle identification number. The inspection centre is also shown the most recently recorded mileage during an inspection. Compare these entries with the service book, garage invoices and displayed mileage. Gaps are a reason to ask questions; a fully completed service book does not replace inspecting the car either.

Vehicle identification number and right to sell. Compare the vehicle identification number on the car with the documents and contract. Ask about any discrepancies before handing over money or keys. The Fahrzeug-Genehmigungsdokument (vehicle approval document) does not, by itself, prove that the seller lawfully possesses the car. Ask them to explain why they are entitled to sell it. Before paying, resolve any outstanding questions with the seller about possible financing, a lien or seizure.

Documents and registration

Ask to see the Fahrzeug-Genehmigungsdokument (vehicle approval document) before signing. Under the Kraftfahrgesetz, re-registration of an Austrian vehicle requires the vehicle approval document issued at its last registration. If a periodic inspection has already fallen due, the latest inspection report is also required unless it is stored in the inspection sticker database.

The contract should state which car is being handed over, who is selling and buying it, and what has been agreed about its condition. Also record the mileage, price and time of handover. Keep the listing, contract, proof of payment and documents received together. Under the general rule in the ABGB, the contract alone does not complete the transfer of ownership; legal delivery and acceptance are also required.

The previous registered keeper must deregister the vehicle if it has been sold and they are no longer its lawful possessor. So agree before handover who will arrange deregistration. You will need, among other things, proof of insurance for the new registration. The general registration information does not specify a particular application deadline after a domestic purchase. The vehicle must be registered for normal use on public roads; legal exceptions include authorised test or transfer journeys.

Buying from a dealer or a private seller

When buying from a dealer, the first thing to check is who is named as the seller in the contract. A dealer can sell the car themselves or simply arrange a sale between private individuals. Arbeiterkammer Niederösterreich recommends clarifying the dealer’s role before signing. So check the contract, not just the company sign.

If the dealer sells directly to you as a consumer, a used car is generally covered by a statutory warranty period of two years. A reduction to one year must be negotiated individually. For motor vehicles, such a reduction is only valid if more than one year has passed since first registration. Read the wording in the contract carefully. In a private sale, the warranty can be limited or excluded by contract. Make sure known defects and specific promises are recorded in writing.

A warranty and a pre-purchase inspection serve different purposes. The inspection helps you assess the car’s condition before deciding. The warranty concerns the seller’s statutory liability for defects. A fresh Pickerl does not make questions about the seller’s role, the contract or the car’s actual condition any less necessary.

After buying

Obtain proof of insurance for registration and check that you have received all the vehicle documents. According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, you pay the ongoing motor-related insurance tax to the insurer as part of your agreed premium payments. Ask the insurer how much it will be for your car and payment method.

Use the sticker and inspection report to note when the next Pickerl is due. If you spot any defects or missing documents after buying, record them and contact the seller promptly. Keep the contract, inspection reports, service book and any later garage invoices. They help you show the car’s maintenance and mileage history when you come to sell it.

Buying in Austria and registering abroad?

Before buying, check with the relevant authorities in the destination country what applies to registration, taxes and transport, and which original documents you will need at handover.

Find more routes and calculators in the import calculators overview.