Wertgutachten

A Wertgutachten is an independent written vehicle valuation prepared by a qualified appraiser in German vehicle registration and insurance practice. It establishes a defensible figure for what a specific car is worth. The appraiser — typically from TÜV, DEKRA, or a certified Kfz-Sachverständiger — inspects the car, documents condition, mileage, equipment, history and originality, and states a value: Marktwert (market value), Wiederbeschaffungswert (replacement value) or, for classics, a condition-graded valuation on the 1-to-5 scale. Wertgutachten are needed in several situations that matter to international owners: agreeing a sum insured for a classic or high-value car so that a total loss is settled at the real figure rather than a book value, supporting a customs declaration on import, substantiating a claim after damage, and documenting value in an estate, divorce or partnership dispute. Costs vary with the depth of the report, and a short Kurzgutachten is cheaper than a full report. The document has no official registration function — the Zulassungsstelle does not require it — but insurers and authorities treat a proper appraisal as far stronger evidence than a listing price.