Everything you need to know about vehicle expert reports

A vehicle expert inspects your car after an accident or for a valuation and prepares an official report. It helps with claims settlement with the insurer or when selling the vehicle.

When accident damage has occurred, especially in a third-party liability case (you are not at fault). From a damage amount of approx. €750 (the so-called “Bagatellgrenze”, minor-damage threshold) a full report is sensible and recommended.

After an accident that was not your fault, the other party’s insurer pays the costs in full. For you as the injured party the report is usually free of charge.

Yes. As the injured party you have the right to choose your expert freely. You do not have to accept an expert of the other party’s insurer. An independent vehicle expert represents your interests only.

A repair cost estimate contains only the repair costs. A vehicle expert report is far more comprehensive and includes, among other things, repair costs, diminished value, replacement value, residual value as well as loss of use or rental car costs. For complete damage settlement, an expert report is usually the better choice.

A third-party liability claim exists when another road user caused the accident. The other party’s liability insurer then covers all accident-related costs – expert, repair, rental car and diminished value.

Damage you caused yourself or damage from, for example, vandalism, collision with game or hail. It is settled through your own partial or fully comprehensive insurance.

A repair cost estimate is often enough if the damage is minor, the costs are certain to stay below your deductible or the insurer only needs a simple calculation. An expert report makes sense for larger damage, a dispute with the insurer, to check for an economic total loss or when you need evidence of the amount of damage.

If the accident was your fault and you have comprehensive insurance, you usually bear the costs yourself unless your insurer covers them under the contract. In a third-party liability case (you are not at fault), the other party’s insurer pays.

Yes. For newer or high-value vehicles a “merkantile Wertminderung” (diminished value) often arises because the vehicle still counts as an accident vehicle despite the repair. It is taken into account in the report and reimbursed by the insurer.

Yes. You have the right to notional settlement (“fiktive Abrechnung”) – you can have the repair costs determined in the report paid out without having to repair the vehicle.

If your vehicle cannot be driven because of the accident, you are entitled to compensation for loss of use or to a rental car. The amount depends on the vehicle class and the duration of the repair.

Yes. I appraise accident damage, crash damage and valuation questions for motorcycles and scooters – including damaged protective gear and accessories. The inspection takes place at your location or at the workshop.

A specialist lawyer for traffic law can be sensible, especially if there are problems with the insurer. After an accident that was not your fault, the lawyer’s costs are also covered by the other party’s insurer.

Yes. The reports are neutral, independent and comprehensibly structured and are suitable for submission to insurers and in court. I prepare private expert reports on behalf of my clients; whether and how a court uses a report in proceedings is decided by the court.

As a rule the report is prepared within 24 to 48 hours after the vehicle inspection and sent to you and to the insurer.

No. On request the inspection takes place directly at your location – at home, at work or at the workshop.

By phone, WhatsApp or via the contact form. Short-notice appointments, even on the same day, are usually possible.

1. Secure the accident scene.
2. Take down the other party’s details: name and address, license plate, insurer (name + policy number), phone number.
3. Take photos: damage to both vehicles, the accident scene and the position of the vehicles.
4. Contact me – by phone, WhatsApp, email or online form.
5. Have ready: vehicle registration document, accident report, photos of the damage, the other party’s details.
6. I take care of the rest – preparing the report and forwarding it to the insurer.

Yes – the so-called duty to notify (“Meldepflicht”) requires you to inform your own insurer of damage without undue delay. This also applies if the accident was not your fault. The law does not prescribe how you report – by phone, by email or in writing are all possible.

Yes. Vehicle reports can also be prepared for classic cars, electric vehicles, leased vehicles and motorcycles – with specialised valuation methods.

The actual value often differs significantly from the standard value. A valuation report provides proof of the modifications and their value, a secure basis for insurance cover (theft, total loss), a basis for negotiation when selling or buying and documentation of investments. Without a report, the insurer often pays only the series-production value after damage.