Car sourcing
from start to finish

Germany offers a wider choice than any other European market, and service history is usually traceable: most cars have a service book with dealer stamps for every service. The downside is high motorway mileage. Two hundred thousand kilometres in three years is normal here, not a reason for a discount.

What we check first

• Service book and dealer stamps, verified against the VIN with an authorised workshop
• The HU inspection report, commonly called the TÜV. We read the previous inspection findings, not just check the stamp
• Ex-lease and company fleet cars: consistently serviced, but with high mileage
• Winter road salt means the underbody and sills need particular attention

We're based here, so we can inspect a car the day you contact us, with no import needed. It's a small market, and the same car can pass through several sellers, so its history often takes some untangling.

What we check first

• The car has already cleared customs and has local plates, so no import duties or import paperwork are needed
• Odometers are often rolled back when cars are resold locally, so we cross-check mileage against roadworthiness inspection records
• Many cars are imported from Germany and Italy, so we check their history before import
• Same-day inspections, with no waiting for travel arrangements

Mild winters and very little road salt mean Spanish cars usually have noticeably cleaner underbodies than German ones. But sun and coastal exposure take their toll on paintwork, plastics and rubber components.

What we check first

• Coastal exposure means we look for corrosion in hidden cavities first
• We factor faded clear coat and cracked interior plastics into the price
• There are plenty of ex-rental cars: consistent mileage, but hard use
• The ITV inspection report: we cross-check findings and inspection dates

Swiss cars are noticeably better maintained than the European average: high servicing costs encourage owners to stay on top of maintenance, and mileages tend to be low. But Switzerland is outside the EU, so import procedures differ. We factor this into the budget from the start.

What we check first

• High-spec cars are more common here than in neighbouring countries
• MFK: a strict roadworthiness test that owners prepare for thoroughly, and it shows in the car's condition
• Outside the EU: customs clearance and paperwork differ from those for EU countries
• Prices are above market average, but you save on repairs later

The market is small, with less choice than Spain, but also less competition for good cars. The humid, salty climate means coastal corrosion can affect even relatively new cars.

What we check first

• Humidity and sea air make hidden body cavities and electrics inspection priorities
• A small market: finding a car to a specific brief takes longer than in Germany
• IPO reports: we review the findings from previous roadworthiness tests
• Plenty of diesels and small cars, but larger models are rare

France is primarily a market for diesels and domestic brands. Peugeot, Renault and Citroën are cheaper here than anywhere else in Europe. German premium cars, by contrast, cost more, so there is little reason to buy them here.

What we check first

• French brands at Europe's best prices, with lower servicing costs too
• On diesels, we check the diesel particulate filter and EGR valve separately
• Contrôle technique: detailed test reports let us compare findings year by year
• City driving: clutch and suspension wear can be greater than the listing suggests

Italy is a good market for small cars and unusual specifications, but it calls for caution: cars see heavy use here, and minor body repairs are not always done well.

What we check first

• City driving brings frequent minor knocks and paint repairs, so a paint thickness gauge is essential
• Salt and corrosion are concerns in the south and on the coast; conditions in the north are closer to Germany's
• Revisione: we check that tests were carried out on schedule, as missed tests are more common here
• Many cars have LPG systems, which we inspect separately

Our nearest major market offers quick, inexpensive transport. But Poland has long been a major transit hub for accident-damaged cars from Western Europe, so we scrutinise vehicle history here more closely than anywhere else.

What we check first

• A high proportion of accident-repaired cars makes chassis alignment a priority
• Frequent resales: a car may pass through several owners in a year
• Odometers are often rolled back during import, so we cross-check mileage against service databases
• A short transport route makes delivery cheaper and faster than from Spain or Portugal