Sell your car in Austria

Step by step

1. Gather the vehicle papers Required by law

   Have both parts of the registration certificate (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Teil II), the vehicle approval document (e.g. Typenschein or EU certificate of conformity, COC), the service book, the §57a inspection reports (Pickerl) and repair invoices ready to hand over.

   oesterreich.gv.at – Kauf des Kfz in Österreich
2. Show the car safely Recommended

   Hold viewings in a public place and bring a companion. Before a test drive, check the buyer's driving licence and ride along.

   ÖAMTC – Tipps für den Autoverkauf
3. Sign a written purchase contract Recommended Seller and buyer

   A written contract signed by both parties is essential; ÖAMTC offers a free model contract for private sales. A private seller may exclude warranty (otherwise the statutory two-year liability for hidden defects applies), and known defects should be written into the contract.

   ÖAMTC Rechtsberatung – Gebrauchtwagenkauf
4. Deregister the car or authorise the buyer to do it Required by law

   A registered keeper who is no longer the owner must deregister the vehicle, handing in the registration certificate and the number plates (§ 43 KFG). You can do it yourself at any Zulassungsstelle in Austria before the handover, or give the buyer a written power of attorney so they deregister it when registering it in their name; if they are slow, you may remain liable for fines linked to the car. The plate can be reserved for another vehicle for up to 12 months.

   Free

   oesterreich.gv.at – Kraftfahrzeug abmelden
5. Hand over the car, papers and a copy of the contract Required by law

   Give the buyer both parts of the registration certificate, the approval document and the purchase contract (or other proof of sale), which the buyer needs to register the car. A car without plates must not be left standing on a public road.

   ÖAMTC – Kfz-Zulassung in Österreich
6. Sort out the liability insurance Required by law Seller and buyer

   On a sale the compulsory liability insurance passes to the buyer, who may cancel it within one month of the purchase. When the car is deregistered, a notice must go to the insurer and the registration authority; this is how the unused part of the premium is refunded.

   Sozialministerium (konsumentenfragen.at) – Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung
7. Buyer registers the car Required by law Buyer

   The buyer registers the car at a Zulassungsstelle authorised for their place of residence, with photo ID, an insurance confirmation, the approval document, the purchase contract or proof of acquisition, and a valid positive §57a inspection report if the car is already subject to periodic inspection.

   ÖAMTC – Kfz-Zulassung in Österreich

Documents checklist

Tick what you already have. This stays on your device, and none of it is needed to post your car.

• Registration certificate Parts I and II (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I und Teil II)Required for deregistration and handed to the buyer; deregistration is recorded on both parts.Required by law
• Vehicle approval document (Typenschein, Einzelgenehmigung or EU certificate of conformity / COC)Needed both to deregister and for the buyer to register the car.Required by law
• Number plates (Kennzeichentafeln)Handed in at deregistration (§ 43 KFG); they do not go with the car.Required by law
• Written purchase contract (Kaufvertrag)The buyer needs the contract or other proof of acquisition to register the car.Required by law
• Written power of attorney (Vollmacht)Only if someone else — often the buyer — deregisters the car for you.Recommended
• §57a inspection report (Pickerl-Gutachten)The buyer needs a valid positive report to register a car already subject to periodic inspection.Recommended

Stay safe when buyers contact you

• Blur the number plate in your listing photos, including in the photo of the inspection sticker (Pickerl).
• Hold viewings in a public place, bring someone with you, check the buyer's driving licence and ride along on the test drive.
• Don't let yourself be rushed: sellers under time pressure are targeted by buyers offering far below market value.
• Save your online listing as a screenshot, in case of later disputes about what was promised.
• Report fraud to the police or the Bundeskriminalamt's reporting office for internet crime.