Every week, someone shows up at our office with half the documents missing. No judgment, the systems in Luxembourg, Germany and France are all different, and if you don't know the differences, you'll get stuck fast. That's why I wrote everything down here, so you don't have to come twice when selling your car. No matter where your car is registered.
The registration certificate: different in every country
The most important document when selling a car is the registration certificate. Nothing works without it. But depending on where your vehicle is registered, the document has a different name and looks different.
If your car is registered in Luxembourg
In Luxembourg, the registration certificate is called the Carte Grise. It is issued by the SNCA (Société Nationale de Circulation Automobile) and contains all the relevant vehicle data: owner, chassis number, first registration, technical data. On the back, you'll find the details of the last technical inspection. The Carte Grise must be in your name. If the transfer was never done, you need to take care of that first (about 50 euros transfer fee at the SNCA). All the info on guichet.public.lu.
If your car is registered in Germany
In Germany, there are two documents: the Fahrzeugschein (registration certificate Part I) and the Fahrzeugbrief (registration certificate Part II). You need both for the sale. The Fahrzeugschein is usually in the car, the Fahrzeugbrief should be kept at home. If one is missing, you need to request a replacement at the registration office. That takes a few days and costs around 60 to 70 euros. More info from the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA).
If your car is registered in France
In France, the registration certificate is also called Carte Grise, officially Certificat d'immatriculation. It is managed through the portal of ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés). Here too: the document must be in your name. A transfer can be done entirely online through the ANTS portal.
Technical Inspection
There are also differences by country when it comes to the technical inspection. For a private sale, a valid inspection is almost always mandatory or at least expected. With us it's different: mirkaafenaerenauto.lu buys vehicles even without a valid technical inspection.
If your car is registered in Luxembourg
The technical inspection is carried out by the SNCT (Société Nationale de Contrôle Technique). The inspection fee is about 33 euros. A passed Contrôle Technique strengthens your negotiating position, but if it has expired or the car failed, we buy it anyway.
If your car is registered in Germany
In Germany, the technical inspection is called HU (Hauptuntersuchung), commonly known as "the TÜV". The inspection is carried out by TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ or KÜS. For a private sale, the buyer usually expects a fresh HU. When selling to mirkaafenaerenauto.lu, that's not necessary.
If your car is registered in France
In France, the inspection is called Contrôle Technique. Important to know: for a private sale, the Contrôle Technique must be less than 6 months old. When selling to a professional buyer like mirkaafenaerenauto.lu, this requirement doesn't apply. So you save the inspection fee and any repairs.
ID card or passport
Sounds obvious, but nothing works without a valid ID. Not for a private sale, not with us. You need a valid ID card or passport. A driving licence is not enough as proof of identity. If you're a non-EU citizen, you also need your residence permit.
Service book and maintenance records
The service book is your trump card, but not a must with us. We also buy vehicles without a service book. But: a complete service history can increase your vehicle's value by 500 to 1,500 euros, depending on the brand and model. Especially for BMW, Mercedes and Audi, a complete service book is worth its weight in gold. If the maintenance was done at an authorised dealer, even better.
Digital service book? Many manufacturers now offer digital maintenance records. That's just as good as a physical book, as long as you have access to the online portal and can print out a copy.
Keys
Ideally, bring all the keys you have. Most cars come with two keys. If one is missing, a private buyer will deduct it right away, and rightly so: a replacement key costs around 250 euros for VW, and quickly 400 to 800 euros for BMW or Mercedes. For Keyless-Go systems, sometimes over 1,000 euros. At mirkaafenaerenauto.lu, we also buy vehicles with just one key. Good if you have both, but not a must with us.
Loan agreement for financed vehicles
If your car is still financed, things get a bit more complicated. Legally, the vehicle belongs to the bank or the leasing company until the loan is paid off. You need the loan agreement and must ask your bank for the current payoff amount. At mirkaafenaerenauto.lu, that's no problem. We also buy financed vehicles and handle the payoff directly with the bank. You get paid the difference between the purchase price and the payoff amount.
Deregistration: how it works in each country
After the sale, the vehicle must be deregistered. That's mandatory, no matter where the car is registered. As long as it's in your name, you're liable for everything that happens with it. My strong advice: deregister the vehicle immediately, on the day of sale. Not next week, not when you have time. Immediately.
If your car is registered in Luxembourg
Deregistration is done at the SNCA in Sandweiler or online via guichet.public.lu. You need the Carte Grise and the licence plates.
If your car is registered in Germany
Deregistration is done at the registration office of your district or city. You need the Fahrzeugschein, Fahrzeugbrief and the licence plates. Important: get the deregistration certificate and keep it safe. For a sale abroad, export plates may be necessary. More info from the KBA.
If your car is registered in France
In France, you report the sale via a Déclaration de cession on the portal of ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés). It's all done online. You have 15 days after the sale, but it's best to do it straight away.
If you sell to mirkaafenaerenauto.lu, we handle the deregistration on the same day. Whether Luxembourg, Germany or France. At mirkaafenaerenauto.lu, we take care of all the paperwork, no matter where your vehicle is registered.
Checklist before selling to mirkaafenaerenauto.lu
Required: Registration certificate (Carte Grise / Fahrzeugschein + Brief) in your name, valid ID card or passport, at least one vehicle key, loan agreement (if financed).
Good to have, but not a must: Contrôle Technique / HU (TÜV), service book, second key, maintenance records. The more you bring, the better for your price, but we buy without them too.
Private sale note: For a private sale, the rules are stricter. In France, the Contrôle Technique must be less than 6 months old. In Luxembourg and Germany, a valid inspection is expected by the buyer. At mirkaafenaerenauto.lu, none of that applies.
If you have the required documents together, let's go. We'll sort out the rest.
Documents ready? Let's go.
At mirkaafenaerenauto.lu, we handle all the paperwork, whether your vehicle is registered in Luxembourg, Germany or France. You bring the documents, we do the rest.