VIN check in Köln, Germany

Looking at a used car in Köln? Before you hand over the money, check what the VIN says. Cars sold in Germany are routinely bought damaged at US and Canadian auctions, shipped over and repaired — and the auction photos show the state that car was really in, whatever the seller in Köln is telling you.

Have a VIN to check?

Title brands, accidents, mileage and owners — the full history report in one minute.

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How an auction car reaches your market

1 Sold at a US or Canadian auction Insurance write-offs, flood cars and dealer trade-ins are sold with photos, damage and title recorded on sale day.
2 Shipped overseas Exporters ship by container or RoRo; the trip usually takes several weeks.
3 Repaired and registered locally After repair the car looks different — but the VIN, and its history, stay the same.
4 Sold by a local dealer Check the VIN first: the auction record shows the damage, mileage and title it was sold with.

What to check before you pay

Odometer — a car exported with 180,000 miles can be advertised here with 90,000. The auction record shows the reading on sale day.
Accident damage — repaired panels hide what the auction photos show: which side took the hit, whether the airbags fired, how deep it went.
Title brand — salvage, flood and total-loss records do not always survive re-registration in a new country. The VIN does.

Recently archived

2017 Hyundai Accent SE

KMHCT5AE1HU301565

Odometer: 103,209 mi
Damage: Rear end
Title: Salvage title

Last sale $625

History report

2012 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring

JM1BL1M89C1654791

Odometer: 189,428 mi
Damage: Rear end
Title: Salvage title

Last sale $375

History report

2015 Mazda 3 S Grand Touring

JM1BM1M30F1258285

Odometer: 194,885 mi
Damage: Front end
Title: Salvage title

Last sale $625

History report

2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT

3GCUKREC8EG297217

Odometer: 199,775 mi
Damage: Rear end
Title: Salvage title

Last sale $3,000

History report

2007 Toyota Camry LE

4T1BE46K37U073260

Odometer: 289,820 mi
Damage: Rear end
Title: Salvage title

Last sale $425

History report

2010 Ford Escape Hybrid

1FMCU5K39AKB92915

Odometer: 150,754 mi
Damage: Rear end
Title: Salvage title

Last sale $450

History report

Nearby cities

Düsseldorf Essen Dortmund

Other cities

Berlin Hamburg Munich Köln Frankfurt am Main Düsseldorf Stuttgart Essen Dortmund Dresden

Browse by damage

Front end Rear end Side All over Normal wear Minor dents & scratches Mechanical Water/flood Hail Rollover Undercarriage Vandalism Burn Unknown Top/roof Biohazard/chemical Theft Burn — engine Repossession Stripped Frame damage Burn — interior Electrical Storm Fresh water flood Damage history Partial repair Rejected repair Missing/altered VIN Replaced VIN Cash for clunkers

Population data: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)

Frequently asked questions

On the windscreen at the base of the glass, on the driver-side door pillar, and on the registration document. Check that all three match before anything else — a mismatch ends the viewing.

Especially there. A dealer may hold some paperwork; a private seller usually offers only their word. The VIN record does not depend on either.

Searching the auction archive for a VIN is free. The full history report — accidents, ownership, odometer readings and title brands — is a one-off paid report, no subscription.