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Buying used machinery in Germany: a practical guide

Germany, Austria and Switzerland are among the largest sources of well-maintained used machinery in the world. They are also a market where a buyer from outside the EU is at a structural disadvantage: distance, language, paperwork. This guide covers what you need to know before you send money.

Where used machinery is sold

  • Dealer trade-ins – most tractors, construction machines and forklifts change hands through dealers; prices include margin but documents are clean.
  • Direct from farms and contractors – best prices, most variance in condition and paperwork.
  • Insolvency and closure sales – auction houses and administrators; good prices, strict timelines, buy-as-seen.
  • Online marketplaces – large German platforms list all of the above; listings are not verified.

How to verify a seller

  • Check the company in the commercial register.
  • Match the seller's name to the machine documents.
  • Ask for a VAT ID and verify it in the EU VIES system.
  • Never pay to a private account for a company sale.
  • Insist on a written contract in German with an English translation.

What to inspect – and why photos are not enough

  • Cold start – a warm engine hides problems.
  • Hours vs. wear on pedals, seat, steps.
  • Hydraulic leaks under pressure, not at idle.
  • Undercarriage or tyre age, not just depth.
  • Error memory in the controller.
  • Service invoices matching the hours.
  • Original documents: registration, CE plate, manuals.

Ask who has actually seen the machine. If the answer is “the seller”, assume nothing.

Documents you need for export

  • Contract and invoice.
  • Seller's VAT ID and your company details.
  • Export declaration (EX-1) with MRN and exit confirmation – without it, the seller's 0% VAT invoice is not valid and you may be charged German VAT.
  • CMR or transport document.
  • Deregistration for road-registered machines.
  • For some machinery: export licence check.

Typical mistakes

  • Paying a deposit before anyone has seen the machine.
  • Buying “VAT-free” without export evidence.
  • Underestimating oversized-transport cost and permits.
  • Ignoring parts availability in the home market.
  • Buying export-controlled equipment without a licence check.
  • Trusting a translated listing.

Doing it yourself vs. sourcing on request

Doing it yourself works if you are in Germany, speak the language and can visit the machine. If not, an on-the-ground agent costs a fee – and replaces the cost of a wrong purchase. Anlagora provides exactly that: search, inspection, purchase and export on request.

How sourcing on request works

See also: Exporting used machinery from the EU.