DEKRA and TÜV are both established, independent inspection organisations with no interest in selling the car. Both inspect the vehicle at their own station or branch — which means the vehicle has to be brought or driven there before the purchase. DEKRA has a nationwide presence with roughly 480 inspection sites and is regarded as the market leader for valuation reports, roadworthiness tests and accident assessments. TÜV is not a single company but a federal association — TÜV Süd, TÜV Nord, TÜV Rheinland and TÜV Hessen — with regional responsibilities; TÜV Süd alone operates around 300 service centres. Anyone who needs a legally usable valuation report, a roadworthiness test or an official seal is in the right place with DEKRA or TÜV. Anyone who can't or doesn't want to bring the vehicle to a station first, and doesn't need that detour, will find a third option in checkdenwagen: independent on-site inspection directly at the seller, fixed price from €289 incl. VAT and travel, digital photo report within 24 hours.
DEKRA vs TÜV used-car inspection — an objective comparison
DEKRA and TÜV are Germany's best-known inspection organisations. Both offer used-car inspections — but both only inspect at their own stations or branches. This comparison shows objectively what sets DEKRA and TÜV apart, when each provider is the more sensible choice, and why there is a third option that comes directly to the vehicle.
DEKRA, TÜV and checkdenwagen — all the differences at a glance
| Criterion | DEKRA | TÜV | checkdenwagen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspection location | At a DEKRA branch or inspection site; the vehicle has to be brought there | At a TÜV station; the vehicle has to be transported there (regionally tied) | On site at the seller or dealer — Germany-wide, no station appointment |
| Network / locations | Roughly 480 inspection sites nationwide (source: dekra.de, as of May 2026) | Roughly 300 service centres at TÜV Süd alone; TÜV Nord/Rheinland/Hessen regional; federal association | Germany-wide travel to wherever the vehicle is; no station network needed |
| Used-car inspection price (guideline) | Not uniform online; basic technical check from around €49 per public sources + optional modules; please ask at the branch | Varies by region; from around €29 (single module/OBD) up to around €300 (complete expert report); TÜV Süd around €79–300 (sources: tuvsud.com, carwow.de; as of May 2026) | Fixed price: Standard from €289, Premium from €339 — each incl. VAT and travel (based on postal code, shown before booking) |
| Price transparency online | Prices not published uniformly; varies by region; phoning for information recommended | Prices depend on region and station; enquiry or station visit recommended | Fixed price and travel shown online before completing the booking; no phone call needed |
| Inspection scope | Depends on the package; bodywork, vehicle systems, OBD as individually bookable modules | Depends on the package; from basic OBD check to a full expert report with valuation | More than 100 inspection points: visual, acoustic, OBD of all control units, paint-thickness measurement, test drive; Premium additionally includes market-value and repair-cost calculation |
| Report / documentation | Depends on the product; written valuation report or inspection result; timing varies | Depends on the package; verbal, written or as an official certificate | Digital photo report by email within 24 hours of the inspection |
| Roadworthiness test (HU) / badge | Yes — DEKRA is one of the major HU providers in Germany | Yes — the HU is TÜV's core business; combination with a used-car inspection possible | No — checkdenwagen does not carry out the HU and does not issue a badge |
| Official expert report / seal | Yes — DEKRA valuation report, DEKRA seal available for inspected vehicles | Yes — TÜV certificate and legally usable expert reports possible | No — checkdenwagen produces purchase-decision reports, not official expert reports |
| Independence from the vehicle sale | Independent; no interest in selling the car | Independent; no interest in selling the car | Independent; no interest in selling the car; no contractual relationship with dealer or manufacturer |
| Money-back if the viewing falls through | Cancellation terms depend on the product; no standard guarantee | Cancellation terms depend on station and product | Full refund if the viewing does not take place |
| Free consultation | Available via branches and service hotline | Consultation at the station or by phone depending on region | Free phone consultation: 030 301 32 327 |
| Market-price and repair-cost analysis | Available as a separate valuation report (different product, different price) | Included in the complete expert report with valuation; depends on the package | Included in the Premium package (from €339): market-value/price comparison + repair-cost calculation |
DEKRA information: public sources (dekra.de), as of May 2026 — prices and scope of service vary by region, please ask at the branch. TÜV information: public sources (tuvsud.com, carwow.de, fahrzeugschein.de), as of May 2026 — prices and network depend on the branch and region. CDW information: fixed prices per checkdenwagen.de, as of May 2026.
DEKRA in detail
DEKRA was founded in 1925 and is today one of the largest inspection and expert-assessment organisations in Germany and Europe. With roughly 480 inspection sites nationwide, DEKRA has comprehensive coverage — for private consumers and businesses alike. Its core business covers roadworthiness tests (HU), emissions tests (AU), accident assessments, valuation reports for insurers and courts, and the used-car inspection as an additional service. With the DEKRA used-car inspection, the vehicle is checked at a DEKRA inspection site or branch — you or the seller have to bring the vehicle there. The scope of service depends on the package: a basic technical check and extended modules (bodywork, vehicle systems) can be combined individually. The DEKRA seal is a recognised quality mark that can be issued after a vehicle passes a DEKRA inspection. DEKRA prices are not published uniformly online; according to public sources, basic offers start from around €49 — please ask for exact prices at your nearest branch. DEKRA is the right choice if you need an officially recognised valuation report, a DEKRA seal, or a combination of used-car inspection and roadworthiness test. The inspector is tied to their location — the vehicle has to come to the station.
TÜV in detail
The name 'TÜV' does not refer to a single provider but to a federal association of regionally organised inspection organisations: TÜV Süd, TÜV Nord, TÜV Rheinland and TÜV Hessen. Each organisation is independent within its territory and has its own prices, locations and booking channels. TÜV Süd alone operates around 300 service centres, mainly in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony and Hamburg; TÜV Nord covers northern Germany; TÜV Rheinland has a stronger presence in North Rhine-Westphalia; TÜV Hessen in Hesse. Together they stand for roadworthiness tests (HU), emissions tests, technical expert reports and — as a secondary service — the used-car inspection. With the TÜV used-car inspection, the check takes place at a station. The vehicle has to be brought there. Depending on the station, the scope ranges from simple OBD modules (from around €29) to a complete expert report with valuation (up to around €300). A genuine advantage of TÜV: if you need a roadworthiness test anyway, you can combine the check and the HU in a single appointment — saving a trip. TÜV certificates can be relevant for insurance matters or legal disputes. Who is TÜV the right choice for? For everyone who needs a legally usable expert report, an HU or an official certificate from a recognised inspection organisation — and is willing to bring the vehicle to the station.
The alternative: checkdenwagen
checkdenwagen is neither DEKRA nor TÜV — and that's not a drawback but a different approach: the inspector comes directly to the vehicle. Whether it's a private seller in another city, a dealer nowhere near a station, or a vehicle that shouldn't be moved before the purchase — checkdenwagen travels nationwide to wherever the vehicle is. No station appointment, no vehicle logistics, no coordination with the branch. The offer is transparent: Standard from €289, Premium from €339 — each a fixed price incl. VAT and travel, shown in the online booking process before you pay. The inspection covers more than 100 points (bodywork, engine, transmission, suspension, full OBD read-out of all reachable control units, paint-thickness measurement, test drive), takes around 1.5 hours and delivers a digital photo report within 24 hours by email. The Premium package additionally includes a market-value and price comparison plus a repair-cost calculation — a solid basis for negotiating the price. checkdenwagen does not issue an HU badge, a DEKRA seal or a TÜV expert report — that is not the goal. The goal is: you know before the purchase what is wrong with the vehicle. Free phone consultation before the check: 030 301 32 327. Money-back guarantee if the viewing falls through. 5.0 stars on Google.
When to choose which? — DEKRA, TÜV or checkdenwagen
When is DEKRA the right choice? If you need a legally usable valuation report for an insurer, a court or accident settlement, DEKRA, with its expert-assessment competence and recognised status, is the established choice. Likewise if you want the DEKRA seal for the inspected vehicle — for example for resale. DEKRA has roughly 480 inspection sites nationwide and is widely accessible. When is TÜV the right choice? If the vehicle's roadworthiness test is due anyway and you want to combine the HU and the used-car inspection in a single appointment at the station, TÜV offers this advantage from a single source. Likewise if you need an official TÜV certificate or live in a region where a TÜV station is especially easy to reach. Regionally, TÜV's prices may work out cheaper than a specialised on-site service. When is checkdenwagen the right choice? If you can't or don't want to bring the vehicle to a station — because the seller doesn't agree, the journey is too far, or the vehicle shouldn't be moved before the purchase. checkdenwagen comes to wherever the vehicle is, anywhere in Germany, offers a fixed price from the outset, and delivers the digital photo report within 24 hours. If you don't need a valuation report or an HU but want to know before the purchase what is technically wrong with the vehicle — checkdenwagen is the most focused approach.
Frequently asked questions: DEKRA vs TÜV used-car inspection
Neither DEKRA nor TÜV is simply 'better' — both are established, independent inspection organisations with no interest in selling the car. The difference lies in their network and focus: DEKRA has roughly 480 inspection sites nationwide and is regarded as the market leader for valuation reports; TÜV is a federal association with regional responsibilities (TÜV Süd, Nord, Rheinland, Hessen). If you live in Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg, TÜV Süd is often within easy reach; in northern Germany it's more likely TÜV Nord. DEKRA is more uniformly set up across the country. Both inspect the vehicle at their station — the vehicle has to be brought there.
Should the vehicle come to the inspector? Or the inspector to the vehicle?
If you can't or don't want to bring the vehicle to a station, checkdenwagen comes directly to the seller — Germany-wide, fixed price from €289 incl. VAT and travel, more than 100 inspection points, photo report within 24 hours. Free consultation: 030 301 32 327.
About this information
The information on DEKRA comes from publicly available sources (dekra.de, as of May 2026). The information on TÜV comes from publicly available sources (tuvsud.com, carwow.de, fahrzeugschein.de, as of May 2026). Prices, scope of service and locations may vary by region and may change; we present them to the best of our knowledge and accept no liability for their currency or completeness. DEKRA is a registered trademark of DEKRA SE. TÜV is a registered trademark of the respective inspection organisations.