Found a vehicle on AutoScout24 and don't know whether the listing is legit? With InseratCheck you automatically analyse AutoScout24 listings – for missing MOT/roadworthiness test (HU) details, accident indications in the listing text, risky wording and more. Free, no sign-up.
Why a second look pays off
AutoScout24 is Europe's largest used car marketplace – with millions of offers in Germany alone. With that volume, no marketplace in the world can verify every detail. That's not an accusation – it's the reality of the used car market: mileage, maintenance history or accident-free status – these details come from the seller. Nobody checks them for you.
The result: buyers are often faced with listings that are incomplete or misleadingly worded – sometimes unintentionally, sometimes through deliberately omitted information and details you simply don't know about without experience.
The most common risks in AutoScout24 listings
These six risks come up most often in AutoScout24 listings:
Missing or expiring MOT/roadworthiness test (HU)
The MOT/roadworthiness test (HU) is one of the most important details in a listing. If it's missing or expires soon, it costs you as the buyer hard cash. InseratCheck reliably checks whether HU details are given and whether the test expires soon.
Gaps in the service history
A vehicle without a complete service book or without proof of servicing is a clear risk signal. InseratCheck detects when the listing text says nothing about a service book and asks targeted questions about the maintenance history. If a service date is explicitly mentioned in the listing text, we detect that as well and point it out.
Accident indications in the listing text
“Unfallfrei laut Vorbesitzer” (accident-free according to the previous owner) – this wording appears in hundreds of listings. It means nothing. InseratCheck detects terms like “Unfallschaden” (accident damage), “beschädigt” (damaged) or “Unfallfahrzeug” (accident vehicle) directly in the listing text.
Indications of a commercial sale
Some listings are explicitly aimed only at dealers or commercial buyers – not at private individuals. This is often an attempt to get around the statutory warranty: as a commercial seller, the vendor would be obliged to provide a warranty to private buyers. Something similar applies to “Kundenauftrag” (sale on behalf of a customer): here a dealer sells on behalf of a private seller – which means the statutory dealer warranty no longer applies. InseratCheck detects both variants in the listing text and points them out to you.
Imported vehicles without clear labelling
Vehicles from Poland, the Czech Republic or the USA are sometimes listed as normal German used cars. InseratCheck detects indications of imported vehicles, US re-imports and export vehicles in the listing text. Good to know: with imported vehicles, the previous mileage often can't be traced without gaps. A vehicle with several previous owners abroad can appear as “1. Hand” (first owner) in the vehicle registration document after being registered in Germany – which conceals its actual history.
Risky wording in the description
Certain wording is a direct warning sign. Among other things, InseratCheck detects: “wie gesehen” (as seen), “verkauft wie besichtigt” (sold as inspected), “Bastler” (for hobbyists/project car), “Projektwagen” (project car), “Teileträger” (parts donor), “kein Scheckheft” (no service book), “Motorschaden” (engine damage), “Getriebeschaden” (gearbox damage), “Hagelschaden” (hail damage).
A concrete example: what a risky listing looks like
AutoScout24 listing: VW Passat Variant, built 2017, 104,000 km, €14,800. Sounds solid. InseratCheck analyses it and finds:
- No service book mentioned in the listing text – InseratCheck asks specifically for proof of servicing
- MOT/roadworthiness test (HU) details completely missing from the listing
- Description contains: “wie gesehen, keine Garantie, keine Rücknahme” (as seen, no guarantee, no returns)
InseratCheck result: Medium risk. Concrete pointers on missing proof of servicing, missing MOT/roadworthiness test (HU) details and a sale without warranty. Before a viewing, you should specifically request copies of the service book and the HU report.
What InseratCheck detects in AutoScout24 listings
InseratCheck automatically analyses the listing text and evaluates more than 30 risk factors:
- Missing or soon-expiring MOT/roadworthiness test (HU)
- Missing service book details; if a service date is mentioned in the text, we check whether it was more than 12 months ago
- Accident indications in the listing text (e.g. “Unfallschaden” (accident damage), “beschädigt” (damaged), “Unfallfahrzeug” (accident vehicle))
- Indications of a commercial sale (e.g. “gewerblich abzugeben” (for trade sale), “nur an Gewerbe” (trade only), “kein Privatverkauf” (not a private sale))
- Imported vehicles, US re-imports, export vehicles
- Risky wording such as “wie gesehen” (as seen), “Bastler” (for hobbyists), “Teileträger” (parts donor), “Motorschaden” (engine damage), “Getriebeschaden” (gearbox damage)
- Missing basic details such as mileage or MOT/roadworthiness test (HU)
The result: a score of up to 100 points with concrete pointers – so you know what to clarify before the viewing.
Found an ad? Check it now for free.
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How it works
- Open the AutoScout24 listing and copy the link
- Paste the link on inseratcheck.de
- Start the analysis – the result appears in seconds
- Read the concrete pointers and ask targeted questions
No registration. No app. No hidden costs. Free for listings from AutoScout24.de.
Why InseratCheck?
Most buyers rely on their gut feeling when buying a used car – or on the seller's well-groomed appearance. Neither is any protection. InseratCheck replaces gut feeling with a systematic analysis of the listing text.
The tool detects typical risk signals that can be read from the listing text – missing details, conspicuous wording, a missing MOT/roadworthiness test (HU). Not every risk can be read from the listing. But many can – if you know what to look for.
That's exactly what InseratCheck does: systematically, quickly and for free. So you turn up to the viewing with the right questions – instead of regretting it afterwards.
Frequently asked questions about checking AutoScout24 listings
Can I have any AutoScout24 car listing checked?
Yes. InseratCheck works with AutoScout24 listings for cars. Simply copy the link of the listing page and paste it on inseratcheck.de.
Does InseratCheck detect problems with the mileage?
InseratCheck puts the mileage in relation to the vehicle's age and points out conspicuously high mileages. Whether the odometer has been tampered with can't be reliably determined from the listing alone – only an on-site inspection can do that.
What does the analysis cost?
You can analyse listings from AutoScout24.de for free. For listings from AutoScout24 in other countries, 3 analyses are free, then: 7 days for €4.99 · 30 days for €9.99 · one-off payment, no subscription.
How reliable is the result?
InseratCheck evaluates only the publicly available listing information. It's an automated risk assessment – not a technical vehicle inspection. The tool helps you ask the right questions and spot risk signals early – before you invest time and money in a viewing.
What do I do if InseratCheck reports a high risk?
Don't cancel straight away – but ask targeted questions. Use the concrete pointers from the analysis: request copies of the service book, the HU (MOT/roadworthiness test) report and the vehicle registration certificate. Have the vehicle checked by an independent garage before buying. InseratCheck can help you find a partner garage near where the vehicle is located.
Check your AutoScout24 listing for free now
Simply paste the link of your AutoScout24 listing above – and get a detailed risk assessment in seconds. Free, no registration, right here on inseratcheck.de.
Anyone who buys a vehicle without checking it pays twice: once when buying, and again with the next garage bill. InseratCheck gives you the information you need – before it's too late.