Schwacke list: the 6 most important questions

If you want to sell your used car or buy a new one, you should know the residual value of the vehicle. This is the only way you will get a fair price. The schwacke list has proven to be a good guideline for evaluating the vehicle. What the criteria are, what alternatives there are and when you should better hire an expert – we answer the most important questions.

Everything at a glance:

  • the schwacke list is the most common way to determine the value of a used car.
  • The vehicle is evaluated according to various criteria and on the basis of an extensive database.
  • Special attention is paid to the equipment features. The list serves consumers, dealers and insurers alike as a benchmark for vehicles.
  • There are free online valuations, but they do not have the same informative value. After an accident and before making a purchase, it is essential that you consult a vehicle appraiser for an individual calculation of the residual value of your car.

What is the schwacke list?

The schwacke list – also known as schwacke list – determines the value of a used car. It indicates the estimated residual value of the vehicle and serves as a working basis for the commercial and private motor vehicle trade.

It is named after the founder and former car dealer hanns W. Schwacke named. The first schwacke list was published in 1957. At that time the list included just two car models. The register now comprises more than 30.000 different used cars on the german market – from vans to off-road vehicles and motorcycles.

What the directory of hanns W. Schwacke is unique: over ten million equipment features that take almost every special equipment into account in vehicle valuation.

Decades of experience and data collection make the schwacke list a reliable source of reference for consumers, dealers, insurance companies, garages and banks. The list is constantly updated and published by eurotaxschwacke gmbh, a subsidiary of eurotaxglass’ international aktiengesellschaft.

What are the criteria for the schwacke list??

The register is based on current market data, vehicle-specific trends in residual value and the statistical methodology developed over many years. For the market information, the company’s employees collect sales reports from vehicle dealers, offers from used car exchanges, new registration figures, classified ads and information from the press.

The software then calculates an average value. This number is then compared with real-life experience. this ensures regional adaptation – for example, an oversupply of sporty convertibles in sylt.

In principle, the residual value of cars is only determined up to twelve years, and for other vehicles such as motorcycles only up to ten years. The decisive criteria for vehicle evaluation are:

  • Brand
  • Model
  • Vehicle type
  • First registration
  • Fuel type
  • Mileage
  • General condition
  • Special equipment

Where to find the schwacke list?

As a private individual, you can easily order the schwacke list online on the schwacke homepage since 1996. You can also find free online vehicle reviews that work similarly to the schwacke directory. However, these do not have the specific data set of special equipment for vehicle valuation.

For dealers, schwacke offers a subscription. The listing of vehicles then appears in a monthly rhythm. However, only cars with average mileage and average condition are listed. To determine the individual value of a car, you need the so-called correction list. This also includes the optional extras. This allows the price to be specified on the basis of specific features such as aluminum rims or heated seats.

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How can I calculate the residual value of my car using the schwacke list??

Calculating the residual value of your car is quite simple. Go to the homepage of schwacke. Enter the following information about your car: make, model, month and year of first registration, fuel, number of doors, mileage.

You must then choose between the engine and transmission types of your car and the period in which the car was built.

In the next step you have to fill in the information about the special equipment, like navigation system or air conditioner.

Finally, enter the payment method you would like to use to pay the amount and the result for your car will be displayed. in addition eurotax will send you a certificate. This includes all relevant information for the sale.

Is the schwacke list free of charge?

No. The valuation of the residual value of your used vehicle costs 7.90 euros (as of january 2019). You can request this conveniently on the internet on the homepage of schwacke. You can evaluate your vehicle by selecting the make and model of the car or by entering the information on your vehicle registration document.

Is there an alternative to the schwacke list??

the deutsche automobil treuhand (short "DAT") offers a free alternative to determine the residual value of your car. It also offers comparable clues for evaluation, but the factors of equipment and the condition of the car are not taken into account. The situation is similar with other online calculators on the market.

For a precise examination of the value of your car, you should consult an appraiser. Only he can assess the individual condition of your car. The fluctuation list is an average and therefore an estimate of the value of the vehicle.

Schwacke list after an accident

The list helps not only when dealing with a used car. It is also a good way to determine the residual value and the replacement value after an accident with your car or another vehicle. replacement value means the value you would have to pay for a comparable vehicle.

Insurance companies are naturally interested in a low residual value of your car. The insurance company uses the "schwackeliste" as a guideline for the residual value or the replacement value of your car after a traffic accident.

If you are the victim of an accident, you should definitely commission an independent motor vehicle expert to determine the true residual value of your vehicle. The appraiser determines the residual value for your car individually. He carries out a vehicle valuation and clarifies whether it is a total loss. In this case, the costs are borne by the opposing insurance company.

If the repair costs after an accident exceed the residual value of the car, it is considered a total economic loss. In this case, the insurance company does not have to pay for the repair of the car, but only for the difference between the residual value and the replacement value. A non-genuine total loss, on the other hand, is when the replacement value does not exceed the residual value of the car, but a repair is still not practical.

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