Handover, recording the car's condition and return trip: guide

About this draft

This guide helps with handing over a car between private persons: recording the condition at collection and delivery, the handover itself and the return trip.

Draft and not professional or legal advice. No contract template is included; an agreement must be reviewed by a lawyer. No real quote or provider is connected.

Before the handover

• Agree time, place and who is present, and who brings the keys and papers.
• Make sure both sides can show who they are and that the seller may sell the car.
• Check the insurance for the trip after the handover.

Recording the condition

Record the condition at collection and again on arrival. That way you can see later whether damage happened during transport.

• Walk around the car and rate each part: fine, damaged or not assessed. For damaged or not assessed write down the reason.
• Take at least a few photos of all sides, the dashboard, the mileage display and existing damage.
• Note the date, place and mileage.
• Have the other party confirm the report: the sender at collection, the recipient at delivery.

A photo or a confirmation in a chat is not proof in itself. Keep the originals and the date.

Delivery and comparison

1. On arrival make a second report with the same parts.
2. Compare it with the collection report, part by part.
3. Do you see new damage? Report it at once, before the carrier leaves, and write it on the report.
4. Only sign for receipt once you have checked the car.

Papers and transfer

Changing the registration, road tax and any inspection are not part of the transport or the report. Arrange them separately and follow the current RDW procedure.

The return trip

Whoever collects the car often has to get back as well. Plan this in advance, because it can change the total cost and time considerably.

• Choose how you return: public transport, a second driver or a carrier return load.
• Include the return trip in the total; use the trip cost or car transport cost service.
• A return load or discount exists only if the carrier confirms it in writing.

What we do not have yet

No real quote, carrier or return-trip offer is connected yet. This guide therefore shows no offers and no prices.

Sources

• RDW: buying or selling