Independent car expert report — your questions answered
Were you involved in an accident that was not your fault? Here are the most important answers in English — about costs, your free choice of expert and what an independent report does for you. If your question is not here, just call or message us.
Costs & who pays
Who pays for the expert report?
After an accident that was not your fault, the cost of a damage report (Gutachten) is part of your claim and is borne by the at-fault party's liability insurer (Haftpflichtversicherung) under German law (§ 249 BGB). For a full, independent report you generally do not pay anything yourself.
Do I have to pay in advance?
As a rule, no. After a non-fault accident the expert's fee is part of the damage and is therefore to be covered by the at-fault party's liability insurer. We explain exactly how the billing works in your case beforehand, so you know where you stand from the start.
Process & appointment
How quickly do I get an appointment and the report?
You get an inspection appointment within 24 hours. The finished report is ready within one to two working days after the inspection — so your claim does not stall.
How does the inspection work — and where?
It stays simple for you: send us a few photos of the damage via WhatsApp or give us a short call. We arrange an on-site inspection where your car is — at home, at work or at the workshop of your choice — examine the vehicle and prepare the report. You receive the finished report digitally.
Independence & free choice
Do I have to accept the insurer's expert?
No. After an accident that was not your fault, you normally choose the expert (Sachverständiger) yourself. The at-fault party's liability insurer pays for an independent report — it may not dictate which expert you use.
Why is an independent report better than the insurer's?
The expert of the opposing insurer is commissioned and paid by the other side — their interest is not necessarily yours. An independent expert is solely on your side and determines the full extent of the damage neutrally: repair costs, diminished value (Wertminderung) and loss of use. That way others do not decide the amount of your damage.
Damage & your rights
What is diminished value — and am I entitled to it?
Even a properly repaired vehicle is worth less on the market after an accident; this loss is called merkantile Wertminderung (diminished market value). After a non-fault accident it is part of your recoverable damage (§ 251 BGB). The report shows it separately so that this amount is not overlooked when your claim is settled.
Can I have the damage paid out instead of having it repaired?
After a non-fault accident you can, in principle, settle the damage on the basis of the report (fiktive Abrechnung) instead of having the car repaired (§ 249 BGB). The decisive figure is then the net repair cost determined in the report. Which option makes sense in your case depends on your situation — the independent report provides a clean basis for both.