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Claimondo

Independent Automotive Appraisers

Find a certified car expert —
independent & at no cost.

Certified partner appraisers from the official DAT directory (dat.de/sachverstaendige), available nationwide. On-site appointment within 48 hours. For non-at-fault parties: €0 out of pocket — the opposing liability insurer covers all costs under §249 BGB (subject to acknowledgement of liability).

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DAT
Expert Partner network
<48h
Appointment
0 €
Out-of-pocket cost¹
§249 BGB
Legal basis

¹ In the case of a no-fault accident under §249 BGB, subject to acknowledgement by the opposing liability insurer.

When do you need a car appraiser?

Direct Answer · §249 BGB · BGH VI ZR 119/04

If you are involved in a no-fault accident with damages exceeding €750, you are entitled under §249 BGB to an independent automotive appraiser of your choice. All costs are borne entirely by the opposing liability insurer. You are not obliged to accept the other party's appraiser. For minor damage below €750, a repair estimate from a workshop is generally sufficient.

What does an independent appraiser cost?

Direct Answer · BVSK-Honorartabelle

The fee is based on the vehicle's replacement value and follows the BVSK-Honorartabelle — typically between €600 and €2,400 depending on the extent of damage and region. If the other party is at fault, you pay nothing: your appraiser settles directly with the opposing insurer via Sicherungsabtretung (§398 BGB).

Why not use the insurer's appraiser?

Direct Answer · BGH VI ZR 65/18 · VI ZR 174/24 · NDR-Reportage 2022

Insurance appraisers such as ControlExpert or K-Expert act on behalf of the opposing insurer and systematically reduce claims — UPE surcharges, transport costs, blending, diminished value. Insurer review services cut typically 30–40% of claims (NDR documentary "Prüfdienstleister" 2022, Verbraucherzentrale analyses). The BGH upholds injured parties' rights in its leading decisions VI ZR 38/22 ff. / VI ZR 65/18 / VI ZR 174/24 — with an independent certified appraiser, all BGH-compliant claim items are properly documented.

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Topics around your car claim

Costs

What does a car appraiser cost? BVSK-Honorartabelle, Sicherungsabtretung, €750 minor-damage threshold.

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Process

Step by step from accident to payout — on average 6–8 weeks.

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Diminished value

Sanden/Danner formula, rule of thumb by vehicle age, BGH guidance. Typically €500–€2,500.

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Claims Report 2026

Which claim items do insurers cut most often? BGH rulings, BVSK-Honorartabelle rates, NRW data.

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Platform Comparison

Claimondo, Neogutachter, Unfallpaten & Unfallgiganten — costs, performance and legal security in direct comparison.

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Locally Available

Expert Appraisers in Your City

Select your city for regional information, fee ranges and the competent regional court.

Köln

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 50–51

Düsseldorf

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 40

Bonn

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 53

Aachen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 52

Dortmund

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 44

Essen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 45

Duisburg

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 47

Bochum

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 44

Bielefeld

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 33

Münster

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 48

Wuppertal

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 42

Mönchengladbach

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 41

Krefeld

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 47

Oberhausen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 46

Leverkusen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 51

Paderborn

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 33

Hagen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 58

Solingen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 42

Bergisch Gladbach

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 51

Remscheid

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 42

Berlin

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 10–14

Hamburg

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 20–22

München

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 80–81

Frankfurt am Main

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 60

Stuttgart

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 70

Nürnberg

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 90

Augsburg

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 86

Würzburg

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 97

Regensburg

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 93

Ingolstadt

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 85

Fürth

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 90

Erlangen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 91

Mannheim

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 68

Karlsruhe

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 76

Freiburg im Breisgau

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 79

Heidelberg

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 69

Heilbronn

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 74

Ulm

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 89

Pforzheim

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 75

Reutlingen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 72

Wiesbaden

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 65

Kassel

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 34

Darmstadt

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 64

Offenbach am Main

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 63

Hannover

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 30

Braunschweig

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 38

Oldenburg

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 26

Osnabrück

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 49

Wolfsburg

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 38

Göttingen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 37

Bremen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 28

Bremerhaven

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 27

Kiel

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 24

Lübeck

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 23

Mainz

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 55

Ludwigshafen am Rhein

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 67

Koblenz

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 56

Trier

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 54

Saarbrücken

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 66

Leipzig

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 04

Dresden

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 01

Chemnitz

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 09

Halle (Saale)

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 06

Magdeburg

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 39

Erfurt

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 99

Jena

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 07

Potsdam

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 14

Cottbus

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 03

Rostock

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 18

Schwerin

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 19

Neuss

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 414

Ratingen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 408

Hilden

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 407

Langenfeld

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 407

Dormagen

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 415

Velbert

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 425

Schwelm

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 583

Haan

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 427

Siegburg

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 537

Troisdorf

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 538

Sankt Augustin

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 537

Hennef

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 537

Meckenheim

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 533

Bornheim

DAT Partner Network · Postcode 533

More cities coming soon — available nationwide

Special Cases

Expert Appraisers by Vehicle Type & Cost

Motorcycle Appraisers

Fall and frame damage, protective gear as a claim item, higher total-loss rate.

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Truck Appraisers

Commercial loss of use instead of standard flat rate: standby costs, lost profit, superstructures.

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Electric Vehicle Appraisers

High-voltage battery diagnostics, faster total-loss assessment, ADAS calibration.

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What Does an Expert Report Cost?

BVSK-Honorartabelle, Sicherungsabtretung, €0 for a no-fault accident under §249 BGB.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does a vehicle expert appraiser cost after an accident?

In a no-fault accident with damages exceeding €750, you are entitled to an independent vehicle expert appraiser — the costs are borne by the at-fault party's liability insurer under §249 BGB. Fees are based on the BVSK-Honorartabelle and range from €600 to €2,400 depending on the city. You pay €0.

How does a vehicle claim settlement with Claimondo work?

In three steps: 1) Report the damage online with photos (5 min), 2) A certified expert appraiser inspects the vehicle on-site within 48 hours, 3) Our partner law firm then enforces repair costs, diminished value, rental car, loss of use and pain-and-suffering compensation directly against the opposing insurance — you stay completely out of it.

Can the insurer reduce the expert report fees?

Insurers such as HUK, LVM and AXA commission ControlExpert or K-Expert to produce automated audit reports and frequently cut UPE surcharges, transfer costs and diminished value. However, the BGH has ruled in favour of the injured party in several decisions (VI ZR 65/18, VI ZR 174/24, VI ZR 119/04). With legal representation, these reductions can typically be reversed.

What is a Sicherungsabtretung with an expert appraiser?

A Sicherungsabtretung (assignment of claims for security purposes) under §398 BGB transfers your claim against the insurer — up to the amount of the appraisal fee — directly to the expert appraiser. You sign once; the appraiser then settles directly with the at-fault party's liability insurer. You pay nothing and bear no insolvency risk.

How much diminished value can I claim after an accident?

According to the Sanden/Danner formula, diminished value (merkantile Wertminderung) typically ranges between €500 and €2,500, depending on vehicle age, mileage, and repair costs. Rule of thumb: 1st year after first registration = 25% of repair costs as diminished value, 2nd year 20%, 3rd year 15%, 4th year 10%. BGH VI ZR 357/03 rejects a rigid age limit.

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Find an expert appraiser in your area now

View the map, choose a city, or call us directly — we are available nationwide.

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