Questions
How is the offer put together, and which details help?
We start from the basics: make, model, body type, date of first registration, fuel, gearbox and mileage, plus a few photos of the exterior, the interior and the odometer. The more you tell us about equipment, service history, the last MFK inspection and any known faults, the closer the first estimate will be to the final purchase price. What shapes the value is age, mileage, condition, accident history, a complete service record and how much demand there is for that model. You are welcome to name the price you have in mind, but you do not have to.
How quickly will I hear back?
Once your details have arrived, we get back to you with a first indication of where the price is likely to land. The final figure comes after we have seen the car, either at your place or in St. Gallen, and the decision is normally made on the spot. If you are in a hurry, say so when you first get in touch and we will plan the viewing around it.
Is the offer binding before you have seen the car?
No. Anything we say on the basis of photos and details is a non-binding estimate, since condition and equipment can only be judged so far from a distance. The price becomes binding once both sides have signed the purchase contract after the inspection. Until then you are free to walk away, and nobody will hold it against you.
Which cars and model years do you buy?
Almost every make and model from model year 2008 onwards, from small hatchbacks to estates and SUVs, whatever the fuel or gearbox. Older cars, classic cars, motorcycles and motorhomes (the latter from model year 1990) are looked at on request. When in doubt, send us the key details and we will tell you straight away whether it is something for us.
Do you also buy accident-damaged, faulty or non-running cars?
Yes. Accident damage, a broken engine, gearbox or clutch, a failed MFK inspection or a car that simply will not start does not rule anything out. We inspect the vehicle free of charge where it stands and collect it ourselves, so there is no need to repair it or arrange a tow. Cars the Swiss market no longer wants often still find a buyer through export.
My car is still on a lease or has a loan on it. Can I sell it anyway?
This comes up all the time and is no obstacle. With your signed authority we ask the leasing or finance company for a settlement quote, which states the amount needed to clear the contract in full. How that settlement and the purchase price are offset against each other is agreed before the contract is signed, so nothing is left open at handover. Allow a little extra time, as the company has to issue the quote first.
Which documents should I have ready?
The registration document (Fahrzeugausweis), every key, the service booklet or garage invoices, and the report from the last MFK inspection. Receipts for recent tyres, a new battery or larger repairs help too, and bring your identity card or passport so the purchase contract can be filled in correctly. If something is missing, let us know in advance; there is usually a way around it.
How does collection work, and what happens at handover?
At the agreed time we come to your home, your workplace or wherever the car is parked, anywhere in German-speaking Switzerland and at no cost to you. On site we look the car over, check it against what you told us and complete the purchase contract, which both sides sign. You then hand over the registration document and the keys, receive the purchase price with a receipt, and we take the car with us. Clear out your personal belongings beforehand; anything else, such as the number plates, is sorted out together at the appointment.
How and when do I get paid?
Payment takes place at handover, in cash against a receipt, once the purchase contract carries both signatures. It is that signature that makes the price binding; any figure named earlier is an estimate, not a promise. In other words, the car does not leave your hands before the money and the receipt are in them.
Who deregisters the car, and why does it matter?
We take care of the deregistration at the road traffic office after handover. It matters more than it sounds: in Switzerland the registered keeper remains responsible until the vehicle is deregistered or transferred to a new keeper, which affects insurance, road tax and any fines that come in. That is why the purchase contract records who handles it, and you can ask us to confirm once it has gone through.
Which regions do you cover?
Our home ground is St. Gallen, at Erikastrasse 2, and the whole of Eastern Switzerland: the cantons of St. Gallen, Thurgau, both Appenzells and Graubünden including Chur. Free collection, however, is offered anywhere in German-speaking Switzerland, whether that is the Rhine valley, the Toggenburg, Lake Constance or further afield. Tell us where the car is and we will plan the appointment around it.
What is the best way to reach you?
Fastest is a call or a WhatsApp message to 079 368 95 26; feel free to drop a few photos straight into the chat. If you would rather write, use the form on this site or e-mail kontakt@autoankaufsg.ch. Should we be out at a viewing when you call, leave your number and we will get back to you.