AutoScout24: How to Buy a Car from Europe with Delivery
AutoScout24 is not an auction but a large classifieds platform: sellers post listings, and buyers browse and contact sellers directly. On its website, AutoScout24 describes itself as the largest pan-European (and Canadian) online car marketplace, citing impressive figures: over 30 million users per month, more than 45,000 dealer partners, and over 2 million vehicle listings.
In short: AutoScout24 helps you find a car, and then the real "buyer's work" begins — verifying the seller, assessing the vehicle's condition, negotiating the deal, arranging payment and collection. It is at these stages that most mistakes tend to happen.
What Is AutoScout24
AutoScout24 is an international marketplace where listings are posted for:
In terms of European presence, AutoScout24 lists its key markets as: Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Poland, and Sweden.
- New and used cars.
- Motorcycles.
- Campers/motorhomes.
- Commercial vehicles.
The AutoScout24 Ecosystem
An important note: AutoScout24 offers more than just "traditional classifieds." On its company profile page, AutoScout24 mentions the smyle service (fully online car purchasing) and a number of acquisitions that have expanded the ecosystem (for example, LeasingMarkt.de in 2020, AutoProff from 2022, and in late 2024, the acquisition of the Canadian Trader Corporation with AutoTrader.ca and AutoHebdo.net).
How Buying on AutoScout24 Works
Listings come from both private sellers and dealers. This is a key distinction because:
Communication with the seller is direct. In its help section, AutoScout24 states this explicitly: "Please contact the seller directly" — and then describes where on the listing page you can find the button to message the seller.
- Dealers usually make paperwork and invoice payments more straightforward.
- Private sellers may offer better prices, but the risks are higher: from simple miscommunication to outright scam attempts.
How to Buy a Car on AutoScout24: Step-by-Step Guide
The buying process on AutoScout24 consists of several key stages.
Find 10-20 options, not just one "perfect" car
On AutoScout24, it is easy to fall in love with the first listing, especially if the price seems "too good." It is better to compile a selection: the same models, different countries, different sellers. This way you get a feel for the market faster and spot irregularities.
Verify what exactly is being sold
Look beyond just mileage and specifications. Look for signs that the seller actually owns the car and knows what they are selling: proper photos, a clear description, reasonable responses, and willingness to allow an inspection.
VIN (FIN) — useful, but may not always appear in the listing
Some listings include the VIN/FIN directly in the description. However, there is a nuance: in Germany, VIN/FIN is subject to data protection requirements, so sellers may not publish the number publicly. If the VIN/FIN is provided, cross-check it against the documents and body markings. If the VIN/FIN is not listed, ask the seller for it, but do not pressure them and do not assume a refusal is 100% a "scam" (sometimes it is simply caution due to privacy concerns).
Inspection — either in person or through an independent inspector
The most common mistake buyers from other countries make is purchasing "based on photos." For Europe, this is not unusual, but it is better to budget for an inspection. Even a basic check (body, diagnostics, test drive, document verification) saves more than it costs.
Contract and payment
There is one rule here: no "complicated schemes." Payment should be straightforward, and the seller should be identifiable.
Safety: Common Scams and How to Avoid Them
AutoScout24 regularly publishes materials about fraud. The most common scenarios:
- "Escrow service," Western Union, MoneyGram, and similar — on the AutoScout24 (NL) page, there is a detailed description of a popular scheme where a seller offers an "escrow service" and pushes a transfer via Western Union/MoneyGram. The same page explicitly warns to be extremely cautious with such offers.
- Phishing emails and fake "car companies" — AutoScout24 also writes about fake listings and emails, and specifically mentions a scheme involving a "fake car dealership" that supposedly sells nearly new cars at attractive prices.
Key Red Flags
If you encounter this combination, close the conversation and move on to the next option. It is cheaper than any "let's check, maybe we'll get lucky."
- The seller is rushing and pressuring you with "urgently, today."
- "The car is in another country, but we will deliver it after a prepayment."
- A request to transfer a deposit to an unknown account "for a reservation."
- Documents are promised "later."
Delivering a Car from AutoScout24 to Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan
AutoScout24 is a classifieds platform, not a logistics company. Therefore, delivery to the CIS is almost always structured as follows:
If you do not want to negotiate in foreign languages, deal with paperwork, and oversee transportation, this is typically handled through an intermediary who manages the purchase and logistics on a turnkey basis. The important thing here is not to promise "one size fits all" but to calculate each case individually — country, seller type, route, and timeline.
Selection and purchase
You choose a car and negotiate the purchase.
Document processing
You complete the transaction and obtain the documents (exactly what is needed depends on the country of purchase and the seller).
Export from the EU
You arrange the export from the EU and transportation (by car carrier to the border/port and onward along the route).
Customs clearance
Next comes customs clearance in the destination country.
Smyle: When a Purchase Can Be "Fully Online"
AutoScout24 also has a separate format called smyle: the company describes it as an option to choose and buy a car entirely online, including registration, insurance, and door-to-door delivery.
This is not a "mode for all listings" but a separate service within the ecosystem — useful to know about so you do not confuse it with regular listings where you communicate with the seller directly.
How WESTMOTORS Helps You Buy a Car on AutoScout24
WESTMOTORS handles the car purchase on AutoScout24 and delivery:
Vehicle selection
We select options and communicate with sellers on your behalf.
Document verification
We verify documents and request data not included in the listing.
Inspection and diagnostics
We arrange an inspection and diagnostics in the country of purchase.
Deal processing
We negotiate deal terms and handle the paperwork.
Delivery and customs
We arrange delivery and handle customs clearance along the route to your country.
Conclusion
AutoScout24 is convenient because it gathers listings from private sellers and dealers across various European markets in one place. According to the company itself, the scale is significant: tens of millions of users per month and millions of listings.
AutoScout24 works well as a market search engine: you can see listings from private sellers and dealers and quickly compare prices. However, the deal depends on the specific seller, so the key steps are always the same: verify the seller and documents, arrange an inspection, sign a contract, and only then pay and order delivery.
Submit a request — we will find options on AutoScout24 and calculate turnkey delivery.
AutoScout24 is convenient because it gathers listings from private sellers and dealers across various European markets in one place. According to the company itself, the scale is significant: tens of millions of users per month and millions of listings.
AutoScout24 works well as a market search engine: you can see listings from private sellers and dealers and quickly compare prices. However, the deal depends on the specific seller, so the key steps are always the same: verify the seller and documents, arrange an inspection, sign a contract, and only then pay and order delivery.
Submit a request — we will find options on AutoScout24 and calculate turnkey delivery.
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