Buying a car from Germany or Italy? I get asked this all the time at the workshop, and my answer is always the same: it depends on the car, not the country. Some people are convinced that German cars are better maintained. Others prefer Italian cars because the winters are milder and there's less salt on the roads. You can find excellent cars in both countries, but you can also find ones I'd tell you to stay well away from. Let me explain what we look for at Das Auto Service when someone brings us a car for a pre-purchase inspection, and why the car that looks better in the photos sometimes turns out to be the worse choice.
What actually makes a used car a good buy?
The first thing I want to know isn't which country the car came from. It's what's happened to it over the years. Where was it serviced? What repairs have been done? How many kilometres has it really covered? And can we verify any of that? Because a spotless interior and shiny paintwork tell me next to nothing about the condition of the engine, gearbox or suspension. And that's exactly where an expensive surprise could be waiting for you.
- A service history you can verify. I'm not interested in simply hearing the seller say it has a "full service history". I want to see what's actually been recorded, when the car was serviced and whether there are gaps where nobody knows what happened.
- Climate and road conditions. A car that's spent its winters on salted roads may have problems underneath that you'll never spot in photos. Another car from a warmer climate might look fantastic underneath, but the heat may have taken its toll on the tyres and plastic parts.
- Mileage and driving conditions. Two cars with exactly the same mileage can be in completely different condition. One might have spent most of its life on motorways, while the other has been crawling through city traffic. The number on the dashboard doesn't tell you the whole story.
Buying a car from Germany or Italy: what differs?
Germany – good service records, but check underneath
Cars from Germany often have one big advantage: their service history. Many have been maintained at main dealerships, with records we can actually check. That means I can see what's been done to the car instead of relying on whatever story the seller tells me. But! A complete service history doesn't automatically mean the car is in good condition today.
- Detailed dealership service and repair records are often available. That's a real advantage, provided the records are genuine and cover the car's recent years, not just its early life.
- More motorway driving. Many cars have covered most of their mileage on motorways rather than constantly stopping and starting in city traffic.
- Road salt in winter. This is something I never overlook. We put the car on a lift and inspect the underside, brake pipes and suspension. If you want to understand why this matters, read what we check underneath a car during a pre-purchase inspection.
Italy – less road salt, but different things to watch for
Cars from Italy are a different story. The milder climate and less salt on the roads can be a real advantage, especially when we inspect the underside. But that doesn't automatically mean an Italian car has been better looked after. Hot weather and city driving can cause their own problems. They're just different ones.
- Less road salt. That's usually good news for the underside and metal components, but we still need to inspect them. I never assume everything underneath is fine just because the car came from Italy.
- High temperatures. I pay close attention to the tyres, plastic parts and air conditioning. Years of hot weather can affect their condition, even when the car looks great on the outside.
- More city driving. With these cars, I pay particular attention to the DPF on diesels and the clutches. Constant stop-start driving puts a very different kind of strain on a car compared with motorway driving.
What should I check before paying for a car?
Now we get to the most important part. I don't want you choosing a car based on photos, a nice description and a seller's promises. I want you to have something you can actually verify. Because once you've handed over your money, every check you've skipped could turn into a repair bill you'll have to pay out of your own pocket.
- Check the service history in the manufacturer's system. You may find service and repair records that tell you far more than the advert ever will. I've explained exactly how to check a car's genuine service history.
- Check the genuine mileage. Don't blindly trust the number on the dashboard, even if the interior looks well looked after. Have a look at how mileage is rolled back on digital odometers and you'll understand why I always insist on checking it.
- Put the car on a lift. You need to inspect the underside, brake pipes and suspension. You simply can't judge these things while the car is sitting there looking lovely outside the dealership.
- Check the paperwork. Everything needs to be in order and match the actual car you're buying. If you're considering a German import, also read what to check before paying for a car from Germany.
What are the hidden traps I might miss?
The most dangerous cars aren't always the ones that look rough. Sometimes the car has been washed and polished, the interior looks lovely, the engine runs smoothly and the seller proudly shows you a service book. Everything seems fine. Until we start checking things properly and questions come up that nobody can give us a straight answer to.
- A "full service history" that stops several years ago. Fine, but what happened after that? We can't assume a car has been maintained properly just because it visited a main dealership at some point in its life.
- Repaired accident damage. A car can look absolutely perfect after a repair, but I want to know what was damaged and how it was repaired. Looking good on the outside simply isn't enough.
- Replaced instrument clusters and control modules. That's a reason to dig deeper into the car's history and mileage. It doesn't necessarily mean someone is trying to hide something, but it's definitely not something we should ignore.
WARNING! The country a car comes from is no guarantee of its condition. You're not buying Germany or Italy. You're buying one particular car. Check that car, not the country's reputation.
Which would I choose – a car from Germany or Italy?
If I had two cars in front of me, one from Germany and one from Italy, I wouldn't choose based on their registration documents. I'd choose the one with a verifiable service history, genuine mileage and an underside that's been properly inspected. If the German car is better, I'd buy that one. If the Italian car is in better condition and its history checks out, I'd choose the Italian one. It's really that simple.
Tip from Kris Mladenov: Ask for the VIN before you even set off to view the car. Checking its history could save you a wasted journey and reveal problems while you're still sitting at home. And if the seller won't let you check the car properly, I'd seriously question whether it's worth going any further.
I hope you've found this article helpful! If you have, I'd love you to share it with a friend who's looking to buy a car from abroad. My mission is simple: when I know something useful, I want more people to know it too. Because I'd much rather help you choose the right car now than have us scratching our heads later, wondering why you've paid good money to take on somebody else's problems.
Read more
- Pre-purchase inspection
- Used car import from official dealers in Germany
- Buying a Car from Germany: What Should You Check?
- VAG Service History Check: How to Verify a Car
- VAG Digital Odometer Mileage Rollback Explained
- Used Car Inspection: What to Check Underneath
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to buy a car from Germany or Italy?
Neither is automatically better. I'd choose the car with a verifiable service history, genuine mileage and a clean bill of health after a proper inspection, regardless of which country it came from.
Do cars from Germany suffer from rust?
Yes, they can, because of the salt used on roads during winter. That's why we always inspect the underside, brake pipes and suspension before recommending that you buy a car.
How can I check the history of a car imported from abroad?
Start with the VIN and check the manufacturer's records. Then compare the service history with the mileage and have the car properly inspected before you pay.