A food truck is sold differently to a car. The buyer isn’t just inspecting the vehicle, but also a kitchen – and the two must be a good match. Comprehensive details help prospective buyers assess the offer and prepare for a viewing.
What your truck is worth
The value consists of two parts, which develop in completely different ways: the vehicle and the fit-out.
| Component | Performance | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base vehicle | just like any van | Age, mileage, condition |
| Expansion, professional | Depending on condition, documentation and demand | Stainless steel ages slowly |
| Extension, self-made | To be assessed on a case-by-case basis | difficult to substantiate |
| Devices | such as catering equipment in general | The brand decides |
The most common mistake: ‘I’ve put 30,000 euros into the fit-out, so the truck is worth 30,000 euros more.’ A buyer isn’t paying for your costs, but for what they can use. A high-quality fit-out tailored to the previous owner’s taste often turns into a refurbishment project for the next owner.
How to find a realistic price
- Check out what similar vehicles cost on the market – not what they’re supposed to cost, but what they’re actually worth. An advert that’s been up for eight months doesn’t mention a market price.
- Assess the fit-out and equipment based on condition, maintenance, remaining useful life and demand. A fixed annual depreciation rate is not a reliable market price.
- Calculate the vehicle value separately, based on the usual valuation websites.
- Deduct the cost of anything the buyer will need to replace straight away – an expired gas inspection, an overdue MOT, worn tyres.
The information a buyer wants to see
Compile the available documents before the appointment. Clearly state any missing supporting documents so that buyers can factor in the time required for verification.
- Vehicle registration certificate and registration document – no letter, no sale
- Inspection of commercial liquefied petroleum gas installations, valid, with certificate of verification
- Last major service, as fresh as possible
- Evidence of fittings and equipment – Invoices from the fitter
- Maintenance records for refrigeration, deep-fat fryers, ventilation
- Electrical testing in accordance with DGUV V3, where applicable
It’s almost always worth having your gas checked. An up-to-date inspection report makes it easier to assess the vehicle. Ask a specialist company about costs and the work required. The report is not a substitute for a full vehicle inspection.
The advert
Informative images, comprehensive details and transparent pricing make it easier to compare options.
Images
- In daylight, not in the dark hall
- Exterior of the vehicle, all four sides
- Kitchen with the flap open, tidy
- Each larger device individually
- Even things that aren’t perfect – a scratch on the photo is better than a scratch when you view the property
Description
What you should have included: year of manufacture and mileage, what’s fitted, gas inspection and MOT with dates, and why you’re selling. The last point is often underestimated – a plausible reason allays suspicion.
One advert, one vehicle. If you include several trucks in a single advert, you render the price, year of manufacture and mileage useless – and will be filtered out by prospective buyers who are looking for precisely these details.
Viewing and test drive
Allow two hours. A serious buyer will want to see the kitchen in operation: gas on, deep-fat fryer hot, refrigeration at the right temperature. Get this ready in advance rather than improvising during the viewing.
The same rules apply to a test drive as for any vehicle: the prospective buyer must hold a valid driving licence for this category, and your insurance must cover it. Driving a 7.5-tonne vehicle with a Category B driving licence constitutes driving without a licence – for both of you.
Sales contract and handover
Put the purchase in writing. This makes it easier to prove the agreement later on. Useful details include:
- Both parties’ addresses; for companies, the authorised signatories
- Vehicle with chassis number, mileage and date of first registration
- The content, listed individually – which items are included and which are not
- Purchase price, payment method, handover time
- Known issues, explicitly stated
Clarify rights regarding material defects before the sale. In sales by a trader to consumers, statutory rights relating to defects cannot be excluded across the board. For second-hand goods, the limitation period may only be reduced to a minimum of one year under specific conditions, including an explicit and separate agreement. In the absence of a valid reduction, the standard period is generally two years. Different rules apply to sales between private individuals and to transactions between businesses.
Payment
For amounts in the five-figure range, cash is impractical and risky. Check that the payment has actually been credited to your account. Screenshots or confirmation emails from the buyer do not constitute proof of payment. You should discuss larger cash payments with your bank in advance.
What you not Things you should avoid: handing over the vehicle before full payment has been received, accepting deposits without a written agreement, or agreeing to escrow arrangements proposed by the buyer. The latter is one of the most common scams.
After the sale
- Notify the registration authority and your insurer of the sale. Clearly set out the terms for deregistration or re-registration in the contract.
- Notify your insurance company
- Keep the sales contract for at least three years
- Mark listing as sold
And the invoice, if you’ve been selling on a commercial basis – including the relevant tax details for your sales. Margin scheme taxation may only be applied if the relevant conditions are met.
Gesetzliche Grundlagen zu Mängelrechten
§ 476 BGB: Abweichende Vereinbarungen beim Verbrauchsgüterkauf
