What are my obligations as a professional trader?
Professional dealers offering used vehicles for sale are obliged to display the Car-Pass information in the advertisement and near the vehicle. Dealers can retrieve this and a unique link to a web page containing the relevant information from the Car-Pass website under the section, “History of a for-sale vehicle”. This link must be inserted into any online advert. Instructions on how to do this can be found in this video.
Car-Pass has developed a specific logo to clearly identify this link to the vehicle history.
It’s also mandatory to print off the vehicle history for customers that want to have a close look to the cars in your company. This must be clearly displayed near the vehicle.
Have you closed the sale? Great! But don’t forget that you are legally obliged to provide the buyer with a valid Car-Pass. If you do not do this, the buyer has the right to cancel the sale and request a refund. So make sure you do this. You will automatically receive the Car-Pass at the inspection centre when you have an inspection carried out for sale.
The maintenance history has been included on the Car-Pass since 1 January 2024
From 1 January 2024, vehicle professionals have been legally obliged to forward a description of the work carried out to Car-Pass along with the odometer reading. It is the legislator’s intention that vehicle owners should be able to prove what work they have had carried out on their vehicle. This is obviously of great value to a later buyer, and to you as a professional if you purchase a vehicle. The buyer will thus be able to get a more accurate picture of the vehicle’s past. Was it serviced regularly and on time? Were certain important (and/or expensive) parts replaced? These works will be listed on the Car-Pass.
The Car-Pass inspires customer confidence
This is why there is plenty of useful information on the Car-Pass. Show this in complete transparency to a potential buyer to prove the odometer has not been tampered with and all the maintenance work that has been done to the vehicle. This gives the customer extra confidence.
Do you have any questions?
What is a Car-Pass?
A Car-Pass is a document that shows the odometer and maintenance history of a vehicle. In addition to the paper document, there is also a digital version that can be accessed using the QR code. The Car-Pas shows the registered odometer readings and the dates they were recorded. It shows the registered odometer readings and the dates when they were recorded. You get a picture of the mileage history of the vehicle and can better judge whether the odometer reading at the time of sale is realistic. Since 1 January 2024, companies in the automotive sector are also, obliged to report what work they have carried out on the vehicle. This allows the reader to see whether the vehicle has been properly maintained and whether important parts have been replaced.
In addition, the Car-Pass contains the following information:
- the Vehicle Identification number (VIN) of the vehicle;
- the make and model of the vehicle;
- the Euro emission standard;
- the CO2 emissions;
- whether the vehicle still needs to undergo a Post-Accident Vehicle Inspection;
- whether any recalls need to be carried out on the vehicle;
- the date on which the vehicle was first registered (in Belgium);
- a unique QR code and Car-Pass identification number (which allows the authenticity of the document to be checked and the maintenance history to be retrieved).
Where can I get a Car-Pass?
If you want to sell a used vehicle, you must take it for a used vehicle inspection at an inspection centre. The Car-Pass will be prepared and issued automatically by them if the vehicle passes the inspection. Inspection centres can be found at https://www.gocavlaanderen.be/detail-page/keuringscentra or or www.controle-technique.be .
You can also obtain the document at the counter of any inspection centre. An appointment in this case will be unnecessary. The vehicle will have to be physically brought in, however. The Vehicle Identification number (VIN) and the odometer reading must be recorded before a Car-Pass document can be issued.
When do you need a Car-Pass?
Whenever a used car or light van is sold, the seller is legally required to give a Car-Pass to the buyer. It doesn't matter whether the seller is a private person, professional dealer or garage.
The only exception to this rule: if the buyer is a professional, no Car-Pass needs to be provided.
So if you sell a used vehicle to a foreign private person, you are also required to provide a Car-Pass.
How much does a Car-Pass cost?
The price of the Car-Pass is set at €10.50, including VAT.
If fewer than four odometer readings are shown on the certificate, the Car-Pass is free.
How long is a Car-Pass valid for?
The law states that any Car-Pass handed over with a used vehicle must be dated recently. In practice, this means the Car-Pass must be less than two months old.
What information do I need to provide in an advertisement for a used vehicle?
Professional dealers offering used vehicles for sale are obliged to display the Car-Pass information in the advertisement and in the showroom. As a professional, you can retrieve this information from the Car-Pass website together with a unique link to a web page containing the relevant information. This link must be inserted into any online advert. The vehicle history must also be printed off for customers wanting to view the vehicle in your company. You can see how to do this in this video clip.