Vehicle Appraiser at Home: Mobile Service at a Fixed Price

Hiring a vehicle appraiser for an appointment at home eliminates the organizational effort associated with visiting a stationary inspection site. Typically, vehicle owners have to take time off work or accept off-peak time slots for a classic valuation with organizations like TÜV or DEKRA. A mobile appraiser from DIAVAG, on the other hand, integrates into your daily routine. Whether at your home garage, a parking space, or directly at your workplace: the inspection takes place wherever the vehicle is located.

A key aspect is the time savings. While conventional appointments often have to be planned days or weeks in advance, DIAVAG guarantees an appointment within 24 hours. The actual on-site data collection takes less than 15 minutes. This is made possible through a highly standardized workflow in which all relevant parameters are recorded digitally. For the customer, this means maximum flexibility without any loss of quality in the appraisal creation.

Despite the short on-site duration, the inspection is thorough and technically precise. The appraiser uses a specialized hardware kit containing calibrated measuring instruments. First, the fault memory is read using an OBD2 scanner. This analyzes not only current faults but also historical data and real-time parameters of the vehicle. This provides insight into the condition of the onboard electronics and possible hidden defects.

In parallel, a paint thickness gauge is used. With this tool, the paint thickness at various body points can be determined. Deviations from factory specifications reliably indicate repainting or repaired accident damage, even if these have been visually perfectly concealed. The inspection is complemented by a digital tread depth measurement of the tires and standardized photo documentation. All photos are tamper-proof and serve as objective evidence of the visual condition at the time of the inspection.

For electric and hybrid vehicles, a purely visual and mechanical inspection is not enough to determine the actual market value. The drive battery represents the most expensive component of the vehicle. DIAVAG therefore integrates the Premium Battery Test as standard into the premium appraisal for auf Anfrages. This test goes far beyond the basic diagnosis of conventional inspection services.

The state of health (SoH), i.e., the health status of the battery compared to its original condition, is determined. Cell balance, actual kWh capacity, charging curve, and internal resistance are measured. This data is crucial for the valuation, as a degraded battery can massively affect the resale value. Buyers of used EVs increasingly demand this proof today to minimize the financial risk of a battery defect. The appraisal provides a reliable, independent data basis for this.

An appraisal is only as valuable as its legal usability. DIAVAG relies on appraisers who are qualified according to the guidelines of the BVSK (Federal Association of Independent Automotive Appraisers in Germany). Each PDF appraisal created is also finally reviewed and signed by a senior inspector. This ensures that the assessments meet the highest professional standards.

In addition, DIAVAG operates as an inspection body under ISO/IEC 17020 Type A. This is the highest level of independence. Unlike portals that purchase vehicles or broker insurance, DIAVAG is completely neutral. We do not sell repairs or vehicles. This independence is essential when the appraisal is to be used in legal contexts such as inheritances, divorces, or insurance disputes. For specific legal questions, however, customers should always consult a lawyer or notary, as the appraiser is not permitted to provide legal advice.

A common problem when hiring appraisers is unclear fee structures based on the vehicle value or time spent. DIAVAG breaks with this practice and offers clear fixed prices. For a standard valuation report (combustion-engine cars, boats, cargo bikes, or e-scooters), the costs amount to auf Anfrages. This price includes travel within the areas as well as the creation of the digital appraisal.

The premium appraisal for auf Anfrages is aimed at owners of EVs, high-value assets, or home battery storage systems. Here, the elaborate Premium Battery Test is already included. For commercial customers such as car dealers or fleet operators reaching a volume of more than 50 appraisals per month, individual terms are agreed. This transparency creates trust and planning security for the customer, as no hidden fees for mobile travel or documentation apply.

While classic inspection organizations focus almost exclusively on passenger cars, DIAVAG covers a total of seven asset classes. This makes the mobile service particularly attractive for customers with diverse assets or specialized fleets. In addition to cars and EVs, boats (motor and sailing yachts), construction and agricultural machinery, cargo bikes, e-scooters, and even PV home battery storage systems are valued.

Especially for stationary assets such as home battery storage systems or heavy construction machinery, the appraiser's mobility is essential. An excavator or a combine harvester cannot be transported to an inspection site without considerable logistical effort. Here, the appraiser comes directly to the yard or the construction site. For boats too, the inspection takes place directly at the harbor or the winter storage location. The standardized workflow ensures consistently high quality of the appraisal across all categories.

The comparison between DIAVAG's mobile service and classic inspection organizations shows clear differences in service quality and technical depth. The following table illustrates the differentiating features:

This comparison underscores that the mobile approach is not only more convenient but, through its specialization in modern drive technologies, also technically superior.

Currently, DIAVAG's mobile service focuses on the areas of Hamburg, Berlin, and Munich. In these metropolitan regions, comprehensive coverage and adherence to the 24-hour promise are guaranteed. The appraisers are locally based and can respond flexibly to appointment requests. A nationwide rollout is firmly planned for 2026 to offer standardized appraisals throughout Germany.

For customers outside the current areas, there is the option to submit individual requests, although availability must be checked on a day-to-day basis. Data storage is GDPR-compliant on servers within the European Union. This guarantees the highest security standards for the sensitive vehicle and customer data collected during the inspection.

In addition to private customers, DIAVAG offers specialized solutions for the B2B sector. Car dealerships and fleet managers benefit from an API connection to common Dealer Management Systems (DMS). This enables seamless integration of appraisals into existing purchasing and sales processes. From a volume of 50 appraisals per month, individual framework agreements are concluded that meet the specific requirements of large inventories.

In addition, DIAVAG offers the hardware kit including the specialized software for sale to self-employed appraisers. At a list price of auf Anfrages, partners receive the complete toolset to implement the DIAVAG workflow independently. This promotes standardization in the market and ensures that appraisals are created nationwide according to the same high quality standards. The digital signature by a senior inspector remains the central quality assurance element.