On-Site Vehicle Appraisal: Mobile Service at a Flat Rate

The classic method of driving a vehicle to an inspection site for a valuation is often associated with considerable time expense. Appointments with large organizations such as TÜV or DEKRA often have to be scheduled weeks in advance. DIAVAG breaks this pattern by having the appraiser come to the location of the asset. Whether in a home garage, at a dealer's yard, or at a harbor: the mobile inspection takes place wherever the vehicle is. This is especially advantageous for unregistered vehicles or valuable classic cars that should not be moved unnecessarily.

Within 24 hours of the request, the appraiser appears on site. The entire process is optimized for efficiency. The actual data collection usually takes less than 15 minutes. Through the use of standardized digital workflows, all relevant parameters are captured immediately and transmitted to headquarters. There, the final review is carried out by a senior inspector. The result is a professional PDF appraisal that is available to the customer the same day. This approach combines professional expertise with the speed of AI-supported analysis, with experts handling the final validation.

Transparency starts with the price. Many appraisers bill by the hour or based on the determined vehicle value, which makes the cost hard for the customer to calculate. DIAVAG relies on a clear flat-rate model here. For standard cars, boats, cargo bikes, or e-scooters, a transparent flat rate applies. This amount includes the travel within the region as well as the complete preparation of the BVSK-compliant appraisal. For more complex assets such as EVs, home battery storage systems, or particularly high-value vehicles, a defined flat rate applies.

This surcharge is justified by the use of specialized hardware. The premium package includes the Premium Battery Test, which enables a detailed analysis of the high-voltage battery. For commercial customers such as car dealerships or fleet operators who reach a volume of more than 50 appraisals per month, DIAVAG offers individual terms. These can be integrated directly into existing dealer management systems via an API interface. There is also an offer for self-employed appraisers: the complete hardware case, including the necessary software licenses, can be purchased for a fixed list price. This price stability ensures that customers already know exactly what investment they will incur before commissioning.

The on-site inspection workflow follows a strict protocol to ensure comparability and quality of the appraisals. Every appraiser carries a special hardware case with calibrated measuring devices. First, an OBD2 scanner is connected to read the fault memory and capture real-time vehicle management parameters. In parallel, the paint layer thickness is measured at various body points. This is crucial to unambiguously identify hidden accident damage or repainting.

A digital tread depth gauge documents the condition of the tires, while a multimeter checks the basic electrical systems. A key component is standardized photo documentation. Here, defined perspectives and details are photographed, enabling complete visual evidence preservation. This data is transmitted in real time to the DIAVAG software. While AI-supported capture speeds up data collection, human experts retain full control over the final conclusions. This four-eyes principle guarantees high objectivity and largely rules out subjective misjudgments.

For electric vehicles, the battery is the most valuable component and often accounts for up to 40 percent of the total value. A simple visual inspection or reading the onboard computer is not enough here to make a well-founded statement about market value. DIAVAG therefore integrates the Premium Battery Test as a standard part of the premium appraisal. This test goes far beyond the basic diagnostics usually carried out during a main inspection.

The state of health (SoH), cell balance, actual kWh capacity, and internal resistance are determined. The charging curve is also analyzed to draw conclusions about previous usage behavior. This data is crucial for buyers and sellers, as it objectively demonstrates the battery's remaining lifespan and performance. With a view to the EU Battery Passport, which becomes mandatory from February 2027, DIAVAG is already technologically prepared today. Valuing an EV without a detailed battery report carries high financial risks for everyone involved. The DIAVAG appraisal creates the necessary transparency here.

The independence of an appraiser is the basic prerequisite for the legal usability of an appraisal. DIAVAG acts as a neutral body and pursues no self-interest in the purchase or sale of vehicles. Unlike acquisition portals, which often offer free valuations in order to subsequently purchase the vehicle themselves, DIAVAG delivers an objective valuation without hidden sales intentions. Repair services or insurance brokerage are also not part of the business model.

This strict separation is a key feature of the ISO/IEC 17020 Type A certification that distinguishes DIAVAG as an inspection body. The appraisals are BVSK-compliant and prepared by qualified appraisers. This makes them an important tool in legal disputes, such as M&A transactions, asset valuations, or due diligence. In such contexts, the appraisal serves as a well-founded basis for lawyers and notaries. For specific legal questions, however, a qualified legal advisor should always be consulted, as DIAVAG does not provide legal advice. The documents can also optionally be secured with a notarial hash on the Polygon blockchain, making them tamper-proof.

While classic inspection organizations such as TÜV, DEKRA, or GTÜ focus on road safety and compliance with legal requirements as part of the main inspection, DIAVAG focuses on detailed value determination across 9 due diligence workstreams. A vehicle can hold a valid inspection sticker and still suffer significant value loss due to technical defects or a worn battery. DIAVAG closes this gap through deeper technical analysis, especially for modern drivetrains and special assets.

Another difference lies in asset coverage. While most organizations specialize in cars and trucks, DIAVAG covers over 30 industry verticals. In addition to cars and EVs, these include boats, construction and agricultural machinery, cargo bikes, e-scooters, and even home battery storage systems for photovoltaic installations. This breadth is rarely found on the market. A home battery storage owner who wants to sell their house needs an objective valuation of the storage system for the total sale price. Here, DIAVAG offers a specialized solution that goes beyond the competencies of a pure automotive appraiser. The combination of mobility, technical depth, and broad asset coverage positions DIAVAG as a specialized partner.

DIAVAG's more than 30 industry verticals enable comprehensive support for private and business customers. In the car category, classic combustion and hybrid vehicles are valued, with a focus on visual and technical condition. The EV category covers all purely battery-electric vehicles, where the Premium Battery Test takes center stage. For watersports enthusiasts, DIAVAG offers appraisals for boats, whether for a seasonal purchase, insurance, or in the case of inheritance.

Construction and agricultural machinery such as excavators or tractors place high demands on documenting residual value, especially during business handovers. In the micromobility segment, cargo bikes and e-scooters are appraised, which is especially relevant for insurance claims and the used market. The seventh class, home battery storage, addresses owners of PV systems who need a reliable statement about the condition of their power storage. The same high standard applies across all classes: a mobile appraiser, a calibrated workflow, and a legally sound PDF appraisal. This versatility makes DIAVAG a central point of contact for the valuation of technical assets.

For commercial players such as car dealerships, leasing companies, and fleet operators, DIAVAG offers scalable solutions. From a volume of 50 appraisals per month, individual terms are agreed that are tailored to the specific needs of the company. A decisive advantage is technological integration. Via a DMS API, appraisals can be fed directly into existing dealer management systems. This significantly speeds up processes in acquisition and inventory valuation – a partner at a Big Four consulting firm reported a reduction in review time from three weeks to five days.

Fleet managers benefit from regular appraisals through precise residual value tracking of their vehicles, which increases planning certainty. In addition, independent appraisers can purchase the DIAVAG hardware case to bring their own services to a new technological level. The case contains all the necessary tools and access to the software platform. This ensures a nationwide, uniform quality standard that guarantees consistently high appraisal quality regardless of the individual appraiser. Data is stored in compliance with GDPR on servers within the European Union (SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified), ensuring the highest security standards for sensitive corporate data.

The conclusion of a vehicle valuation with DIAVAG is the receipt of the digital appraisal. This document is far more than a simple price estimate. It contains a detailed listing of all technical findings with full source traceability, the photo documentation, and the final assessment by a senior inspector. Thanks to the digital signature, the PDF is tamper-proof and can be forwarded directly to buyers, insurers, or legal bodies.

The speed with which this document is created is a significant competitive advantage. At a time when transactions often need to be completed within a few days, same-day delivery provides the necessary agility. Customers appreciate the clarity and factual presentation of the data. The appraisal serves as an objective record that removes emotion from price negotiations and enables a fact-based agreement. Whether it's about the replacement value after a claim or the market value for a sale: the DIAVAG appraisal provides the reliable figures that hold up in any professional context.