Specialty Vehicle Condition Report

What the report covers

• Functional testing of the special equipment: lifting gear and stability of the work platform, crane and loading function, tail lift, refrigeration unit including temperature holding, workshop, retail or rescue fit-outs – tested in operation, not just standing still.
• Condition of the bodywork: load-bearing structure, bolted connections and subframe of the body, corrosion on load-bearing parts, leak-tightness and insulation on box bodies, wear on joints, cylinders and hydraulic lines.
• Inspection intervals: the status of the recurring inspections for lifting platforms, cranes, tail lifts and refrigeration systems, with the date of the last inspection and when the next falls due – the point at which business handovers regularly get stuck.
• Documentation of approvals: individual vehicle approvals under the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations, expert reports for individual approvals and test certificates for the body are reviewed, matched to the components and listed in the report. What is missing is named just as clearly.
• Base vehicle: chassis, cab, drivetrain, running gear, brakes and tires, mileage and operating hours, prior damage and traces of repair. On specialty vehicles the operating hours of the body and the mileage of the vehicle often diverge widely, so we record both separately.
• Value classification: since no comparable offers exist on the market for vehicles with specialist bodywork, we derive the value from the base vehicle plus the current value of the bodywork and set that derivation out openly instead of asserting a figure.

How it works

1. Appointment: you tell us where the vehicle is – depot, hall, station or dealer lot. We come to the vehicle; it does not have to be moved.
2. Inspection: recording of chassis and body, functional testing of the special equipment under load, photo documentation and a review of the documents and inspection records on file.
3. Evaluation: condition assessment for each assembly, review of the inspection due dates, matching of the approvals, and the documented derivation of value from the base vehicle and the bodywork.
4. Delivery: you receive the report digitally, as a rule on the same business day once it is complete, on request additionally as a copy for a buyer, a bank or an insurer.

The condition report is prepared for a fixed price, with no additional billing by time spent. We agree the journey to where the vehicle is with you in advance.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need this if the vehicle has no damage?

Because at a sale, a business handover or a change of insurer, somebody will want to know what the body is worth. An independent report on condition, function and inspection status settles that discussion in advance – and protects you later against the accusation that you concealed defects.

Is the special equipment actually put into operation?

Yes, as far as it can be done safely. A work platform is extended and its outriggers checked, a refrigeration unit is tested for temperature holding, and the crane and tail lift are moved under load. A purely visual inspection with everything standing still says practically nothing about how the bodywork functions.

What if the recurring inspections are overdue?

Then that appears in the report, with the date and the due date. Overdue inspections are not a disqualifying factor, but they affect the sale price and insurability. You therefore know before the conversation with a buyer or insurer what has to be caught up.

Is the report enough for an insurer to rate a specialist body?

It provides the basis for it. Insurers require a substantiated value for specialist bodywork, because no comparable market exists. The documented derivation from the base vehicle and the current value of the bodywork, together with the approvals, is exactly what they examine.

More on this in our guide: Appraisal report or repair estimate