Found Your Dream Car in Austria, but It Is Too Far Away? How Buying a Car Remotely Works
The car ticks all the boxes: the right engine, the equipment you want, a traceable history and an attractive price. There is just one problem: it is located several hundred kilometres away, at the other end of Austria.
Viewing it in person would take an entire day. You would have to pay for the journey and might even need to arrange an overnight stay. Even then, you would not know in advance whether the vehicle’s actual condition matches the photos and description in the listing. If you decide to buy it, you would still need to organise the transfer.
This is exactly what the Österreichpaket from Autohaus Zwer is designed for. We coordinate with the dealer, assist you throughout the purchase process and arrange insured transport to your chosen address. If you wish, you can also have the vehicle independently inspected by our partner DEKRA before making your purchase.
This turns a far-away listing into a realistically accessible dream car—without you having to drive across Austria yourself.
Why Distance No Longer Has to Limit Your Used-Car Search
If you only search within your local area, you significantly reduce your options. The model you want may be available nearby, but perhaps not with the right equipment, colour, mileage or engine. Sometimes, the better value-for-money option is several regions away.
A return journey from Vienna to Bregenz, for example, covers around 1,200 kilometres. In addition to the time and travel costs involved, there is always a risk that the vehicle will not meet your expectations when you see it—or that it will already have been sold.
With a professionally coordinated process, you can include the entire Austrian used-car market in your search. Instead of comparing only the vehicles that are easy for you to reach, you can focus on the offer that truly best matches your requirements.
Photos Show the Car—but Not Always Its True Condition
Professional listing photos provide a useful first impression. However, they do not reliably reveal whether a vehicle has been repainted, has poorly repaired accident damage, shows early signs of rust or has technical issues. The condition of the brakes, suspension, engine, transmission and electronics is also very difficult to assess from photos alone.
This is why an independent inspection is particularly valuable when buying a car remotely. An optional on-site DEKRA vehicle inspection can be added to the Österreichpaket. The inspection covers areas including:
1. bodywork and paintwork
2. engine, transmission and suspension
3. brakes, tyres and electronics
4. service book and maintenance records
5. mileage and vehicle history
6. visible previous damage and signs of wear
You receive an inspection report with photos and an honest professional assessment. If any defects are found, you can take them into account before deciding whether to buy the vehicle or use them as a basis for further discussions with the dealer. In some cases, the most valuable outcome of an inspection is a clear recommendation not to proceed with the purchase.
Important: An inspection reduces risk and gives you a stronger basis for your decision. However, it cannot provide a guarantee that a used vehicle will remain free from defects in the future.
How Buying a Car with the Österreichpaket Works
7. Send Us the Vehicle Listing
Enter the link to the vehicle listing—for example, from willhaben or AutoScout24—into our cost calculator. The vehicle must be offered by a commercial motor dealer in Austria. At present, the Österreichpaket is not available for purchases from private sellers.
8. Receive a Transparent Cost Breakdown
Based on the vehicle’s location and your delivery address, you will see the service fee and the estimated transport costs. The optional vehicle inspection is shown separately. This means you know the main costs before placing your order with us.
9. Have the Vehicle Inspected If You Wish
If you add the inspection, we coordinate an appointment with the dealer. Our partner DEKRA inspects the vehicle on site, and you then receive the report for review. Based on this information, you decide whether you would actually like to purchase the vehicle.
10. We Assist You with the Purchase Process
Once you have decided to buy the car, we coordinate with the dealer and assist you with the next steps. The purchase agreement is concluded directly between you and the selling dealer. Autohaus Zwer does not act as the vehicle seller; our role is to assist with and coordinate the process.
11. The Vehicle Is Transported to You with Transit Insurance
Once the purchase has been completed, we arrange collection from the dealer and insured vehicle transport to your chosen address. The dealer will generally send the vehicle documents directly to you.
A dedicated contact person is available to assist you throughout the process. You can also find all relevant documents in one place in your order dashboard.
How Much Does the Österreichpaket Cost?
The service fee is €399 including VAT, regardless of the vehicle’s purchase price or the distance involved. It includes:
12. contacting and coordinating with the dealer
13. assistance with the purchase agreement process
14. assessment of the price and offer
15. organisation of insured vehicle transport
16. a dedicated contact person
17. an order dashboard containing the relevant documents
The actual distance-based transport costs are charged separately. They are calculated based on the route from the dealer to your delivery address and shown in advance in the cost calculator.
You can also add the optional DEKRA vehicle inspection for €350 including VAT.
If the inspection leads you to decide against buying the vehicle, you only pay for the inspection—not the Österreichpaket service fee. The inspection report is, of course, yours to keep.
Why the Österreichpaket Does Not Involve NoVA or Import Formalities
The Österreichpaket is intended for vehicles that have already been registered in Austria. This means that NoVA, Austria’s standard consumption tax on vehicles, will generally already have been paid when the vehicle was first registered in Austria. Austrian vehicle approval documentation will also already be available.
This eliminates the steps that would be required when importing a vehicle from Germany or another EU country:
18. no additional NoVA processing
19. no need to obtain an Austrian vehicle data extract for import purposes
20. no customs clearance
21. no import formalities
As a result, the process is simpler and the service fee is lower than for a conventional vehicle import.
Who Is the Österreichpaket For?
The package is particularly suitable if:
22. your dream car is being sold by an Austrian dealer,
23. the distance is too great for you to view the vehicle in person,
24. you would like the vehicle’s condition professionally assessed before buying it,
25. you do not want to coordinate the remote purchase process on your own,
26. you do not want to organise temporary transfer plates,
27. or you would simply like the vehicle delivered directly to your door.
The Österreichpaket also offers a clearly structured process with one dedicated contact person if you have limited experience buying used cars or simply do not have the time to manage everything yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying a Car Remotely
Can I Use the Österreichpaket When Buying from a Private Seller?
No. At present, we only assist with purchases from commercial motor dealers in Austria.
Is the Vehicle Inspection Mandatory?
No. The inspection is optional. However, an independent assessment is particularly advisable for higher-value vehicles, when the distance is considerable or if you have any concerns about the vehicle’s condition.
How Long Does the Process Take?
The entire process, from the listing to delivery, typically takes around two weeks. The exact timescale depends on the vehicle’s availability, the dealer’s availability for an appointment, whether an inspection is requested and the transport distance.
Is Transport Included in the Service Fee?
The organisation of insured transport is included. The actual transport costs are calculated based on distance and shown separately.
Who Is My Contractual Partner When I Buy the Vehicle?
The purchase agreement is concluded directly between you and the Austrian dealer. Autohaus Zwer assists with the coordination, the purchase agreement process and the organisation of transport.
Conclusion: Your Dream Car Can Be Anywhere in Austria
A good vehicle offer should not be out of reach simply because the car is several hundred kilometres away. With the Österreichpaket, you can expand your search to the whole of Austria without having to organise long journeys, viewing appointments or the vehicle transfer yourself.
You decide which vehicle interests you. We coordinate with the dealer, assist with the purchase and arrange insured delivery. The optional DEKRA inspection also gives you a sound basis for your decision before you enter into a binding agreement.
Have you already found your dream car? Simply send us the link to the listing. Our cost calculator provides a transparent breakdown of the service and transport costs. You can find further details on the Österreichpaket page.
Autohaus Zwer GmbH
Your partner for purchasing vehicles throughout Austria, with delivery to your door
HONEST. STRONG. RELIABLE.
