What does car consignment cost?

What makes up the price

In a consignment sale the dealer sells the car in their own name but on your account (VÕS § 692 (1)). Their income comes from the fee you agree. Three structures are common in practice, and they are often combined.

• A percentage of the sale price — the fee grows with the price.
• A fixed sum per car, whatever it eventually sells for.
• The difference between an agreed minimum price and the actual sale price — you receive the agreed sum and the dealer keeps the rest. Note what this does: the higher the negotiated price goes, the larger that difference becomes.

Always ask whether the figure quoted includes VAT. That is where a twenty-percent surprise comes from, and otherwise it only surfaces on the invoice.

Costs that may sit outside the fee

This is the line least often checked before signing. The rules on mandate contracts apply to consignment (VÕS § 692 (2)), meaning you must reimburse reasonable costs that the mandatary could consider necessary in the circumstances (VÕS § 628 (2)). No separate agreement is required for that.

In other words, a cost can arise on a line you never negotiated point by point. Typically these are:

• Preparation and cleaning, polishing, minor cosmetic repairs.
• Photography and writing the advert.
• Listing portal fees and promoted placement.
• Storing or parking the car during the selling period.
• Transport to collect the car and return it.

With a broker the rule runs the other way: costs can only be claimed if separately agreed (VÕS § 667 (1)). Without an agreement, no cost arises.

What happens if the car does not sell

The consignee’s right to a fee generally arises once the buyer has performed. But if the contract goes unperformed for a reason attributable to you, they keep the right to the fee even though no sale took place (VÕS § 701 (2)). Which is why it is worth knowing precisely what counts as "attributable to you" before you sign — withdrawing the car early, for instance, or failing to agree a price.

What to ask before signing

• The fee rate and what exactly it is a percentage of, or the fixed sum.
• Whether the quoted fee includes VAT.
• Which costs are added on top, and whether there is a cap on them.
• The lowest price at which a deal may be struck, and who decides a price change.
• What happens if the car does not sell — whether a fee or costs fall due.
• What happens if you withdraw the car before it sells.
• How many days until the money reaches you after the buyer has paid.
• The contract term and each side’s conditions for terminating it.

Run the numbers yourself

The rates below are pure arithmetic, not market data — we do not know what any given dealer charges and make no claim about it. Take your actual rate from the contract and do the same sum. The calculation excludes the add-on costs described above.