Schwacke Katalog -

The story began in 1957, when fuel station operator Hanns W. Schwacke brought the concept of structured vehicle valuation from the US to Germany. The First Edition:

This is perhaps the most critical application. After an accident, the insurance adjuster uses the Schwacke to determine the vehicle’s pre-accident value (the “Wiederbeschaffungswert” – replacement value). If the cost of repairs exceeds a certain percentage (typically 70-100%) of this Schwacke value, the car is declared a total loss ( wirtschaftlicher Totalschaden ). Courts routinely accept Schwacke valuations as expert testimony in disputes over divorce asset division, company car taxation, and compensation for diminished value after a repair. schwacke katalog