A vehicle may use the road because its type was approved. A component may be fitted to that vehicle because it is either part of that approval or holds one of its own. The terms involved get mixed up in daily work, although they mean quite different things.
| Term | Relates to | Who issues it |
|---|---|---|
| Type approval | A vehicle type as a whole | The approval authority |
| General operating permit (ABE) | An approved component; the document states conditions and any required inspection | The approval authority, on the maker's application |
| Expert report (Teilegutachten) | A component whose fitting requires an inspection | An officially recognised expert or test engineer |
| Individual approval | A single vehicle or a single conversion | The registration authority after assessment |
Why this matters for new and used parts
An original part taken from a vehicle of the same model line and returning to a vehicle of the same model line is part of the type approval that already exists. It needs no paper of its own. That is the normal case in the dismantling business and at the same time its strongest sales argument — see OEM: vehicle makers, suppliers and original-equipment quality.
It is different where a part is to go into a vehicle it was not intended for from the factory. Then the question of general approval, expert report or individual inspection arises. Most often that happens with wheels — see Describing wheels properly: PCD, offset, centre bore — and with bolt-on parts that change the vehicle's characteristics.
The E mark
Many components carry an approval mark: an E or e with a number in a circle or rectangle, plus an approval number. The number designates the state that granted the approval, the approval number the approval itself. It is found on headlamps, glazing, mirrors, tyres and brake pads among others.
What belongs in the listing
- The [[oe-nummer|OE number]] — on original parts the strongest statement about fitment.
- The approval mark where it is on the part, with a photo.
- Papers available for aftermarket parts — general approval, expert report or a copy.
- The note when papers are missing. That is a permissible statement. Omitting it is not.
The last point is the most important. A buyer who knows there are no papers decides for themselves. A buyer who finds out at fitting sends it back — rightly so. Basics in Liability for defects on used parts: what applies and what does not.
Safety-relevant components
Individual component groups carry additional requirements. Which ones apply in an individual case, and how far they affect the resale of used parts, follows from registration law and product-related rules — and is to be checked in case of doubt. A blanket „that does not apply to used parts“ is as wrong as a blanket prohibition.
Operating case: a wheel set with a KBA number
User story: As a seller, I want to list a used or new wheel set so the customer can see before purchase for which vehicles and under which conditions it may be used. Staff photograph the KBA or approval number and available papers, attach them to the item and keep part identification separate from the legal approval check.
| Work step | Result | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Identify the part | OE number, maker and visible approval mark are stored | Goods intake or dismantling |
| Enrich part data | GET /parts/oe/{oeNumber} can return the part name, available vehicle fitments and reference family | tapinomahub data cross-check |
| Check admissibility | The approval document states vehicle scope, conditions and any inspection requirement | Qualified business, inspection body and buyer depending on the case |
| Publish | Number, document status, condition note and photos are visible | The seller exposes the basis for a decision |
Measure it: Count “does it come with papers?” enquiries, listings without document status, returns caused by missing papers and cases where an inspection condition is noticed only after the sale. These figures reveal whether structured approval data reduces support and wrong sales.
Sources and legal references
Frequently asked
Does a used part need its own approval?
Usually not, where it is an original part returning to a vehicle it was intended for. It is then part of the existing type approval.
What is the difference between a general approval and an expert report?
A component with a general operating permit may be fitted without separate inspection. An expert report describes the conditions under which fitting is permissible and requires an inspection.
What does the E mark on a component mean?
That the component conforms to a granted approval. The number designates the approving state. It says nothing about fitment to a particular vehicle.
What do I write when papers are missing?
That they are missing. That is a statement a buyer can work with. Concealing it leads to a return.