Our Classic Car Law Team
Our lawyers advise and represent German and international clients on legal matters involving classic cars, collector cars, historic sports cars and racing cars.
Based in Munich, Germany, our Classic Car Law team combines experience in German contract law, litigation and dispute resolution with an understanding of the particular legal issues arising in the international collector car market.
We advise collectors, buyers, sellers, dealers, restoration workshops and other businesses on matters including the purchase and sale of classic cars, defects and warranty claims, rescission of purchase agreements, authenticity and vehicle identity, matching numbers, restoration disputes, classic car auctions, accident damage and insurance claims.
For international clients, we also advise on cross-border transactions and disputes involving German law. Legal advice and correspondence can be provided entirely in English.
Meet Our Classic Car Law Team
Our lawyers form an experienced and dedicated team advising German and international clients across all areas of classic car law. We assist collectors, buyers, sellers, dealers and restoration businesses with transactions and disputes involving classic cars, collector cars and historic vehicles.
Dr. Louis Rönsberg
Rechtsanwalt | Partner
Sandra Bendler-Pepy
Rechtsanwältin | Partnerin
Felix Bode
Rechtsanwalt | Senior Associate
Marie Dötsch
Rechtsanwältin | Associate
Our Lawyers
Dr. Louis Rönsberg
German Lawyer | Certified Specialist in Commercial and Corporate Law | Certified Specialist in Banking and Capital Markets Law
Dr. Louis Rönsberg advises and represents German and international clients in complex classic car matters, with a particular focus on high-value collector cars, historic sports cars and racing cars.
His practice includes disputes concerning vehicle defects, rescission of purchase agreements, authenticity, replicas, matching numbers, vehicle identity, restoration work and classic car auctions. He has extensive experience in litigation and complex disputes involving valuable and historically significant vehicles.
Dr. Rönsberg has been recognised by Best Lawyers for Litigation and by Handelsblatt in “Germany’s Best Lawyers” for Dispute Resolution. His practice has also been recognised by The Legal 500 and Leaders League.
View profile: Dr. Louis Rönsberg
Sandra Bendler-Pepy
German Lawyer | Avvocato
Sandra Bendler-Pepy advises and represents clients in classic car law, with a particular focus on legal matters involving Germany and Italy.
Her German-Italian background is particularly valuable in cross-border transactions and disputes involving classic cars, including purchases, sales and other legal matters with connections to both jurisdictions.
View profile: Sandra Bendler-Pepy
Felix Bode
German Lawyer
Felix Bode advises and represents classic car collectors, dealers and restoration businesses in legal matters concerning valuable historic vehicles.
His work includes contractual matters and disputes arising from the purchase, sale, ownership, maintenance and restoration of classic cars.
View profile: Felix Bode
Marie Dötsch
German Lawyer
Marie Dötsch advises and represents clients in classic car law, including transactions and disputes involving valuable classic and collector vehicles.
A particular focus of her work is on cross-border matters involving Germany and Italy.
View profile: Marie Dötsch
Legal Advice for Classic Cars and Collector Vehicles
Classic car law frequently involves questions that go beyond ordinary automotive law.
The identity, originality and value of a collector car may depend on its chassis, engine and gearbox, matching numbers, restoration history, provenance or documented racing history. In a legal dispute, these technical and historical characteristics can be just as important as the contractual documentation.
Our lawyers advise and represent clients particularly in matters involving:
- classic car purchase and sale agreements;
- defects and warranty claims;
- rescission of classic car purchases;
- authenticity and replicas;
- matching numbers and vehicle identity;
- restoration and workshop disputes;
- classic car auctions;
- accident damage and diminution in value;
- classic car insurance; and
- cross-border classic car transactions and disputes.
Where appropriate, we work with technical experts, marque specialists and automotive historians to address the technical and historical questions relevant to a particular case.
International Classic Car Clients
The collector car market is international, and our clients frequently require legal advice across borders.
We advise international collectors and businesses where a classic car transaction or dispute has a connection to Germany – for example, where a vehicle was purchased from a German seller, is located in Germany, has been restored by a German workshop or was offered through a German auction house.
Our lawyers can advise and correspond with international clients in English and represent them in negotiations and proceedings before German courts.
FAQs
Do your lawyers advise international classic car clients?
Yes. We advise and represent international collectors, buyers, sellers and businesses in classic car matters involving Germany or German law. Legal advice and correspondence can be provided in English.
Which legal issues does your Classic Car Law team handle?
Our work includes classic car purchases and sales, defects, warranty claims, rescission, authenticity, replicas, matching numbers, vehicle identity, restoration and workshop disputes, auctions, accident damage and insurance matters.
Can you represent me in a dispute with a German classic car seller?
Yes. We represent international clients in disputes with German private sellers and dealers. We review the purchase documentation and available evidence and advise on potential claims under German law.
Do you advise classic car dealers and restoration workshops as well as collectors?
Yes. Our clients include private collectors, buyers and sellers as well as classic car dealers, restoration businesses and other companies operating in the collector car market.
Can you assist with a classic car purchased at a German auction?
Yes. We advise bidders, purchasers, sellers and consignors on classic car auctions, including auction terms, catalogue descriptions, condition reports, authenticity, matching numbers and disputes following an auction.
Do you handle cross-border classic car cases?
Yes. We advise on international classic car transactions and disputes with a connection to Germany, including questions of applicable law, jurisdiction and contractual claims.
Can your lawyers represent international clients before German courts?
Yes. Our German-qualified lawyers represent domestic and international clients in litigation before German courts. We can handle the legal proceedings and client communication in English.
Contact Our Classic Car Law Team
Do you need legal advice concerning a classic car, collector car, historic sports car or racing car in Germany?
Our lawyers advise and represent collectors, buyers, sellers, dealers and restoration businesses in transactions and disputes involving valuable historic vehicles. International clients can communicate with our team entirely in English.