Guide · Warranty & guarantee

Warranty vs guarantee in Germany: how to prove you bought it

Updated 5 October 2026 · 6 min read

In Germany the legal warranty (Gewährleistung) is your right against the seller and, for new goods, generally expires after two years; a guarantee (Garantie) is a voluntary promise, usually from the manufacturer, on its own terms. A receipt is the easiest proof of purchase, but not the only one. This is general information, not legal advice.

What is the difference between warranty and guarantee?

English uses both words loosely. German law separates them.

• Legal warranty (Gewährleistung): a statutory claim against the seller. If an item was defective when you bought it, § 437 BGB (the German Civil Code) gives you rights such as repair or replacement and, depending on the case, withdrawal or a price reduction. It applies automatically.
• Guarantee (Garantie): a voluntary promise, often from the manufacturer, sometimes from the shop. Length, scope and conditions are set by whoever gives it, for example "5 years on the motor". Your statutory warranty rights remain in place next to it.

In practice: for a warranty claim you go to the shop; for a guarantee claim you usually go to the manufacturer or guarantor, as described in the guarantee terms.

How long does the legal warranty last?

Under § 438 BGB, claims for defects in new goods generally expire two years after delivery. For second-hand goods this period can be shortened under certain conditions; the consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale) explains how.

The clock starts at delivery, not when you notice the defect. If you bought a kettle in March 2026, the basic rule gives you until March 2028 to claim a defect that was already present at purchase.

What is the reversal of the burden of proof after one year?

When something breaks, the question is who has to prove what. Under § 477 BGB, if you are a consumer and a defect shows up within one year, it is presumed to have existed at delivery (Beweislastumkehr). The seller would have to prove otherwise. Since a 2022 law change this period is one year; before, it was six months.

After that first year your claim still exists until the two years run out, but you have to show that the defect was already there at purchase. That can be hard and is where disputes often start.

Do you really need the receipt?

Strictly speaking, no. The law does not make the receipt mandatory for a warranty claim. But you must be able to show that you bought the item from that seller, and the receipt does that most simply: shop, date, item and price are on it.

Without a receipt, the Verbraucherzentrale lists other forms of proof, for example:

• Bank statement or credit card statement (shows shop, date and amount, but not which item)
• Order confirmation or invoice by email for online purchases
• Guarantee card with purchase date and the shop's stamp
• Witnesses who were there when you bought it (difficult in practice)

Whether a shop accepts a substitute can vary, and in a dispute a court decides. A receipt avoids that discussion.

A guarantee is different: the guarantor's terms apply. Some require proof of purchase or product registration. Read the terms before relying on it.

How can you secure your proof of purchase?

1. For bigger purchases, ask for an invoice or have the receipt emailed if the shop offers that.
2. Save the receipt digitally right after buying. Thermal paper often fades long before two years are up; see what to do about faded receipts.
3. Keep the original for expensive purchases. A photo does not replace it in every case.
4. Keep the guarantee card or terms together with the receipt.
5. Check how long to keep it: for private receipts, the warranty period and, if there is one, the guarantee period are a sensible guide. More in how long to keep receipts in Germany.

How does Bonstructer help?

Bonstructer reads the shop, date, amount and every item line from a photo or PDF, and the original photo or PDF stays attached to the receipt. This is not limited to supermarkets: invoices from electronics stores, DIY stores or furniture shops can be stored too. For emailed invoices and e-receipts, forward them to bons@bonstructer.com; PDF or photo attachments are read automatically.

When the kettle dies after a year and a half, you search by shop, date or item and have the receipt and photo at hand. If needed you can send the original photo by email to the shop, the manufacturer or your tax advisor (Steuerberater). You can see how real, faded receipts are read in the scan quality examples on the home page.

Bonstructer runs in the browser at bonstructer.com/app. Basic use is free; some extra and AI features use credits (AIC), and the price is shown beforehand. The Android app is in closed testing on Google Play; on iPhone you use the web app from the home screen.