Contracts and commercial relationships · Czechia and Slovakia
Sale agreement for movable assets
We prepare or review sale agreements for goods, vehicles, machinery and other movable assets under Czech and Slovak law. We clearly structure ownership transfer, payment, acceptance, warranties and liability for defects to prevent post-sale disputes.
- For sellers and buyers
- Vehicles, machinery and goods
- Fees agreed in advance
What we'll do for you
Drafting or reviewing a sale agreement for Czech and Slovak parties, including payment, handover and warranties.
Select an item to see the details.
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Initial consultation
We select the legal regime (civil or commercial) and review the asset's risks and payment method.
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Tailored sale agreement
Subject matter, purchase price, time and place of performance, parties' cooperation and the seller's representations on the asset's condition.
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Ownership and risk
We define when ownership transfers and risk of damage passes, with retention of title until payment where appropriate.
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Payment and security
Due date, deposit, retention of title, default interest and any further security.
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Warranties and defects
Warranty scope, complaints handling, liability for defects and exclusions for a sale “as is, where is” where permitted by law.
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Document delivery
You receive the final agreement ready for signature, with vehicle registration transfer instructions where applicable.
Deliverablea signed sale agreement addressing ownership transfer and payment
How it works
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- Consultationday 0
We establish what is being sold, which side you represent and the main risks — these determine the agreement's focus.
- Draft agreement
We prepare a tailored agreement or review the other party's draft and flag risk areas.
- Agreement and signingat your pace
We negotiate disputed points, prepare a clean copy and link payment to handover of the asset. One round of comments is included; longer negotiations are agreed in advance.
No-obligation enquiry
Ready to start?
Send us an enquiry. We usually reply within 24 hours with a price confirmation and next steps. The first 30-minute consultation is free and commits you to nothing.
- 1Send your enquiry via this form
- 2Usually within 24 h you get a price confirmation and plan
- 3We start work only after your approval
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What clients ask
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When do ownership and risk of damage pass?
The rules differ. In Slovakia, ownership of a movable asset generally transfers upon receipt unless legislation or an agreement provides otherwise. In Czechia, ownership of an individually specified asset generally transfers when the agreement takes effect (§ 1099 of the Civil Code). The passing of risk of damage is assessed separately. We expressly define both points in the agreement so it is clear who is responsible for the asset and from when.
What is retention of title, and when should it be used?
Retention of title means the asset remains the seller's until the price is paid in full. It protects sellers when payment is deferred or made by instalments. We set out the retention of title in writing. In Czechia, retention of title is effective against the buyer's creditors only if agreed in a public instrument or in writing with officially authenticated signatures, and then only from the date of authentication. For an asset entered in a public register, it is effective against third parties only once entered in that register (§ 2134 of the Czech Civil Code). We verify the required form according to the governing law and the asset being purchased.
How do we address hidden defects in a vehicle or machine?
We include the seller's representations on the asset's condition and known defects, with references to service history or technical condition where appropriate. This protects the buyer's defect claims and precisely defines the seller's liability.
Must a vehicle sale agreement be in writing?
The law does not always require written form for movable assets, but we strongly recommend it for vehicles and higher-value items — a written agreement supports registration transfer and protects both parties in later disputes.
Can you prepare a framework agreement for repeat deliveries?
Yes. For regular trading, we prepare a framework agreement with terms and a simple ordering mechanism, avoiding a new agreement for every delivery.
Can you prepare a bilingual agreement for an overseas sale?
Yes, for cross-border sales we prepare a bilingual agreement and align Czech and Slovak (or English) terminology so both versions have the same meaning.
Legal Q&A
Common questions on this topic
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When do our standard terms actually become part of the agreement?
When the other party knows them or received them with the proposed agreement. The Commercial Code permits part of an agreement's contents to be set by reference to standard terms, but only if the parties know them or they are attached to the offer. In a dispute, the party relying on them must prove this. Publishing them online alone is insufficient. Every agreement and order should identify the terms precisely and confirm receipt; if both parties exchange their own terms, the conflict must be resolved expressly.
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How do we sell goods with retention of title so we do not lose them before payment?
Agree it in writing in the sale agreement, framework agreement or properly incorporated standard terms. Without it, the buyer acquires ownership on delivery, leaving you only a claim if payment is not made. Retention keeps ownership with you until full payment, especially valuable in the buyer's bankruptcy. Risk of damage still passes on receipt regardless of retained title, so also require insurance and prohibit further disposal.
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My company is buying from a private individual. Does consumer law protect the seller against me?
Merely designating a private individual as the seller does not exclude consumer protection. The general definition in Section 52 of the Civil Code asks whether the trader acts in the course of business and the individual outside it; status is not determined solely by who pays the price. Specific rules on consumer sales, withdrawal rights or information duties may, however, have a narrower scope. Each agreement and each rule must therefore be assessed separately when purchasing from individuals, without assuming either full protection or its complete exclusion.
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Further reading
Reserving the purchase of machinery or a vehicle: a future-contract agreement, or a sale agreement subject to a condition precedent?
Where a purchase has been agreed but depends on a loan, a grant or delivery, two instruments present themselves: an agreement to enter into a future contract and a sale agreement subject to a condition precedent. This article explains how they differ, when to choose each and what to watch for with movable assets.
Read more →
A sale agreement for a car or machine: under the Civil Code, or the Commercial Code?
In Slovakia, the purchase of a movable asset is governed by one of two codes, and the difference shows above all in defects, ownership and limitation. This article explains when each regime applies, how they differ and what changes when the other party is Czech.
Read more →
Standard terms when selling to Czech companies: what changes when Czech law applies
A Slovak company supplying Czech customers may find its standard terms subject both to the Vienna Convention on the international sale of goods and to the Czech Civil Code. The latter has its own rules on conflicting terms, later changes to them and surprising provisions. This article is for companies selling to Czechia under their own standard terms.
Read more →