NACE 45.1 – Sale of Motor Vehicles | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 45.1 covers the wholesale and retail trade in new and used motor vehicles of all types — including passenger cars, trucks, commercial vehicles and special vehicles. In public procurement, this group is particularly relevant for the procurement of government vehicles, municipal vehicle fleets and special vehicles.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 45.1 cover?

NACE 45.1 (Sale of motor vehicles) classifies companies that sell motor vehicles — from car dealers and commercial vehicle specialists to importers of special vehicles for authorities and municipalities.

Group 45.1 within Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles) and Division 45 is divided into two classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 45.1 are federal authorities, state authorities, municipalities, municipal undertakings, fire brigades, rescue organisations, police authorities and utility contracting entities with their own fleet needs.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 45.1

Motor vehicle procurement is a permanent core area of public procurement — the federal government, federal states and municipalities procure thousands of vehicles every year for police, fire brigades, rescue services, depots and administrations.

Typical contract types

• Procurement of service vehicles: Cars for administration and field service, often as multi-year framework agreements
• Police vehicles: Patrol cars, civilian emergency vehicles, armoured vehicles for security authorities
• Fire engines and emergency vehicles: Firefighting vehicles, tankers, turntable ladders, ambulances (here often under NACE 45.19)
• Municipal vehicles: Refuse collection vehicles, sweepers, winter service trucks, mobile elevating work platforms
• Electric vehicle procurement: Increasingly relevant under municipal climate action programmes, often combined with charging infrastructure
• Framework agreements: Multi-stage procedures for central procurement bodies (e.g. ÖBAG, KfW, Federal Institute for Real Estate)

Thresholds and procedure types

Vehicle procurements fall under the EU threshold for supply and service contracts (EUR 221,000 for top federal authorities, EUR 398,000 for other public contracting authorities, as of 2024/2025). Many municipal vehicle procurements fall below these thresholds and are tendered nationally. For centralised framework agreements at federal level, total volumes regularly exceed the EU thresholds.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 45.1

CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary) are the central search tool for vehicle procurement on TED and national procurement platforms.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is NACE 45.1 relevant for in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Vehicle procurements are conducted at all administrative levels. In Austria, the Federal Procurement Agency (BBG) coordinates central framework agreements for federal authorities. In Germany, the Procurement Office of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) play central roles. Municipalities frequently procure independently through local or regional tenders, often below the EU thresholds.

Companies and bidders

Vehicle dealers and importers wishing to participate in public tenders typically must provide the following suitability evidence:

• Trade authorisation: Trade licence as a motor vehicle dealer
• Technical capacity: Evidence of warehousing capacity, delivery times and service network
• Economic and financial capacity: Annual turnover, creditworthiness, liability insurance
• Certifications: Manufacturer authorisation, ISO 9001, certificates for charging infrastructure where relevant for e-vehicles

The Clean Vehicles Directive (CVD, Directive 2019/1161/EU) requires public contracting authorities in the EU to comply with minimum quotas for clean and zero-emission vehicles — a growing market for dealers of electric and hybrid vehicles.

NACE 45.1 in context: Section G and Division 45

NACE 45.1 is part of Division 45 (Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles) within the trade Section G.

• NACE G – Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles: Parent section
• NACE 45 – Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles: Division covering trade, repair and parts
• NACE 45.2 – Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles: Vehicle workshops, fleet management
• NACE 45.3 – Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories: Spare parts for public fleets
• NACE 45.4 – Sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles: Motorcycles for police and authorities

Frequently asked questions on NACE 45.1 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 45.1?
All companies focused on the sale of motor vehicles — regardless of whether they sell cars, commercial vehicles or special vehicles. Importers, dealers and authorised dealers of vehicle manufacturers are equally covered.

How do I find current tenders for vehicle procurement?
EU-wide tenders are available on TED by CPV search (e.g. 34110000, 34114000). National and municipal tenders below the thresholds can be found on state platforms and municipal procurement portals such as the Austrian Public Procurement Portal (ANKÖ) or DTVP in Germany.

What does the Clean Vehicles Directive mean for vehicle dealers?
Public contracting authorities are required to consider minimum shares of clean and zero-emission vehicles in vehicle procurement. This creates competitive advantages for dealers with corresponding electric or hybrid offerings in public tenders.

Can vehicle purchase and maintenance contracts be tendered jointly?
Yes, combined procurements (vehicle + service) are possible. In such cases, clear lot division or a substantiated decision against lot division is required.

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.