Check accounts of German car trader first (5)
I believe the answer is:
audit
'check accounts' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'german car trader first' is the wordplay.
'german car' becomes 'audi' (I've seen this in another clue).
'trader first' becomes 't' (1st letter of 'trader').
'audi'+'t'='AUDIT'
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for audit that I've seen before include "special ale" , "Financial check" , "vetting of books" , "Verify accounts" , "Formally examine" .)