Motor Vehicle; Application for New Registration

For a new vehicle with a general operating permit, an EU type approval, or an individual approval, you must apply to the registration authority for the assignment of an official license plate.

Vehicles without a Certificate of Registration, Part II, must be identified by the registration authority. The registration authority may also require the vehicle to be presented for other reasons.

You can find information about the registration authorities under “Further Links.”

When a license plate is assigned as part of the registration process, you will be assigned a combination of letters and numbers over which you have no control. However, you may also apply for a different combination of letters and numbers (e.g., your initials or year of birth), subject to availability and for a fee.

When importing from abroad:

Since 2007, private individuals have been required to register their vehicles only at the location of their primary residence as recorded in the civil registry. For company vehicles, the registration authority at the location of the company’s headquarters or a branch office is responsible. Depending on the type of vehicle (i.e., new or used) and its country of origin (EU or non-EU), you must follow different procedures when importing it.

When registering the motor vehicle, you must prove that you have the right to dispose of the vehicle, for example, by presenting Part II of the Certificate of Registration. In addition, the original EU Certificate of Conformity must be presented, or the manufacturer must have made electronic data retrieval possible.

Any modifications made to the vehicle that require inspection (e.g., a trailer hitch, aluminum rims, spoilers, auxiliary heating, etc.) must be inspected in advance by an officially recognized expert in motor vehicle traffic (in Bavaria: TÜV Süd) or a technical service duly authorized under the EC Vehicle Type-Approval Regulation.

Initial registrations can also be completed online.

This requires registration via a citizen account with appropriate authentication (electronic ID card, residence permit with ID function, or Elster certificate). Additionally, a Registration Certificate Part II with a stored security code must be available. The vehicle must conform to an EU type, and the manufacturer must have filed a corresponding data record (the manufacturer is required to do so if it issued a Certificate of Registration Part II after October 1, 2019). Additionally, an electronic insurance confirmation (eVB) must be available.

The process is verified online, and the vehicle is automatically registered provided all requirements are met. You can then retrieve a provisional registration certificate. You may print this out and carry it in the vehicle or display it. You must attach the license plates (without inspection stickers) to the vehicle. You may drive the vehicle within Germany in this manner for a maximum of ten days.

Once you receive the registration documents by mail, you must affix the inspection and tax stickers.

You can access the online procedures on your registration authority’s portal. You’ll also find further information there.

Information about the registration authorities’ online procedures can be found under “Related Links.” 

When importing from abroad:

When submitting the required documents, you must generally present the vehicle to the registration authority for identification purposes.

Generally none

If more than 18 months have elapsed between the confirmation of the operating permit/EC type approval and the registration, the registration authority may require a vehicle inspection to be conducted by an officially recognized expert in motor vehicle traffic (in Bavaria: TÜV Süd) or a technical service authorized in accordance with the EC Vehicle Type Approval Regulation. This inspection also serves to determine whether the vehicle still complies with the technical regulations in effect at the time of registration.

• Certificate of Registration, Part II (Vehicle Title)
• Certificate of Conformity (CoC)—either the original document or in electronic form (CoC document)
• Purchase agreement or other proof of authority to dispose of the property
  (if proof of authority to dispose of the assets is required)
• official identification document
• Confirmation of Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Coverage (Insurance Confirmation - "eVB")
• An expert opinion from an officially recognized expert in motor vehicle traffic (in Bavaria: TÜV Süd) or from a technical service authorized in accordance with the EC Vehicle Type-Approval Regulation)
• Power of Attorney (also required when registering a relative)
• SEPA Direct Debit Authorization for Vehicle Tax
• Consent of Legal Guardians When a Minor Submits an Application

• SEPA Direct Debit Authorization from the Vehicle Owner
  Regarding the Collection of Vehicle Tax
• CoC document (Certificate of Conformity)
  For new vehicles in the EU
• Purchase, Lease, or Gift Agreement
  For new vehicles in the EU
• CoC certificate or, alternatively, a § 21 StVZO inspection report
  If available, for used vehicles from the EU or vehicles from non-EU countries
• Foreign vehicle registration documents and license plates
  For used vehicles from the EU or vehicles from non-EU countries
• Identification card or passport
• Insurance Confirmation
• Proof of Customs Clearance
  For vehicles from non-EU countries
• Proof of General Inspection
  For used vehicles from the EU or vehicles from non-EU countries
• the foreign certificate of deregistration in German
  For de-registered used vehicles from the EU or vehicles from non-EU countries

For vehicles with a general operating permit or EU type approval, you must pay 30.00 EUR.

If the registration authority needs to collect additional data because it is not available for retrieval, an additional fee of 15.30 EUR applies.

These fees increase by 10.20 EUR if you apply for a personalized license plate.

Additional fees also apply if a Part II Registration Certificate has not yet been issued.

The online initial registration costs 13.10 EUR. In addition, the registration authority may charge for postage expenses incurred.

The fees are increased by the fees charged by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (4.40 EUR if a Part II Certificate of Registration has not yet been issued). In addition, there may be fees for document seals (0.30 EUR each) and reservations (2.60 EUR).

You must obtain the license plates yourself from private providers at your own expense.

For imports from abroad:

Between 41.90 euros and 46.50 euros

When importing from abroad:

Import of New Vehicles from EU Countries

The registration authority is required to report the purchase to the locally competent tax office for value-added tax purposes. The purchaser, for their part, is required to file a tax return with the tax office using the officially prescribed form no later than the tenth day following the end of the day on which the tax became due.

Import of used vehicles from EU countries

Vehicles that have traveled no more than 6,000 kilometers or whose initial registration took place no more than six months ago are considered new vehicles for value-added tax purposes (see note above).