Apply for a temporary licence plate

Teaser

You can apply for a short-term licence plate as a private individual or company for a roadworthy but unregistered vehicle.

  • Service description

    With a short-term licence plate, you can test drive a vehicle or transfer it to another location. Other driving purposes are not permitted and may be penalised.
    The validity period is a maximum of 6 days from the day of issue. The expiry date is visible on the right-hand side of the short-term licence plate. After this date, the short-term licence plate automatically loses its validity.

    The vehicle must fulfil certain requirements in order to use a short-term licence plate:

    • EC type-approval must have been granted or individual approval or type-approval must have been granted,
    • for used vehicles, valid proof of a passed main inspection must be available (main inspection report) and
    • motor vehicle liability insurance must be in place.

    If your vehicle does not have an EC type approval or operating licence, you may only use a temporary number plate for journeys that are related to obtaining the necessary certificates. In this case, you may only drive to the nearest inspection centre in the district that has allocated the number plate or in the neighbouring district with the temporary number plate.

    If your vehicle does not have a valid general inspection or safety test, it will be given a temporary licence plate for the journey only:

    • to the nearest inspection centre in the registration district and back or
    • to the nearest garage in the registration district in which the licence plate was issued or
    • to a neighbouring district and back for the immediate repair of any significant or minor defects found.

    This does not apply to vehicles that have been categorised as unsafe to drive.

  • Procedure

    You, an authorised representative or a person entitled to receive the licence plate apply for the short-term licence plate at:

    • your local competent licensing authority or
    • the local registration authority responsible for the location of the vehicle.
    • Depending on what the licensing authority offers, you can either download a form or use an online service via the Internet.
    • Make an appointment with your local licensing authority by telephone or, if possible, online.
    • Bring all the necessary documents and the payment of EUR 10.20 to your appointment.
    • Your documents will be checked directly on site.

    If the test is positive, you will receive your personal short-term licence plate during the appointment. In most cases, there are also private dealers not far from the registration offices where you can have the short-term licence plate printed on a number plate immediately afterwards.

    Note: As an applicant who is not registered in Germany, you can apply for the short-term licence plate at the competent registration authority if you name a person authorised to receive it.

  • Responsible office

    Local competent authorisation authorities

  • Prerequisites

    • You need the vehicle for:
      • a test drive on which you can determine and prove the serviceability or
      • a transfer journey to take the vehicle to another location.
    • You have your own specific requirement for the allocation of a short-term licence plate.
    • You must specifically name the vehicle at the registration authority and provide evidence of the vehicle data.
    • The vehicle must have a:
      • EC type-approval,
      • Individual authorisation or
      • operating licence is available.
    • The vehicle must be covered by a licence during the entire period of validity:
      • valid main inspection and
      • if necessary, a safety inspection
        can be verified.
    • You have proof of existing motor vehicle liability insurance in the form of an electronic insurance confirmation (eVB) for short-term licence plates.

    Note: If you apply for short-term licence plates for several vehicles at the same time, you must provide proof of need.

  • Which documents are required?

    • Vehicle registration certificate (registration certificate part I)
    • Certificate of Conformity (COC) or
    • Individual authorisation of the vehicle in the original
    • Previous licence plates, if applicable
    • for used vehicles: main inspection report
    • Electronic insurance confirmation (eVB)

  • What fees are incurred?

    EUR 10,20

  • What deadlines do I have to observe?

    The short-term licence plate is valid for a maximum of 6 consecutive days.

  • Processing time

    Usually immediately

  • Legal basis

  • Applications / Forms

    Forms: none
    Online procedure possible: no
    Written form required: yes
    Personal appearance required: yes

  • Short text

    • Short-term licence plate approval
    • Short-term licence plates are for vehicles that are used for test drives or for
      transfer journeys
    • Other travelling purposes are not permitted
    • Requirements for the vehicle:
      • EC type-approval or EC individual approval
        or operating licence
      • General inspection report for used vehicles
      • Motor vehicle liability insurance
    • Validity period: maximum 6 days
    • Fees: EUR 10,20
    • Responsible: Vehicle registration office at the place of residence or location of the vehicle

  • Further information

  • Typing

    3

Responsible departments