Monday, 20 September 2010

How to register your car in Germany





Warsteiner - Multicolor field




Hi everyone,

this is a short guide for those that have planned to come to Germany with their own car and want to register it there. Here illustrated the procedure to get a German plate for your car. However the following "guide" is based on my personal experience and it comes with no warranty. So the first thing to do is to contact your local motor vehicle licensing authority (Kfz.-Zulassungsbehörde) and ask them which documents you need to provide.

Assuming your car is Italian, you will need the following documents: Passport, Italian car document, Italian plates, possession certificate, TÜV & COC certificate, an electronic confermation of insurance (Elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung-EVB) and a plate reservation (optional). Here below a more detailed list...

Passport (or any other official document of identification).

Italian Car document: the paper reporting all the information about your car such as tires size, engine, exhaust, KW, and so on.

Possession certificate: the paper proving that you are the owner of the car.

TÜV and COC: basically they are both conformity certificates. If your car passes the TÜV check you will get a stickers on your (new) plate showing that your car is allowed to circulate in Germany (costs around 100 euro). Your dealer/garage may be able to provide those documents for you. You can ask them also to deal with removing the Italian plate (see next step) and installing the new onces.


Italian plate: you (or your trusted garage/dealer) must take your Italian plates off from the car and bring them to the Kfz.-Zulassungsbehörde together with all the other documents.

Insurance Electronic Number: this is a number (7 digits) that your (new) insurance will give you once you stipulate an insurance contract. I would suggest ADAC, but I´m pretty sure that there are cheaper companies on the web. The advantage of getting an insurance with ADAC is that you will became a member and would benefit of their assistance around Germany. In addition ADAC has "branch" every big city in Germany, so you can stipulate the insurance there instead of doing everything on the web. ADAC will also ask you to prove your old "merit class". You may be asked to provide a German or an English version of it.

Plate number: In Germany, by paying a small fees (15 euro) you can choose part of the letter-number combination you can put on the new plate. To do that usually there is an on-line service which will check if your combination is still free and it will eventually reserve it for you. If your booking will be accepted, print the reservation and put it on the pile with the other documents.

Well, once you have all the documents go to the Kfz.-Zulassungsbehörde in your city. If everything is ok, they will keep (and then destroy) your Italian plate and store your Italian car documents. Then, they will give you a paper that you have to show to the plate-shop to buy your new plate (22 euro) and then back to the motor place where they will put the TÜV sticker.

Once you have your new plates with the TÜV sticker you can put them back on your car.

Now, I know the process may be tedious, but there are at least two reasons to get a German plate. First because you have to. The second reason is that car insurances are usually cheaper than the Italian once. The downside is that you must pay the circulation tax (but that in Italy as well).

Enjoy your new German plate but mind speed cameras!

Best

Michele

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38 comments:

  1. Shaniqua1722 August 2012 at 17:48

    I'm trying to register my car in Canada and it is proving more difficult than I think it should be. The whole registry system is taking way too long and I need my car to get to work. I like how you posted pictures and steps, I wish I could find a blog that did that for Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Honda Airwave 20075 October 2012 at 13:10

    I really like to appreciate you because your information is good for my work and I think more people need to read blogs like this.

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  3. Anonymous23 October 2012 at 18:24

    Hi,
    Thanks so much for all the information and for taking the time to explain it so clearly and detailed.

    I have just one question, how much does the whole process cost you? Aprox??

    Thanks so much again, Esteban

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michele Burigo5 November 2012 at 10:35

      Hi Esteban,

      it should cost approximately 200 euro.
      You are welcome!
      Cheers


      Delete
  4. Anonymous10 January 2013 at 21:46

    Thank you very much for all that info.

    I would like to ask one question and it would be great if you could answer. You should drive to the garage (in order to get the TÜV and COC certifications) the same day you will go the Kfz.-Zulassungsbehörde? Or you can just get these certifications and give all the documents to the authorities, let` s say after 1/2 week(s) - and then get the german plates...

    Thank you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Michele Burigo18 January 2013 at 12:11

    You are very wlecome!
    For my experience, you should be able to get all documentation on the same day. However it is better to go to the garage with an appointment, because they may be very busy that day and they may not be able to provide the TÜV and COC on the same day...
    I think it is also possible to handle the documents later on, but in the meantime you cannot use your car because is in the garage without plates..
    Best
    M.

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  6. Anonymous8 March 2013 at 15:51

    hi M
    I live in Ukraine and i'm a foreigner here, and will be here for a couple of years. tried importing my car here, but the taxes were ridiculous. my question is, I want to buy a German car. is it possible to register it there, even though i'm not a German.?? that way I can drive it in Ukraine without having to pay any taxes.

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    1. Anonymous9 March 2013 at 05:34

      That is very possible, although you are only permitted to have your car physically in Ukraine for two months without registering it with the DAI (traffic police) and 1 year with registration. After that point you must leave Ukraine, and renter again if it has foreign plates. Take a look at expatua.com. Some helpful information on that site.

      Delete
    2. Michele Burigo14 March 2013 at 16:46

      Thanks for your replay!
      Very useful indeed.
      M.

      Delete
  7. Unknown20 March 2013 at 16:57

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. Anonymous6 May 2013 at 18:16

    This is perfect! I am going to move my car fro Italy to Germany too

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  9. Anonymous10 May 2013 at 11:49

    Hi, i live in the UK and i'm in the process of buying and old 1992 small truck in Germany which does not currently have tuv,my intention is to drive this truck back to the UK.I have spoken to the dealer who said he will issue me a paper for documentation at the cost of 100 euros,can you shed more light on this and the process involved in getting all the proper ducument.And can i also drive the vehicle back to the UK from Germany thank you.

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    1. Michele Burigo21 May 2013 at 13:12

      Hi,

      I think you need the TUV in order to drive a car or a truck on German streets. Once you have the documentation, of course you can drive back to UK.
      Cheers
      M.

      Delete
  10. SophieC3 July 2013 at 19:47

    Dear Michele,

    Following your advice, I registered my car in Germany without any problem.
    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR describing the procedure so clearly and for sharing the information.

    I wish you all the best.

    SophieC

    ReplyDelete
  11. Michele Burigo22 July 2013 at 11:18

    Dear Sophie, I'm glad the information on my blog helped you out!
    Best
    M.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous29 August 2013 at 13:19

    Hi Michele
    I wonder if you can advise me. I am trying to register an Italian car in France and although I have the Italian registration document, I only have a copy of the PRA (posession certificate) and the authorities here are insisting on seeing the original.
    I have been told by the previous owner of the car that the original of this document must say in Italy and it is impossible to get a copy !!
    What do you know about the possibility of obtaining an other "original" of this possesion document?
    Regards & thanks
    geoff

    ReplyDelete
  13. David talpur25 November 2013 at 08:56

    I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own BlogEngine blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it. Calgary Auto Insurance Companies 

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  14. Anonymous14 January 2014 at 11:01

    Thanks Michele for your useful info

    ReplyDelete
  15. Richy B31 March 2014 at 08:09

    I am an ex pat (British) and living in Germany. I recently bought an italian imported car here in Germany and your information was a god send in helping me register it.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Unknown28 April 2014 at 11:19

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  17. Unknown27 January 2015 at 00:20

    Thank you so much Michele for the hints and tips on how to register your car in Germany. I really like the pictures as well. I learn better if I can see it in front of me. I am going to move to Germany this fall to take care of my grandmother and I am taking my car with me. When I get there I will need to register my car. Do you have any other tips for me?

    http://www.registryunlimited.com/motor_vehicle_and_driver_s_licences.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michele Burigo17 March 2015 at 09:16

      Hi Ted,

      I'm glad you've found this information useful.
      You will like Germany!
      Best
      M.

      Delete
  18. Unknown5 June 2015 at 18:07

    How can I register an Italian car in Germany without the possession certificate(proof of ownership)
    Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Michele Burigo9 June 2015 at 15:09

      Hi Charles, I think that is not feasible...How do you proof that the car is actually yours?
      Best
      M.

      Delete
  19. Unknown5 June 2015 at 18:09

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  20. Unknown5 June 2015 at 18:09

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  21. Anonymous8 September 2015 at 16:52

    please how do they calculate this circulation tax? i found some cars cheaper in Austria but i live in Germany, could u advise me please....i would not want to buy car in Austria and pay high tax here in Germany just to register it.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous8 September 2015 at 16:53

    please how do they calculate this circulation tax? i found some cars cheaper in Austria but i live in Germany, could u advise me please....i would not want to buy car in Austria and pay high tax here in Germany just to register it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michele Burigo22 September 2015 at 12:41

      Hi Georgehks,

      here:

      http://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Web/DE/Themen/Steuern/Steuerarten/Kraftfahrzeugsteuer/BMF_Anordnungen_Allgemeines/KfzRechner/KfzRechner.html

      you should be able to calculate the amount you have to pay.
      Best
      M.

      Delete
  23. Veronica MM.21 September 2015 at 00:37

    Buonasera, cerco di spiegare brevemente il mio problema... Io da circa 6 mesi lavoro e vivo in Germania, da marzo mi sono fatta la residenza qui è tutto e dopodiché mi sono portata su la. Macchina dall'Italia qui... Essendo che faccio un lavoro stagionale (mi sono dovuta fare la residenzia altrimenti niente lavoro) io per spostarmi ne. Ho bisogno... Un mio vicino vedendo la mia macchina da un po' di mesi, mi ha scritto gentilmente che dovrei cambiare la targa dato che vivo qua. Mi è preso il. Panico... Essendo che io comunque 3 mesi all'anno ritorno in Italia... Vale la pena di cambiare targa e assicurazioni un Germania? Io premetto che non voglio stare qua a vita... Penso che non mi. Conviene...chi può verificare effettivamente da quanto la. Mia auto e in Germania? Grazie in anticipo... Non so che fare

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    Replies
    1. Michele Burigo22 September 2015 at 12:44

      Buongiorno Veronica,

      per legge se lei vive e risiede ma soprattutto utilizza la macchina in Germania e' obbligata a cambiare le targhe. Poi in pratica puo' sempre dire agli organi di controllo tipo Polizia, che lei vive si in Germania ma per lavoro va avanti e indietro per l'Italia. E' difficile che possano controllare efficacemente tutti i suoi spostamenti, ma un controllo sul suo posto di lavoro potrebbe essere sufficiente. Quindi io le consigliere di cambiare le targhe e fare le cose in regola.
      Mi faccia sapere se ha altre domande/dubbi.
      Cordiali saluti
      M.

      Delete
  24. Veronica MM.23 September 2015 at 00:58

    Grazie della risposta, il mio principale problema è che tra 2 mesi torno in Italia perché finisce la stagione... Non so se vale la pena fare tutto sto passaggio quando potrei farlo tranquillamente l'anno prossimo... Qui si tratta solo se qualcuno fa la spia perché tecnicamente nessuno può verificare da quanto la mia auto è in Germania... Oddio che confusione!

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    1. Michele Burigo1 October 2015 at 11:16

      Ciao Veronica,

      capisco il problema, ma se risiedi in Germania in teoria dovresti cambiare la targa. Fidati che non e' cosi complicato! Se invece avessi ancora la residenza in Italia allora il problema non sussisterebbe. Io ti consiglio di cambiarle; ti dovrebbe costare meno di assicurazione e anche di bollo. E poi fidati, non e' cosi complicato!
      Saluti
      M.

      Delete
  25. Veronica MM.23 September 2015 at 00:58

    Grazie della risposta, il mio principale problema è che tra 2 mesi torno in Italia perché finisce la stagione... Non so se vale la pena fare tutto sto passaggio quando potrei farlo tranquillamente l'anno prossimo... Qui si tratta solo se qualcuno fa la spia perché tecnicamente nessuno può verificare da quanto la mia auto è in Germania... Oddio che confusione!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous27 October 2016 at 13:00

    hi, just want to ask for advice. i bought a 1995 challenger from a swedish salesman 2 months ago. the problem is it has a german plate so it needs to be registered here in sweden. the salesman said that the registration is ongoing and he just sent the paper to transport registration office so i agreed to buy the camper for 9000euros with the agreement that i will register it myself so he can cancel the ongoing application and send me the papers instead. but after a week he just sent zulassungbescheingung teil 2 and a certificate from the salesman in germany where he bought the camper. it says in the paper that zulassungbescheingung teil 1 was lost in his office and that the camper was bought from him by the swedish salesman. He thought that those papers were enough to be able to register in transportstyrelsen. I thought so too, so i didn't complain and applied for the registration myself. after a week, transportstyrelsen said they are not going to continue the processing if i cannot produce the zulassungbescheingung teil 1. I have been calling the salesman many times but he just promised the he will fix it but it's been two months now. I have a camper at my driveway like a statue. i supposed to drive it and take a vacation with my family but i can't because it's not registered. i've been worried. what will i do if the salesman cannot help me with the paper? is it possible for me to get it from vehicle registration office in Germany?
    thanks for your possible reply

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  27. James13 May 2019 at 21:01

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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