Digital registration or registration office – what differs for businesses
The official fee is lower online than at the counter, the application runs nationwide through one route, and the provisional registration proof is valid for 10 days. This page puts both routes side by side – with the fees from the fee schedule.
Is digital registration worth it compared with the registration office?
For the official fee, yes: the fee schedule for road traffic measures sets a lower rate for internet-based registration than for registration at the counter. The table below shows both rates per case.
For the effort it depends on the case: what the i-Kfz procedure accepts runs without an appointment and without a trip to the authority. What it rejects – such as vehicles without a valid general inspection – still belongs at the counter.
How do the two routes differ?
Official fee
Online a lower fee rate applies than at the counter; the rates are in the fee schedule and in the table below.
One route nationwide
Digitally the same application runs for every registration authority; at the counter the locally competent authority applies with its appointments.
Identification
With a power of attorney and a qualified electronic signature the keeper needs no activated online ID and no appointment.
Drive right away
After digital registration the provisional registration proof is valid for 10 days until documents and stickers arrive.
Which official fees are added?
| Case | at the counter | online |
|---|---|---|
| Registration or re-registration | 30,00 euros | 12,80 euros |
| Day registration | 45,90 euros | 14,90 euros |
| Transfer within the same district, plate stays | 24,20 euros | 10,40 euros |
| Transfer within the same district, new plate | 26,20 euros | 12,40 euros |
| Change of address from another district, new plate | 27,10 euros | 12,10 euros |
| Change of address from another district, plate stays | 23,60 euros | 9,90 euros |
| Re-registration in the same district without change of keeper, reserved plate | 23,00 euros | 10,60 euros |
| Deregistration | 15,90 euros | 2,10 euros |
Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online
Which route suits which case?
Four typical cases from the trade.
New registration
Digital with CoC, eVB number and power of attorney; the official fee is lower online.
Transfer
Digital with registration certificate Part I and Part II and uncovered security codes.
Deregistration
Digital from €2 per case; the security codes of the stickers and Part I are needed.
Special case
Short-term and export plates or a missing general inspection: route through the registration office.
What the digital route changes in the business
No appointment
The application is entered and submitted in the portal; nobody from the business drives to the authority.
Check in advance
IBAN, eVB format and security codes are checked before submission, not only at the counter.
One bill
1 consolidated invoice a month instead of single receipts per visit, as e-invoice under EN 16931.
When does the registration office remain the right route?
- Short-term plates and export plates: not part of Zevra's digital offer.
- Vehicles without a valid general inspection: the i-Kfz procedure rejects the application.
- Change of keeper without registration certificate Part II: only after clarification with the authority.
- Damaged or missing security codes on documents and stickers.
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Frequently asked questions about the comparison
Is digital registration cheaper than the registration office?
Does digital registration apply across Germany?
Can I drive right after digital registration?
Which cases cannot be done digitally?
What does the digital route cost with Zevra?
Read more
Zevra is the B2B platform for digital vehicle registration for car dealers, registration services and fleets: cases are entered in the dealer portal and filed nationwide by power of attorney with qualified electronic signature – from €10 per registration, no base fee, no minimum volume.
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