ZEVRA › Vehicle figures: tax, insurance, fines · Last updated: 2026-10-12

German vehicle tax, insurance and fines: official figures around registration

This overview brings together 46 amounts, time limits and penalties from the acts beside the Vehicle Registration Ordinance: Motor Vehicle Tax Act, Compulsory Insurance Act, schedule of fines, Road Traffic Licensing Regulations and Road Traffic Act. Official fees from the fee schedule for road traffic measures are included as well. Each row names the provision and links to the official text.

46 official values from 9 acts and ordinances · Checked on: 2026-10-12 · FZV time limits and figures · FZV sections · Knowledge · Sources · Glossary

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.

Which figures apply to vehicle tax?

Subject	Amount, time limit or penalty	Provision	Guide
Car with spark-ignition engine, per 100 cm³ of engine size	2 euros a year	§ 9 KraftStG	German vehicle tax: car rates by engine size and CO₂ (§ 9 KraftStG)
Car with compression-ignition engine, per 100 cm³ of engine size	9.50 euros a year	§ 9 KraftStG	German vehicle tax: car rates by engine size and CO₂ (§ 9 KraftStG)
Car first registered from 2021, per gram of CO₂ above 95 g/km	2.00 to 4.00 euros in 6 steps	§ 9 KraftStG	German vehicle tax: car rates by engine size and CO₂ (§ 9 KraftStG)
Motorcycle with reciprocating engine, per 25 cm³ of engine size	1.84 euros a year	§ 9 KraftStG	German vehicle tax: car rates by engine size and CO₂ (§ 9 KraftStG)
Trailer, per 200 kg of total weight	7.46 euros, at most 373.24 euros	§ 9 KraftStG	Trailer without vehicle tax in Germany: green plate and trailer surcharge (§ 10 KraftStG)
Trailer surcharge for the towing vehicle	373.24 euros a year	§ 10 KraftStG	Trailer without vehicle tax in Germany: green plate and trailer surcharge (§ 10 KraftStG)
Red plates for recurring use	191.73 euros a year	§ 9 KraftStG	German vehicle tax: car rates by engine size and CO₂ (§ 9 KraftStG)
Motorhome of at least emission class S 4, maximum	800 euros a year	§ 9 KraftStG	German vehicle tax for motorhomes, vans and trucks: rates by total weight
Half-yearly payment	from more than 500 euros annual tax, 3 percent surcharge	§ 11 KraftStG	Paying German vehicle tax: yearly, half-yearly or quarterly (§ 11 KraftStG)
Quarterly payment	from more than 1 000 euros annual tax, 6 percent surcharge	§ 11 KraftStG	Paying German vehicle tax: yearly, half-yearly or quarterly (§ 11 KraftStG)
Minimum duration of tax liability for a registered vehicle	1 month	§ 5 KraftStG	German vehicle tax liability: start, end and minimum term under § 5 KraftStG
Tax exemption for electric vehicles	10 years from first registration, at most until 31 December 2035	§ 3d KraftStG	Registering an electric car in Germany: tax exemption and E plate
Tax arrears that do not prevent registration	less than 5 euros	§ 13 KraftStG	Vehicle tax at registration: SEPA mandate and tax arrears

Which figures apply to motor liability insurance?

Subject	Amount, time limit or penalty	Provision	Guide
Minimum insured sum for personal injury per claim	7 500 000 euros	Anlage PflVG	Minimum insured sums in German motor liability insurance: amounts per claim
Minimum insured sum for property damage per claim	1 300 000 euros	Anlage PflVG	Minimum insured sums in German motor liability insurance: amounts per claim
Minimum insured sum for pure financial loss	50 000 euros	Anlage PflVG	Minimum insured sums in German motor liability insurance: amounts per claim
Insurer's time limit to refuse an application in writing	2 weeks from receipt	§ 5 PflVG	Compulsory motor insurance in Germany: duty to insure, term and penalty
Termination before the contract is extended	at least 1 month before expiry	§ 5a PflVG	Compulsory motor insurance in Germany: duty to insure, term and penalty
Claims history statement on request	within 15 days	§ 5c PflVG	Claims history statement in Germany: deadline, content and equal treatment (§ 5c PflVG)
Using a vehicle without liability insurance	imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine	§ 30 PflVG	Compulsory motor insurance in Germany: duty to insure, term and penalty
Insurer's release from liability after a breach of duty	at most 5 000 euros each	§ 5 KfzPflVV	Provisional cover in German motor liability insurance: start, end and duties (KfzPflVV)
Period for paying for the policy under provisional cover	at least 2 weeks	§ 9 KfzPflVV	Provisional cover in German motor liability insurance: start, end and duties (KfzPflVV)

Which standard rates does the schedule of fines list for registration?

Subject	Amount, time limit or penalty	Provision	Guide
Vehicle put into operation without the required registration	70 euros	BKatV Nr. 175	Fines in German vehicle registration: standard rates from the schedule of fines
Prescribed plate is missing	60 euros	BKatV Nr. 179a	Fines in German vehicle registration: standard rates from the schedule of fines
Plate fitted with glass, film or similar covers	65 euros	BKatV Nr. 179b	Fines in German vehicle registration: standard rates from the schedule of fines
Registration certificate part I not carried	10 euros	BKatV Nr. 174	Fines in German vehicle registration: standard rates from the schedule of fines
Duty to report changes, sale or purchase breached	15 euros	BKatV Nr. 180	Fines in German vehicle registration: standard rates from the schedule of fines
Short-term plate used for inadmissible journeys	50 euros	BKatV Nr. 182	Fines in German vehicle registration: standard rates from the schedule of fines
Standard rate up to which a warning fine is charged	up to 55 euros	§ 1 BKatV	Fines in German vehicle registration: standard rates from the schedule of fines
Application for a court decision against the costs order after a parking offence	within 2 weeks of service	§ 25a StVG	Keeper liability for stopping or parking offences in Germany: when the keeper bears the costs (§ 25a StVG)

Which time limits and penalties apply to technical approval and plates?

Subject	Amount, time limit or penalty	Provision	Guide
Retention of reports and test records for the individual operating licence	10 years	§ 21 StVZO	Individual operating licence under § 21 StVZO: application, expert report and retention
Number plate misuse	imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine	§ 22 StVG	Number plate misuse under § 22 StVG: punishable acts and penalty
Making, selling or issuing plates without prior notice	imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine	§ 22a StVG	Making, selling and issuing number plates: notice duty under § 6b StVG
Small electric vehicle: maximum design speed	more than 6 km/h and no more than 20 km/h	§ 1 eKFV	E-scooter and other small electric vehicles in Germany: operating licence, insurance sticker and minimum age (eKFV)
Small electric vehicle: vehicle mass without rider	no more than 55 kg	§ 1 eKFV	E-scooter and other small electric vehicles in Germany: operating licence, insurance sticker and minimum age (eKFV)
Minimum age for riding a small electric vehicle	14 years	§ 3 eKFV	E-scooter and other small electric vehicles in Germany: operating licence, insurance sticker and minimum age (eKFV)
Retention of the logbook after the period for keeping it ends	6 months	§ 31a StVZO	Logbook order in Germany: order, entries and retention for keepers (§ 31a StVZO)
Retention of reports and test records for the individual approval	10 years	§ 13 EG-FGV	Individual approval for vehicles in Germany: conditions, expert report and revocation (§ 13 EG-FGV)

Which official fees apply to registration and deregistration?

Subject	Amount, time limit or penalty	Provision	Guide
Registration or re-registration at the counter	30.00 euros	GebOSt Nr. 221.1	Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online
Internet-based registration or re-registration	12.80 euros	GebOSt Nr. 221.1.1	Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online
One-day registration of a vehicle	45.90 euros	GebOSt Nr. 221.1.2	Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online
Internet-based one-day registration	14.90 euros	GebOSt Nr. 221.1.3	Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online
Deregistration at the counter	15.90 euros	GebOSt Nr. 224.1	Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online
Internet-based deregistration	2.10 euros	GebOSt Nr. 224.2	Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online
Assignment of short-term plates	10.20 euros	GebOSt Nr. 221.4	Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online
Assignment of an export plate	31.40 euros	GebOSt Nr. 221.3	Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online

Questions on vehicle tax, insurance and fines

How high is the minimum insured sum in German motor liability insurance?

Per claim 7 500 000 euros for personal injury, 1 300 000 euros for property damage and 50 000 euros for pure financial loss. This is laid down in the annex to the Compulsory Insurance Act.

What does driving without registration cost?

The schedule of fines lists a standard rate of 70 euros for putting a vehicle into operation on a public road without the required registration.

Are the figures in this overview binding?

No. Only the official German text of the acts named on gesetze-im-internet.de is binding; every row links to it. In an individual case the competent authority decides.

Request a demo →