How does a whole vehicle type obtain its operating licence? This page summarises § 20 of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations.
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.
Last updated: · Zevra editorial team · Reviewed by M. Gabal, owner
Who is granted the general operating licence?
It can be granted to the manufacturer for vehicles that are or will be built in series. The condition is a test at the manufacturer's expense.
The manufacturer must also guarantee reliable exercise of the powers conferred. If several parties build a type, the licence can be granted to them jointly.
Who receives the licence for vehicles from abroad?
| Origin of the vehicles | Recipient of the licence |
|---|---|
| built in a state of the European Economic Area | the manufacturer or its representative |
| built outside it, but imported from a state of the European Economic Area | the manufacturer's representative |
| all other cases | the dealer who proves its right of sole distribution |
In the third case the dealer must be established within the scope of the regulations.
Who decides on the application?
The Federal Motor Transport Authority decides on the application. It determines which documents have to be supplied.
It can commission an officially recognised motor vehicle expert or another body with the assessment.
Which duties does the holder have?
- The holder fills in a data confirmation for every vehicle of the type that requires registration.
- In it the holder certifies the details of the vehicle's characteristics and its conformity with the approved type.
- The holder departs from the technical details laid down only with a supplement.
The data confirmation is not needed when the Federal Motor Transport Authority has provided type data and the holder has entered the assigned key number.
When does the general operating licence lapse?
It lapses when a set period expires, when the Federal Motor Transport Authority revokes it and when the approved type no longer complies with the legal provisions.
Revocation is possible when the holder breaches its duties or proves unreliable. It is also possible when the type does not meet the requirements of road safety.
What does this mean for dealers?
For dealers, the data confirmation or the key number is the proof that a new vehicle matches the approved type.
With Zevra the dealer files registration and deregistration in the dealer portal. Registration costs from 10 € per case, deregistration 2 € net, plus official fees.
- Operating licence lapsed: when modifications to the vehicle end it (§ 19 StVZO)
- Individual operating licence under § 21 StVZO: application, expert report and retention
- CoC (certificate of conformity): the proof at first registration
- COC database of the KBA: purpose, manufacturers' duties and deadlines
- E-scooter and other small electric vehicles in Germany: operating licence, insurance sticker and minimum age (eKFV)
- Individual approval for vehicles in Germany: conditions, expert report and revocation (§ 13 EG-FGV)
- Temporary registration proof: valid for 10 days
- Documents posted by the authority: within 6 days
- Digital deregistration: documents from 01.01.2015
- Digital registration: documents from 01.01.2018
- Registration with Zevra: €10 net
- Deregistration with Zevra: €2 net · base fee: €0
Deadlines and cut-off dates according to: Bundesministerium für Verkehr
Read more
- Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online
- Operating licence lapsed: when modifications to the vehicle end it (§ 19 StVZO)
- Individual operating licence under § 21 StVZO: application, expert report and retention
- Historic vehicle report under § 23 StVZO: requirements for the H plate
- Compulsory motor insurance in Germany: duty to insure, term and penalty
- Minimum insured sums in German motor liability insurance: amounts per claim
- Making, selling and issuing number plates: notice duty under § 6b StVG
- Number plate misuse under § 22 StVG: punishable acts and penalty
- Fines in German vehicle registration: standard rates from the schedule of fines
- German vehicle tax: car rates by engine size and CO₂ (§ 9 KraftStG)
- German vehicle tax liability: start, end and minimum term under § 5 KraftStG
- German number plate size and font: dimensions, FE font and character count (annex 4 FZV)
- Paying German vehicle tax: yearly, half-yearly or quarterly (§ 11 KraftStG)
- German vehicle tax for motorhomes, vans and trucks: rates by total weight
- German vehicle tax and severe disability: exemption and reduction under § 3a KraftStG
- Trailer without vehicle tax in Germany: green plate and trailer surcharge (§ 10 KraftStG)
- Operating licence for vehicle parts under § 22 StVZO: licence, inspection and type mark
- Claims history statement in Germany: deadline, content and equal treatment (§ 5c PflVG)
- Foreign vehicle in Germany: insurance, Green Card and frontier insurance
- Design approval for vehicle parts in Germany: duty, test mark and exceptions (§ 22a StVZO)
- Vehicle tax notice in Germany: assessment, reassessment and tax base (§ 12 and § 8 KraftStG)
- E-scooter and other small electric vehicles in Germany: operating licence, insurance sticker and minimum age (eKFV)
- German vehicle tax: who is the tax debtor and what is taxed? (§ 7 and § 1 KraftStG)
- Provisional cover in German motor liability insurance: start, end and duties (KfzPflVV)
- Logbook order in Germany: order, entries and retention for keepers (§ 31a StVZO)
- Keeper liability for stopping or parking offences in Germany: when the keeper bears the costs (§ 25a StVG)
- Individual approval for vehicles in Germany: conditions, expert report and revocation (§ 13 EG-FGV)
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- Registration services
- Fleet operators
- Manufacturers & importers
- Import dealers
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Sources: Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung (StVZO) § 20 – Allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis für Typen · Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung (StVZO) § 19 – Erteilung und Wirksamkeit der Betriebserlaubnis · Sources