When does a vehicle's operating licence end? This page sums up § 19 of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations for the trade.
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
How long is the operating licence valid?
The operating licence remains effective until the vehicle is finally taken out of service, unless it is expressly withdrawn.
Which modifications make it lapse?
- the approved vehicle type is changed,
- a danger to road users is to be expected,
- exhaust or noise behaviour is worsened.
Vehicle manufacturers, importers and traders may not carry out such modifications or have them carried out. This does not apply if an operating licence under § 21 is obtained for the whole vehicle without delay.
When does it remain in force despite fitting parts?
| Case | Condition |
|---|---|
| Part with its own operating licence or design approval | Effectiveness does not depend on an inspection |
| Part with EC type approval or approval under an international regulation | Restrictions and fitting instructions are observed |
| Part whose approval requires an inspection | Inspection carried out without delay and confirmed |
If restrictions or fitting instructions are not complied with, the vehicle's operating licence lapses.
Which journeys are allowed after it has lapsed?
Only journeys directly connected with obtaining a new operating licence are allowed.
The vehicle carries its previous plates or red plates for these journeys.
Which documents must be carried?
The driver carries the copy of the part's operating licence or approval, or the proof of the inspection.
This is not needed if the registration certificate part I contains a corresponding entry. The duty to report changes under § 15 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance remains unaffected.
What can the authority order?
If there is reason to assume that the operating licence has lapsed, the administrative authority can order an expert report or the presentation of the vehicle. An inspection sticker may then not be issued.
What does this mean for dealers?
For dealers, what counts before the sale is whether conversions are entered or approved.
With Zevra the dealer files registration and deregistration in the dealer portal. Registration costs from 10 € per case, deregistration 2 € net, plus official fees.
- Individual operating licence under § 21 StVZO: application, expert report and retention
- Reporting vehicle changes: what must be reported without delay
- Fines in German vehicle registration: standard rates from the schedule of fines
- Compulsory deregistration: when the authority takes a vehicle off the road
- Operating licence for vehicle parts under § 22 StVZO: licence, inspection and type mark
- General operating licence for vehicle types in Germany: grant, duties and lapse (§ 20 StVZO)
- Design approval for vehicle parts in Germany: duty, test mark and exceptions (§ 22a StVZO)
- 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
- 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
- General operating licence for vehicle types in Germany: grant, duties and lapse (§ 20 StVZO)
- 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)
- Car dealerships
- Registration services
- Fleet operators
- Car workshops
- Pricing
Sources: Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung (StVZO) § 19 – Erteilung und Wirksamkeit der Betriebserlaubnis · Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung (StVZO) § 21 – Betriebserlaubnis für Einzelfahrzeuge · Sources