What distinguishes a carsharing vehicle legally from a rental car? This page summarises § 2 to § 5 of the Carsharing Act.
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
What is a carsharing vehicle?
A carsharing vehicle is a motor vehicle offered to an indefinite number of drivers on the basis of a framework agreement.
The time or kilometre tariff includes the energy costs. The vehicle can be reserved and used independently.
Which offer models does the Act know?
| Model | Feature |
|---|---|
| station-independent | use starts and ends without pick-up and return points fixed in advance |
| station-based | vehicles reservable in advance and locally fixed pick-up or return points |
| mixed form | a provider can combine both models |
A carsharing provider is a company regardless of its legal form.
Which privileges are possible?
- Privileges for parking on public roads or paths.
- Privileges in charging fees for this parking.
- Reductions of or exemptions from the fee obligation.
The safety and ease of traffic must not be impaired by this.
Why is the marking a requirement?
Privileges may only be granted for vehicles that carry a clearly visible marking as a carsharing vehicle.
Fees and expenses are charged for issuing the marking.
How are parking areas for station-based carsharing awarded?
The competent authority can designate suitable areas on through roads of federal roads. It awards them in a non-discriminatory and transparent selection procedure for 8 years at most.
If several providers meet the requirements, the decision is made by lot. A provider is unreliable if it has repeatedly and seriously breached duties under the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations.
What does this mean for dealers?
For rental companies and fleets with a carsharing offer this means: the vehicles are registered like other motor vehicles, and the privileges depend on the marking.
With Zevra the dealer files registration and deregistration in the dealer portal. Registration costs from 10 € per case, deregistration 2 € net, plus official fees.
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- 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
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- 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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- Approving a dismantling facility: certificate, experts and requirements
- End-of-life vehicle rules: administrative offences and fines under § 11
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Sources: Carsharinggesetz (CsgG) § 2 – Begriffsbestimmungen · Carsharinggesetz (CsgG) § 3 – Bevorrechtigungen · Carsharinggesetz (CsgG) § 4 – Kennzeichnung · Carsharinggesetz (CsgG) § 5 – Sondernutzung öffentlichen Straßenraums · Sources