This guide sums up what really counts in the trade: which procedures work digitally, which vehicle papers are suitable, what you need per case, where applications fail in practice – and which of the three access routes suits your business.
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 Mohamed Gabal, owner
Which procedures work digitally?
Via internet-based vehicle registration (i-Kfz), private individuals and – since September 2023 – legal entities can carry out the following procedures online:
- Registration (new registration)
- Deregistration (taking out of service)
- Re-registration
- Transfer with or without change of keeper
- Day registration
- Choice of electric, seasonal and historic (H) plates
Applications are checked automatically and decided directly. This allows immediate use: the vehicle may take part in road traffic straight away.
The two cut-off dates: which vehicle papers are suitable?
Whether a procedure is possible digitally depends on the issue date of the papers – only newer documents carry the hidden security codes.
| Procedure | Papers issued after | Security code required |
|---|---|---|
| Deregistration, transfer without change of keeper | 1 January 2015 | Registration certificate part I and stickers |
| New registration, re-registration, transfer with change of keeper, day registration | 1 January 2018 | Registration certificate part II |
Vehicles with older papers must still be processed in person at the registration authority. When buying in, it pays to check the issue date before planning a digital case.
Uncovering security codes correctly
- Registration certificate part I (Fahrzeugschein): carefully peel off the seal.
- Registration certificate part II (Fahrzeugbrief): carefully peel off the cover over the code field.
- Stickers on the plates: peel off or scratch free depending on the version.
- An uncovered or damaged code invalidates the document or sticker. If damaged, contact the competent registration authority.
- After deregistration keep the cancelled registration certificate part I – its code is needed again for a later re-registration.
Documents per procedure
| Procedure | What you need |
|---|---|
| New registration | Registration certificate part II with security code · eVB number · IBAN/SEPA mandate of the keeper for vehicle tax |
| Re-registration | Cancelled registration certificate part I from the deregistration · for change of keeper also part II · eVB number · valid HU (and SP if applicable) · IBAN/SEPA mandate |
| Deregistration | Security code of the registration certificate part I · security codes of the stickers on the plates |
| always | Power of attorney from the keeper when the dealership applies |
Hand over immediately: the temporary registration proof
After a successful check the registration notice and the temporary registration proof are provided online immediately. The proof is printed and placed visibly in the vehicle; with it the vehicle may take part in road traffic for 10 days.
Registration certificates part I and II and the sticker carriers arrive by post from the registration authority. No later than 10 days after registration the registration certificate part I must be carried and the stickers must be on the plates.
Three routes for companies
| Route | Requirement | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| i-Kfz portal of the registration authority | Company account with ELSTER certificate; application per vehicle in the portal of the competent authority | few cases, one registration district |
| Large-customer interface of the KBA | Legal entity, regularly over 500 registration applications per year, registration with the KBA | large groups with their own IT |
| Connected service (Zevra) | Dealer account and power of attorney with qualified electronic signature – no minimum volume | dealerships, registration services, smaller fleets |
Via Zevra the end customer needs no activated online ID card: they grant a power of attorney with a qualified electronic signature (QES). The decision on the application still rests with the registration authority.
Where applications fail in practice
From our daily work with digital cases – the most common causes of rejection:
- Security code misread: similar characters such as lower-case l and upper-case I, O and 0 are easily confused. Read the code in good light and check it with a colleague.
- Vehicle already taken out of service: a second deregistration is rejected by the authority. Clarify the status before applying.
- Papers issued before the cut-off date: without a hidden security code no digital case.
- Code or sticker damaged: the document is invalid – only the authority can resolve this.
- eVB number invalid.
- Keeper with outstanding tax or fees: these are checked automatically in the procedure.
What does digital registration cost?
| Service | Price at Zevra (net) |
|---|---|
| Registration / transfer / re-registration | €10 |
| Deregistration | €2 |
| Monthly base fee | €0 |
Official fees are passed on 1:1. The price applies nationwide regardless of the customer's registration district. All prices plus VAT.
Read more
- New registration online: register new cars digitally and hand over the same day
- Vehicle deregistration online: take vehicles out of service digitally – for dealers and fleets
- Transfer online: re-register a used car to the buyer digitally
- Re-registration online: put deregistered vehicles back into service digitally
- Day registration online: first registration for one calendar day – digitally from the dealership
- eVB number in vehicle registration: proof of third-party insurance in the digital application
- Digital registration power of attorney: how the dealership registers for the customer with legal certainty
- Vehicle registration without online ID: why the customer needs no eID when the dealership registers
- Number plates in the digital registration case: own press or order with shipping
- i-Kfz for companies and dealers: portal, large-customer interface or service
- Vehicle registration by the dealer – also in another federal state
- Who offers digital vehicle registration for companies in Germany?
- Uncovering the security code: registration certificate part I, part II and stickers
- Registration certificate part II lost: procedure, deadlines and consequences for the trade
- Short-term plates or red plates: what dealers need for test and transfer drives
- Export plates: exporting vehicles – what dealers need to know
- Registering motorcycles and trailers online: what is the same for dealers – and what differs
- i-Kfz stage 4: what is new – and what does it mean for dealerships?
- Registering a company car: which documents does each legal form need?
- Registration service, authority or i-Kfz: which route pays off for dealers?
- Registering a leased vehicle: who is the keeper – and where does the registration certificate part II stay?
- Registration service at the dealership: how does registration become a selling point?
- Registration for used-car dealers: which vehicles work online?
- Registration service costs: what does a dealership pay per registration?
- How long does online vehicle registration take in Germany?
- Seasonal plates, E plates and H plates: applying online in Germany
- Low-emission sticker (Umweltplakette): what dealers should know
- Change of address after a move: re-registering a vehicle online
- Registering motorhomes and caravans online: what dealers need to know
- Interchangeable plates (Wechselkennzeichen): one plate for two vehicles
- Vehicle registration in Germany: official figures, deadlines and key dates
- Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online
- Registration without a valid HU: what is possible when the inspection has expired
- Importing an EU vehicle and registering it in Germany: what dealers need to know
- Registering an electric car in Germany: tax exemption and E plate
- Keeper's change of name: having the vehicle documents changed
- Documents for vehicle registration: printable checklist per case
- Reserving a number plate: term, fee and rules for personalised plates
- Registering rental cars and taxis: reporting the use and meeting deadlines
- Certificate of destruction (Verwertungsnachweis): scrapping and deregistering a car
- Green number plates: plates for tax-exempt vehicles in Germany
- Online registration rejected: common reasons and solutions
- Becoming a KBA large customer: requirements, details and duties
- HU intervals: when is the general inspection due for which vehicle?
- Vehicle tax at registration: SEPA mandate and tax arrears
- Temporary registration proof: content, validity and duties
- CoC (certificate of conformity): the proof at first registration
- Car dealerships
- Registration services
- Fleet operators
- Leasing companies
- Rental & car subscription
- Banks & insurers
- Manufacturers & importers
- Remarketing & resellers
- Pricing
Sources: Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV): Internet-based vehicle registration – how i-Kfz works (German) · Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA): Large-customer interface – registration (German)