Dealers also sell vehicles to customers and companies not registered in Germany. This page summarises what sections 6 and 75 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (FZV) say about it.
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
When does the keeper need an authorised recipient?
When he has neither residence nor habitual abode, seat or management in Germany and the vehicle is normally based in Germany. The authority then asks for a person in Germany to be named.
Name and address of the authorised recipient are stated in the application and stored in the vehicle registers.
Who is exempt?
- Keepers with residence or seat in an EU member state or EEA state to which service under section 9(1) no. 1 or 4 of the Administrative Service Act is possible.
- Keepers in a state where the European Convention of 24 November 1977 on the service abroad of documents relating to administrative matters is in force.
In these cases the authority at the vehicle's normal location is competent.
Which registration authority is competent?
| Keeper's situation | Competent authority |
|---|---|
| Residence in Germany | Authority of the place of residence |
| Several homes | Authority of the main residence |
| Company or business with a fixed seat | Authority of the seat or branch |
| No residence, seat or branch | Authority at the authorised recipient's residence |
| Exempt under section 6(2) sentence 2 | Authority at the vehicle's normal location |
What else goes into the application?
Besides keeper data such as name, date of birth and address, the application contains name and address of the authorised recipient or representative. For exempt keepers the address of the normal location is added.
Registration certificate part II must be submitted with the application.
What does this mean for dealers?
Before applying, clarify where the customer lives and where the vehicle will be based. This decides which authority is competent and whether an authorised recipient is needed.
In the Zevra dealer portal you enter the keeper data once and file the case digitally, from 10 € per case plus official fees.
- Competent registration authority: which authority applies to residence, company and special cases
- Application for registration: which details and proofs the ordinance requires
- Foreign vehicle in Germany: how long it may drive without German registration
- Export plates: exporting vehicles – what dealers need to know
- Registering a vehicle from a non-EU country: customs proof, inspection and evidence
- 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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- Vehicle registration by the dealer – also in another federal state
- Registration for used-car dealers: which vehicles work online?
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- Registering a company car: which documents does each legal form need?
- Registering motorcycles and trailers online: what is the same for dealers – and what differs
- Registering motorhomes and caravans online: what dealers need to know
- Registering an electric car in Germany: tax exemption and E plate
- Importing an EU vehicle and registering it in Germany: what dealers need to know
- Registration without a valid HU: what is possible when the inspection has expired
- Certificate of destruction (Verwertungsnachweis): scrapping and deregistering a car
- Registering a tractor: which farm machinery needs no registration
- Registering a vehicle from a non-EU country: customs proof, inspection and evidence
- Car dealerships
- Registration services
- Fleet operators
- Import dealers
- Pricing
Sources: Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 6 – Antrag auf Zulassung · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 75 – Zuständigkeiten · Sources · FZV sections § 6 · FZV sections § 75