Are old vehicle papers still valid? This page sums up § 79 of the German Vehicle Registration Ordinance of 2023 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
Which old vehicle papers remain valid?
| Document | Condition |
|---|---|
| Fahrzeugschein and trailer certificate | issued before 1 March 2007 in one of the listed models |
| Fahrzeugbrief | issued by a registration authority up to 30 September 2005 |
| Registration certificate part I or part II in the model of 2004 | issued from 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2008 |
| Registration certificate part I in the model valid until 30 September 2019 | issued up to 30 September 2020 |
In total the ordinance lists 16 groups of documents that remain valid.
When must a Fahrzeugbrief be exchanged?
Exchange for a registration certificate part II is required when the Fahrzeugschein in a previously valid model is replaced by a registration certificate part I.
Do old plates and stickers remain valid?
- A number plate allocated before 1 March 2007 under the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations remains valid.
- A number plate allocated before 1 September 2023 under the earlier ordinance remains valid unless otherwise provided.
- A stamp sticker with which plates were stamped before 1 January 2015 remains valid.
What applies to vehicles formerly exempt from registration?
A vehicle that was not subject to registration under the law in force until 28 February 2007 and first entered traffic before 1 March 2007 remains exempt from registration.
Which cut-off dates concern electric vehicles and the digital procedure?
The rule on marking electrically powered vehicles in § 11 and Annex 3 no longer applies after the end of 31 December 2026.
Registration authorities must meet the minimum security requirements of the Federal Motor Transport Authority from 31 December 2023. The Federal Motor Transport Authority processes the proofs submitted within 20 working days.
What does this mean for dealers?
In the used-car trade older papers turn up regularly; they remain valid according to the cut-off dates named.
With Zevra the dealer files registration and deregistration in the dealer portal. Registration costs from 10 € per case, deregistration 2 € net, plus official fees.
- 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
- Documents for vehicle registration: printable checklist per case
- CoC (certificate of conformity): the proof at first registration
- Vehicle registration: 5 special cases on papers and plates in brief
- Registration certificate part I: fields and codes from A to S explained
- Digital registration certificate: what the i-Kfz app changes for keepers and dealers
- Vehicle tax at registration: SEPA mandate and tax arrears
- Temporary registration proof: content, validity and duties
- 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
- eVB number in vehicle registration: proof of third-party insurance in the digital application
- Uncovering the security code: registration certificate part I, part II and stickers
- Registration certificate part II lost: procedure, deadlines and consequences for the trade
- Registration certificate part I: duty to carry, markings and loss
- Application for registration: which details and proofs the ordinance requires
- Registration certificate part II: issue, duty to present and new certificate
- Proof of general inspection for online registration: register retrieval or check digit
- Insurance confirmation: content, transmission and notifications to the insurer
- International registration certificate: when it is issued and what it is valid for
- COC database of the KBA: purpose, manufacturers' duties and deadlines
- Car dealerships
- Registration services
- Fleet operators
- Remarketing & resellers
- Pricing
Sources: Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 79 – Übergangs- und Anwendungsbestimmungen · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 14 – Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II · Sources · FZV sections § 79 · FZV sections § 14