Vehicle registration certificate in Germany: Part I (Fahrzeugschein) vs Part II (Fahrzeugbrief)

The two German registration documents are often confused, yet the Vehicle Registration Ordinance governs them separately: Part I in § 13, Part II in § 14. This page sets out the differences for dealerships and keepers.

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: 2026-10-15 · Zevra editorial team · Reviewed by M. Gabal, owner

What is the difference between Part I and Part II?

The Federal Ministry for Transport calls registration certificate Part I the former Fahrzeugschein and Part II the former Fahrzeugbrief.

What does § 13 FZV say about Part I?

• Registration certificate Part I is issued according to Annex 6 and carries a security code with the markings “Only uncover for internet-based registration” and “Document no longer valid”.
• The person driving the vehicle must carry it and hand it over to the competent persons on request.
• If several trailers are registered to the same keeper, a trailer list can be issued on application.
• If a lost Part I is found after a new one has been issued, it must be returned to the registration authority without delay.

What does § 14 FZV say about Part II?

• The application for issue must prove the right of disposal over the vehicle.
• The first issue is only permitted on presentation of the certificate of conformity, the data confirmation or the individual approval certificate.
• Part II also carries a hidden security code for internet-based registration.
• The registration authority does not decide private-law matters; whoever holds Part II must present it when asked.

What happens if Part II is lost?

The loss must be reported to the registration authority without delay; it informs the Federal Motor Transport Authority. On application the KBA publishes a public notice for the lost Part II in the Verkehrsblatt with a deadline for presentation.

A new Part II may only be issued after this deadline has expired. If the old document turns up, it must be returned to the registration authority without delay.

What role do the security codes play in online registration?

According to the Federal Ministry for Transport, deregistration and changes without a change of keeper work online only if the current documents were issued after 01.01.2015. New registration, re-registration and a change of keeper require the last documents to have been issued after 01.01.2018, because only then does Part II carry a security code too.

An uncovered code shows “Document no longer valid”. Keep the document with the used code anyway, for example for a later re-registration.

What does this mean for dealerships?

When buying a car, Part II is among the documents needed for re-registration and resale; Part I stays with the vehicle. For online registration the issue dates of both documents count.

With Zevra, registration costs from 10 € per case, deregistration 2 € net, plus official fees.

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
• HSN and TSN on German car papers: where they are and what the digits mean
• 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
• Old German vehicle documents: which papers and plates remain valid
• Data protection in vehicle registration: what dealers check under the GDPR
• Chassis number (VIN): where it is, how it is built and what it does at registration
• Car dealerships
• Registration services
• Fleet operators
• Pricing

Sources: Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 13 – Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 14 – Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II · Bundesministerium für Verkehr: Internetbasierte Fahrzeugzulassung – So funktioniert i-Kfz · Sources · FZV sections § 13 · FZV sections § 14