When does a commercial register extract belong in the registration application? This page sums up § 9 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) and the requirements of two registration authorities (Hamburg and the district of Stade) for dealerships and business customers.
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 commercial register extract?
The extract reproduces the entries in the commercial register. Under § 9(1) HGB, anyone may inspect the commercial register and the documents filed there for information purposes by individual retrieval.
The data can be retrieved via the electronic information and communication system designated by the state justice administrations. Under § 9(4) HGB a printout of the entries can also be requested, as an official printout if desired.
When does the registration authority ask for it?
| Keeper | Proof according to the district of Stade |
|---|---|
| GmbH, OHG, KG, GmbH & Co. KG | complete, current commercial register extract |
| Sole proprietorship | current trade registration; register extract only if entered in the commercial register |
| GbR (civil-law partnership) | no register extract; partnership agreement and declaration of all partners |
| Association | extract from the register of associations (Hamburg) |
For legal persons the vehicle is registered to the company if these documents are provided in addition to the usual registration documents.
How old may the extract be?
- Hamburg: the company proof showing the Hamburg address, for example a commercial register extract, must not be older than 3 months.
- District of Stade: complete, current commercial register extract, at most 6 months old.
- The Vehicle Registration Ordinance (FZV) does not set a uniform nationwide deadline; the requirement of the competent authority applies.
Who may sign for the company according to the extract?
The district of Stade requires the ID of the person or persons authorised to sign according to the commercial register extract. For applications by proxy, Hamburg requires the original power of attorney with a legible colour copy of the ID of the authorised representative.
The person signing the power of attorney should therefore be recognisable in the extract as authorised to represent the company.
What does this mean for car dealerships?
When a dealership registers vehicles for business customers, the extract, the ID of the authorised signatory and the power of attorney belong to the case documents. The overview on company cars shows which proofs apply to each legal form.
With Zevra, registration costs from 10 € per case, deregistration 2 € net, plus official fees.
- Registering a company car: which documents does each legal form need?
- Digital registration power of attorney: how the dealership registers for the customer with legal certainty
- Economic sector in vehicle registration: which code belongs in the application?
- Application for registration: which details and proofs the ordinance requires
- Documents for vehicle registration: printable checklist per case
- 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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- Pricing
Sources: Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB) § 9 – Einsichtnahme in das Handelsregister · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 6 – Antrag auf Zulassung · Hamburg: Ummeldung Ihres Kraftfahrzeugs beantragen (bei Halterwechsel) · Landkreis Stade: Besonderheiten bei der Zulassung auf Firmen · Sources · FZV sections § 6