Insurance, parts trade, valuation, registration application: everyone asks for HSN and TSN. The numbers are on both registration certificates – you only need to know which positions count.
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
Where exactly are HSN and TSN?
| Field | Content | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Manufacturer short name (plain text) | up to 25 |
| 2.1 | Code for field 2 = manufacturer key number (HSN) | 4 |
| 2.2 | Codes for D.2 with check digit: type (TSN), variant/version, check digit | 9 (3 + 5 + 1) |
| D.2 | Type, variant, version (plain text) | up to 25 per line |
The fields are the same on registration certificate part I (Fahrzeugschein) and part II (Fahrzeugbrief). The number of characters is the maximum print length according to the KBA guideline, as of July 2026.
Who allocates the key numbers?
The manufacturer key number is allocated by the Federal Motor Transport Authority according to its manufacturer directory. The KBA also allocates the key numbers for type and variant/version; it is responsible for encoding the plain text in field D.2. It calculates the check digit electronically using the modulo 11 method.
What is in the field if no key number has been allocated?
- Motor vehicle with world manufacturer identifier (WMI): HSN 0901, without WMI: 0900.
- Trailer with WMI: HSN 0801, without WMI: 0800.
- Type unknown: 000; variant/version unknown: 00000.
- Only the type known: add five zeros, for example 12300000.
- In both cases a dash (-) replaces the check digit.
What are HSN and TSN needed for in registration?
With the type key number together with the manufacturer key number, the record can be retrieved from the KBA type file. In the power of attorney under Annex 12 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (bulk customer interface), HSN and TSN replace the vehicle identification number for vehicles that have not yet been produced.
How do you enter HSN and TSN at Zevra?
At Zevra the dealer enters HSN and TSN in the vehicle step of the case, in separate fields “HSN (2.1)” and “TSN (2.2)”. Before submission Zevra checks the format: 4 digits for the HSN, 3 characters for the TSN. The vehicle identification number remains the mandatory field.
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- 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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Sources: Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA): Guideline for completing registration certificate parts I and II (July 2026) · Vehicle Registration Ordinance (FZV) Annex 12 – power of attorney (bulk customer interface) · Sources