What is the document needed for? This page sums up § 44 and § 48 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
Who gets an international registration certificate?
For a vehicle to which a number plate has been allocated, the certificate is issued on application.
The legal basis is Article 4 and Annex B of the International Convention of 24 April 1926 relative to Motor Traffic.
What role does it play in export?
For a vehicle with export plates the registration certificate part I is limited to export. In addition an international registration certificate can be issued.
The date on which the registration's period of validity ends is noted on the certificate. Registration for export is limited to 1 year at most.
Which documents apply to foreign vehicles in Germany?
| Document | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Valid foreign registration certificate | requirement for temporary participation in traffic |
| International registration certificate | sufficient for a vehicle registered in a third country |
| Translation | needed if the certificate is not in German and does not meet the international requirements |
The person driving the vehicle carries the document and hands it to competent persons on request.
What applies if a foreign vehicle does not comply with the rules?
Then § 5 of the ordinance applies as for domestic vehicles. The authority has 3 options.
- It sets a reasonable period for remedying the defects.
- It restricts operation on public roads.
- It prohibits operation on public roads.
What happens to the document if operation is prohibited?
If operation is prohibited, the registration certificate issued abroad or the international registration certificate is sent back to the issuing body.
If the keeper or owner has no place of residence or stay in Germany, any administrative authority is competent for this.
What does this mean for dealers?
For export and for purchases from abroad, the right document decides whether the drive is allowed.
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
- COC database of the KBA: purpose, manufacturers' duties and deadlines
- Old German vehicle documents: which papers and plates remain valid
- Car dealerships
- Registration services
- Fleet operators
- Import dealers
- Pricing
Sources: Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 44 – Fahrten im internationalen Verkehr · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 48 – Beschränkung und Untersagung des Betriebs ausländischer Fahrzeuge · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 46 – Vorübergehende Teilnahme am Straßenverkehr im Inland · Sources · FZV sections § 44 · FZV sections § 48 · FZV sections § 46