Which dimensions and which font do German plates have? This page sums up annex 4 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance.
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
How large are number plates?
| Type | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| one line | at most 520 mm | 110 mm |
| two lines | at most 340 mm, for two- and three-wheeled motor vehicles 280 mm | 200 mm |
| motorcycle plate | 180 mm to 220 mm | 200 mm |
| reduced two-line | at most 255 mm | 130 mm |
Reduced two-line plates may only be assigned to light motorcycles and certain other vehicles.
Which font is prescribed?
- medium font with a character height of 75 mm,
- narrow font with a character height of 75 mm,
- reduced medium font with 49 mm, only for reduced two-line plates and motorcycle plates.
The lettering must match the templates of the forgery-impeding font (FE font). As a rule the medium font is used; if the maximum length is not enough, the narrow font may be used.
How many characters may a plate have?
More than 8 characters are not permitted. Counted are the letters of the district code and the letters and digits of the identification number.
For historic and season plates it is at most 7 characters on one-line plates.
Which tolerances apply in manufacture?
For one-line and two-line plates, the character height may deviate by at most 2.0 mm upwards and 1.0 mm downwards. The stroke width of the lettering may deviate by 1.0 mm.
Where are the stickers placed?
The inspection sticker of the general inspection sits at the top of the rear plate. The stamp sticker sits at the bottom of the front and rear plates.
On two-line plates the stickers may be placed under the Euro field.
What applies when the plate does not fit the intended place?
The plate may not be larger than the mounting place provided by the manufacturer allows.
If no fitting plate can be assigned, the keeper makes changes to the vehicle, provided they do not require disproportionate effort.
What does this mean for dealers?
For dealers, the mounting place on the vehicle decides the type of plate.
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
- Vehicle registration fees in Germany: official fees at the counter and online
- Operating licence lapsed: when modifications to the vehicle end it (§ 19 StVZO)
- Individual operating licence under § 21 StVZO: application, expert report and retention
- Historic vehicle report under § 23 StVZO: requirements for the H plate
- Compulsory motor insurance in Germany: duty to insure, term and penalty
- Minimum insured sums in German motor liability insurance: amounts per claim
- Making, selling and issuing number plates: notice duty under § 6b StVG
- Number plate misuse under § 22 StVG: punishable acts and penalty
- Fines in German vehicle registration: standard rates from the schedule of fines
- German vehicle tax: car rates by engine size and CO₂ (§ 9 KraftStG)
- German vehicle tax liability: start, end and minimum term under § 5 KraftStG
- Paying German vehicle tax: yearly, half-yearly or quarterly (§ 11 KraftStG)
- German vehicle tax for motorhomes, vans and trucks: rates by total weight
- German vehicle tax and severe disability: exemption and reduction under § 3a KraftStG
- Trailer without vehicle tax in Germany: green plate and trailer surcharge (§ 10 KraftStG)
- Operating licence for vehicle parts under § 22 StVZO: licence, inspection and type mark
- Claims history statement in Germany: deadline, content and equal treatment (§ 5c PflVG)
- Foreign vehicle in Germany: insurance, Green Card and frontier insurance
- General operating licence for vehicle types in Germany: grant, duties and lapse (§ 20 StVZO)
- Design approval for vehicle parts in Germany: duty, test mark and exceptions (§ 22a StVZO)
- Vehicle tax notice in Germany: assessment, reassessment and tax base (§ 12 and § 8 KraftStG)
- E-scooter and other small electric vehicles in Germany: operating licence, insurance sticker and minimum age (eKFV)
- German vehicle tax: who is the tax debtor and what is taxed? (§ 7 and § 1 KraftStG)
- Provisional cover in German motor liability insurance: start, end and duties (KfzPflVV)
- Logbook order in Germany: order, entries and retention for keepers (§ 31a StVZO)
- Keeper liability for stopping or parking offences in Germany: when the keeper bears the costs (§ 25a StVG)
- Individual approval for vehicles in Germany: conditions, expert report and revocation (§ 13 EG-FGV)
- Car dealerships
- Registration services
- Fleet operators
- Motorcycle dealers
- Pricing
Sources: Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) Anlage 4 – Ausgestaltung der Kennzeichen · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 12 – Ausgestaltung und Anbringung der Kennzeichen · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 78 – Verweis auf technische Regelwerke · Sources · FZV sections § 12 · FZV sections § 78