For dealers and fleets the code determines which registration authority is competent and which combinations are possible at all. This page summarises the rules of section 9 FZV and Annexes 1 and 2.
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 does a number plate consist of?
A number plate consists of a district identifier with one to three letters for the administrative district in which the vehicle is registered, and an identification number for the individual vehicle.
Neither the identification number nor its combination with the district identifier may offend public decency.
Who sets the codes?
The Federal Ministry of Transport sets or abolishes the district identifiers at the request of the federal states. The decision is published in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger).
A state can apply for more than one code for a district, for example when the available combinations are about to run out. A plate with an abolished code may be kept until the vehicle is deregistered.
How are identification numbers grouped?
| Group | Range |
|---|---|
| a | A 1 – A 999 to Z 1 – Z 999 |
| b | AA 1 – AA 99 to ZZ 1 – ZZ 99 |
| c | AA 100 – AA 999 to ZZ 100 – ZZ 999 |
| d | A 1000 – A 9999 to Z 1000 – Z 9999 |
| e | AA 1000 – AA 9999 to ZZ 1000 – ZZ 9999 |
All letters except the umlauts Ä, Ö and Ü can be allocated alone or as a combination of two letters.
Which codes do federal and state vehicles carry?
- Federal: BD for federal bodies and ministries, BP for the Federal Police, BW for the waterways and shipping administration, THW, Y for the Bundeswehr and X for NATO headquarters.
- States: for example BWL, BYL, NRW, LSN, HEL or SH for state government and parliament.
- Diplomatic missions and privileged international organisations: 0, B or BN, depending on the status of the privileged person.
The identification numbers of these vehicles consist only of numbers with at most six digits.
Where do dealers find the code of their registration office?
The coverage page of the Zevra plate check lists the registration offices with their codes and shows whether a live check is possible. There you can also check whether a combination is free.
Dealers file the registration itself in the Zevra dealer portal, from 10 € per case plus official fees.
- Number plate types in Germany: all vehicle plates compared
- Checking a personalised number plate: availability, rules and official fees for dealers and fleets
- Reserving a number plate: term, fee and rules for personalised plates
- Competent registration authority: which authority applies to residence, company and special cases
- Keeping your number plate: what applies when moving or changing keeper
- 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
- Number plate types in Germany: all vehicle plates compared
- Number plates in the digital registration case: own press or order with shipping
- Seasonal plates, E plates and H plates: applying online in Germany
- Interchangeable plates (Wechselkennzeichen): one plate for two vehicles
- Transfer plates for dealers: short-term or red plates for test and transfer drives
- Export plates: exporting vehicles – what dealers need to know
- Low-emission sticker (Umweltplakette): what dealers should know
- 100 km/h plaque for trailers: requirements and procedure
- Reserving a number plate: term, fee and rules for personalised plates
- Green number plates: plates for tax-exempt vehicles in Germany
- Keeping your number plate: what applies when moving or changing keeper
- Insurance plate: which vehicles need it and how long it is valid
- Fitting number plates: what the FZV prescribes on height, tilt and readability
- Red plates 06: permitted drives, vehicle document booklet and return
- Red historic vehicle plates 07: permitted drives and duties
- Red insurance plate: drives, structure and reporting to the register
- Insurance plate as a film: carrier plate, hologram and expert report
- Checking a personalised number plate: availability, rules and official fees for dealers and fleets
- Car dealerships
- Registration services
- Fleet operators
- Pricing
Sources: Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 9 – Zuteilung von Kennzeichen · FZV Anlage 1 – Zuteilung der Erkennungsnummern · FZV Anlage 2 – Unterscheidungszeichen der Fahrzeuge von Bund und Ländern · Sources · FZV sections § 9 · Vehicle figures: tax, insurance, fines