When selling into another registration district, the customer often asks whether the plate can stay. This page sorts the cases by 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
Can the plate stay after a move?
Yes. If the keeper moves their residence or seat to another registration district, they must choose one of 2 options without delay.
- They apply to the registration authority at the new residence or seat for a new plate, a new registration certificate Part I and the amendment of the details in Part II.
- Or they tell that authority that the previous plate is to be kept, and present the registration certificate Part I for amendment.
In the second case, the authority only amends the registration certificate Part I. In the first case, it assigns a new plate after the registration certificate and the previous plates have been presented for removal of the seal.
Can the buyer take over the plate?
Yes. If the vehicle previously had a plate from another registration authority, the buyer has the choice: they apply for a new plate or state that the previous one is to be kept.
Regardless of this, they apply without delay for a new registration certificate Part I and present Part II for the transfer.
Which cases does the ordinance cover?
The Vehicle Registration Ordinance names 5 cases in which the previous plate plays a role.
| Case | What applies to the plate | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Move to another registration district | new plate or keep the previous one | FZV § 15 (4) |
| Change of keeper, vehicle from another district | new plate or keep the previous one | FZV § 15 (5) |
| Deregistration | reservation for at most 12 months | FZV § 16 (1) |
| Re-registration to the same keeper with the previous plate | registration certificate Part II not required | FZV § 16 (2) |
| District code abolished | may be kept until deregistration | FZV § 9 (3) |
How long can a plate be reserved?
After deregistration, the keeper can have the plate reserved for the purpose of re-registration: for at most 12 months, counted from the day of deregistration. They receive a written or electronic confirmation.
This does not apply if the plate was kept in another registration district and is deregistered there.
What is dropped online when the plate stays?
The change on a change of keeper or residence can be applied for online. If the previous plate is to be kept on a change of residence, 2 steps are dropped.
- Proof of possession of the registration certificate Part II is not required.
- No new registration certificate Part II is issued.
- Instead of new plates and seal stickers, the registration decision permits keeping the previous ones.
- Until the new registration certificate Part I arrives, the registration decision in readable form is sufficient – for at most 10 days after it was retrieved.
What happens if the keeper reports nothing?
If the keeper does not meet their duties after a move, the registration authority may prohibit the operation of the vehicle on public roads until the duties are fulfilled.
If the keeper remains inactive despite this order, the authority may call in the registration certificate in the official gazette (Verkehrsblatt) with a deadline of 4 weeks. When it expires without result, the registration ends.
What does this mean for dealerships and registration services?
Zevra is the B2B platform for digital vehicle registration. Dealerships and registration service providers submit transfer, re-registration and deregistration digitally – nationwide, in one uniform process. A transfer costs from €10 per case, deregistration €2 net, plus official fees.
Zevra is not an authority. Whether a plate is kept is decided by the registration authority.
- 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
- Short-term plates or red plates: what dealers need 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
- Insurance plate: which vehicles need it and how long it is valid
- Car dealerships
- Registration services
- Fleet operators
- Pricing
Sources: Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 9 – Zuteilung von Kennzeichen · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 15 – Mitteilungspflichten bei Änderungen · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 16 – Außerbetriebsetzung, Wiederzulassung · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 30 – Internetbasierte Änderung bei Halter- oder Wohnsitzwechsel · Sources