Leasing companies, dealers and fleets handle many vehicles at once when contracts end. This page summarises sections 14 and 15 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance for this situation.
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
Which routes exist at the end of a lease?
| Case | Consequence for registration |
|---|---|
| Vehicle goes to a new keeper | change of keeper: notice and re-registration under section 15(5) |
| Vehicle is deregistered and remarketed | deregistration under section 16 |
| Keeper stays the same | no change of keeper under section 15(5) |
Who must report the change of keeper?
The previous keeper and the owner report the change to the registration authority without delay. The notice contains the plate, the acquirer's name and address and the acquirer's confirmation that the registration certificate was handed over.
The notice is not needed if the acquirer has already re-registered the vehicle.
What must the acquirer do?
- report new keeper data and vehicle data
- apply for a new registration certificate part I with proof of insurance
- present registration certificate part II for amendment
- with another registration authority, apply for a new plate or keep the old one
What applies if keeper and owner differ?
If the keeper is not also the owner, the duty to report changes also applies to the owner. It lasts until one of the obliged persons has reported the change.
The registration authority does not decide matters of private law. Whoever holds registration certificate part II must present it on request.
What happens if nobody re-registers?
The authority can call in the registration certificate in the Verkehrsblatt with a four-week deadline. If the deadline passes without result, the vehicle's registration ends.
Alternatively it can prohibit the operation of the vehicle until the notice is made.
How does this work with Zevra?
Leasing companies and dealers submit re-registrations and deregistrations in the dealer portal, including for many vehicles at contract end.
Registration costs from 10 € per transaction and deregistration 2 € net, plus official fees.
Which official time limits and values apply here?
| Subject | Time limit or value | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Reserving the number plate after deregistration | at most 12 months from the day of deregistration | § 16 FZV |
| Call-in of the registration certificate in the official gazette (Verkehrsblatt) | 4 weeks to present it | § 15 FZV |
- Registering a leased vehicle: who is the keeper – and where does the registration certificate part II stay?
- Car sold: what seller and buyer must report to the authority
- Registration certificate part II: issue, duty to present and new certificate
- Transfer online: re-register a used car to the buyer digitally
- Vehicle deregistration online: take vehicles out of service digitally – for dealers and fleets
- 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
- Car sold: what seller and buyer must report to the authority
- Change of address after a move: re-registering a vehicle online
- Keeper's change of name: having the vehicle documents changed
- Reporting vehicle changes: what must be reported without delay
- Registering rental cars and taxis: reporting the use and meeting deadlines
- HU intervals: when is the general inspection due for which vehicle?
- Compulsory deregistration: when the authority takes a vehicle off the road
- Registration offences: what section 77 FZV lists
- Foreign vehicle in Germany: how long it may drive without German registration
- German vehicle registers: which vehicle and keeper data is stored
- Retrieval from the vehicle register: search keys, occasions and transmission block
- German vehicle register: when data is deleted after deregistration
- General inspection in the vehicle register: which data are stored
- Vehicle data to insurer and tax office: what the registration authority transmits
- KBA notifications to registration authorities: new plate, theft and duplicates
- Exemption permit under § 76: competence, limits and duty to carry it
- Car dealerships
- Registration services
- Fleet operators
- Leasing companies
- Banks & insurers
- Remarketing & resellers
- Pricing
Sources: Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 14 – Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 15 – Mitteilungspflichten bei Änderungen · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 16 – Außerbetriebsetzung, Wiederzulassung · Sources · FZV sections § 14 · FZV sections § 15 · FZV sections § 16 · Vehicle figures: tax, insurance, fines