For a motor business, red plates (rotes Kennzeichen) are the tool for drives without registration. This page sums up what § 41 of the German Vehicle Registration Ordinance prescribes.
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 may red plates be used for?
An unregistered vehicle may be put into service with red plates for:
- inspection drives, test drives and transfer drives,
- a necessary drive for refuelling and exterior cleaning in connection with such a drive,
- a necessary drive for repair or maintenance of the vehicle.
Motor liability insurance is required. The vehicle does not need a type approval or individual approval for these drives.
Who gets red plates?
The registration authority may allocate them to reliable
- motor vehicle manufacturers and vehicle parts manufacturers,
- motor vehicle garages,
- motor vehicle dealers,
- manufacturers of trailers that require registration.
Allocation is for a limited time or revocable, for recurring business use, also on different vehicles. The identification number consists of digits only and starts with 06.
What must be entered in the vehicle document booklet?
| Entry | When |
|---|---|
| Description of the vehicle on a separate page | before the first drive, complete and in permanent writing |
| Red plate used, date and start of the drive | before setting off |
| Driver with address | before setting off |
| Vehicle class, manufacturer and vehicle identification number | before setting off |
| End of the drive and route | also without delay after the drive |
The booklet must be carried on every drive. The holder keeps the records for 1 year after they were made and hands them over for inspection on request.
When must red plates go back to the authority?
The holder presents plate and booklet for cancellation without delay if
- the period for which the plate was allocated has expired,
- the holder no longer needs the plate,
- the holder moves residence or seat to another registration district.
What applies to seasonal and interchangeable plates?
A vehicle with a seasonal plate may be moved with red plates outside its operating period if the seasonal plate is not carried at the same time. The same applies to interchangeable plates: they must not be on the vehicle at the same time, neither fully nor in part.
How are red plates fitted?
Red plates do not have to be firmly fixed. § 29 of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations on the general inspection does not apply.
Technical inspection bodies, designated technical services and recognised monitoring organisations receive red plates for inspection drives whose identification number starts with 05.
What does this mean for the trade?
Red plates are allocated by the registration authority alone. The holder reports changes to their own data to it without delay and presents the booklet.
With Zevra dealers file the registration of the sold vehicle digitally. It costs from €10 per case, deregistration €2 net, plus official fees.
- Short-term plates or red plates: what dealers need for test and transfer drives
- Red historic vehicle plates 07: permitted drives and duties
- Number plate types in Germany: all vehicle plates compared
- Fitting number plates: what the FZV prescribes on height, tilt and readability
- Red insurance plate: drives, structure and reporting to the register
- 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
- 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 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
- Car dealerships
- Registration services
- Fleet operators
- Car workshops
- Pricing
Sources: Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) § 41 – Prüfungsfahrten, Probefahrten und Überführungsfahrten mit rotem Kennzeichen · Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) Anlage 13 – Fahrzeugscheinheft für Fahrzeuge mit rotem Kennzeichen · Sources · FZV sections § 41