Re-register a vehicle (change of holder)

KFZ-Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office) · Registration & Abmeldung (deregistration)

Online / in personi-Kfz from €9.90

In a change of holder, a vehicle that is already registered is re-registered to a new holder — the classic case after buying a used car. Legally, this is a notification duty under § 15 Abs. 5 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (FZV) of 20 July 2023: both the buyer and the previous holder must notify the change to the vehicle registration authority without undue delay. The new holder has the vehicle re-registered in their name, and the previous holder submits a notification of sale with the name and address of the buyer. Under § 15 Abs. 5 Satz 2 FZV, the seller's notification is indeed unnecessary once the buyer has already fulfilled their obligations under Satz 4 — that is, the re-registration. In practice, however, the seller usually cannot verify this promptly and remains at risk until it is proven.

The most important change of recent years concerns the licence plate: since 1 October 2019, the previous licence plate may be kept nationwide, even if the new holder lives in a different registration district. New plates for €20 to €40 are therefore, as a rule, unnecessary. Added to this is the second big leap: since stage 4 of internet-based vehicle registration (i-Kfz) on 1 September 2023, the re-registration can be completed entirely online — for €9.90 instead of €23.60 in person, around 58 per cent cheaper.

Last updated12 October 2026

Legal basis§ 15 Abs. 5 FZV · § 6 FZV · GebOSt fee schedule

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Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta

Independent information page: we are not the Kfz-Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office), not an authority and not paid advice — we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in simple terms; the competent body is always authoritative. The official fees in the fee schedule apply nationwide; procedural details, appointment booking and means of payment may vary by vehicle registration authority. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document official procedures and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.

Required documents

Registration certificate Part II (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II, formerly Fahrzeugbrief) – The central document for a change of holder: without Part II, no vehicle can be re-registered. The seller must hand it over in the original; a copy, scan or phone photo is not sufficient. If the document is held by a bank as loan security, the seller must first redeem it from the bank; if it has been lost, the vehicle registration authority must first issue a replacement document. For the online re-registration, Part II must have been issued on or after 1 January 2018, because only these forms carry the hidden security code.

Registration certificate Part I (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I, formerly Fahrzeugschein) – Part I belongs in the vehicle and shows the technical data and the date of the next periodic roadworthiness test (Hauptuntersuchung, HU — commonly called ‘TÜV’). On re-registration, it is withdrawn and reissued to the new holder. For the internet-based procedure, the cut-off date is 1 January 2015: only certificates issued on or after this date contain the required security code. When viewing the vehicle, check whether Part I and Part II show the same vehicle identification number.

Proof of identity of the new holder — identity card (Personalausweis) or passport in the original, or the electronic residence title for foreign nationals. This proof is required under § 6 FZV because the holder’s data is stored in the Central Vehicle Register. If a passport is presented, vehicle registration authorities usually also require a current registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung), since the passport does not show an address; which documents suffice in an individual case depends on the competent authority.

eVB number of the new holder — the electronic insurance confirmation (elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung, eVB number) proves that the vehicle has motor liability insurance from the re-registration onward. It is issued by the buyer’s insurer, usually immediately by email or SMS, and is valid for a limited time only — so request it shortly before the appointment. The previous owner’s insurance cannot be taken over.

SEPA direct debit mandate for motor vehicle tax – Motor vehicle tax (Kfz-Steuer) is collected exclusively by direct debit, which is why the mandate is a mandatory part of the application. You need the IBAN and the account holder’s details for this; if the account holder differs from the vehicle holder, their signature is also required. The tax is not the responsibility of the vehicle registration authority but of the customs administration, which sends the official notice (Bescheid) on its own initiative after the re-registration.

Proof of the periodic roadworthiness test (HU inspection report) — under § 6 FZV, the inspection report must be submitted if the due date of the next HU does not already follow from registration certificate Part I. Have the seller hand over the latest report for this reason. In practice, an expired HU usually leads to refusal or to a requirement to have the test carried out afterwards — the handling depends on the competent vehicle registration authority.

Previous licence plates — only required if a new licence plate is allocated; if you keep the licence plate, the plates stay on the vehicle. In that case, bring the plates complete and undamaged, as they will be de-stamped and withdrawn. Whether and how stamp stickers are renewed depends on the procedure of the competent vehicle registration authority.

Purchase agreement or other proof of acquisition — § 6 FZV does not require a purchase agreement; what is required are ZB I, ZB II, proof of identity, the eVB number and the SEPA mandate. In practice, however, many vehicle registration authorities require proof of acquisition to make the change of holder plausible. Bring the signed purchase agreement along as a precaution — it is in any case your most important evidence of the purchase price, mileage, assurances and handover date.

Power of attorney for representation — if you cannot attend the appointment yourself, the authorised person needs a power of attorney signed by you, your proof of identity or a copy of it, and their own identity document. Authorities frequently also accept car dealers and registration service providers as authorised representatives. What form the power of attorney must take depends on the competent authority — ask in advance.

Documents for company vehicles and legal entities — if the vehicle is re-registered to a company, the authority of the acting person to represent it must additionally be proven; since i-Kfz level 4, the internet-based procedure is also open to legal entities. Which documents on legal form and representation are required depends on the competent vehicle registration authority.

Additionally for the online procedure (i-Kfz) — for the internet-based re-registration you need an identity card, an eID card or an electronic residence title with the online identification function activated, together with a PIN, a card reader or an NFC-capable smartphone, and the hidden security codes: on registration certificate Part I (from 1 January 2015), on registration certificate Part II (from 1 January 2018) and, where applicable, on the stamp stickers of the licence plates. Older documents rule out the online route — in that case only a visit to the Zulassungsstelle remains.

Step by step

Check vehicle documents and registration status before buying

Before completing the purchase, have both registration certificates shown to you in the original and compare the vehicle identification number in Part I, Part II and on the vehicle itself. There is one more decisive point that many overlook: the vehicle must remain continuously registered if you want to keep the previous licence plate. If it is deregistered before handover, keeping the plate is ruled out and it becomes a re-registration after deregistration (Wiederzulassung).

Take out motor liability insurance and request the eVB number

The new holder takes out their own motor liability insurance and receives the electronic insurance confirmation for it. The eVB is usually delivered within a few minutes by email or SMS and is valid only for a limited time, which is why you should obtain it close to the planned re-registration appointment. The previous owner’s insurance does not transfer to you; it ends with the change of holder. Without a valid eVB, the application is processed neither online nor at the counter — this is the most common reason for a failed appointment.

Decide: keep the licence plate or have a new one allocated

Since 1 October 2019, the previous licence plate may be kept nationwide — even if you live in a different registration district from the seller. § 15 Abs. 5 Satz 4 Nr. 4 FZV expressly grants the buyer the right to choose to state “that the previous licence plate is to be kept”. Keeping the plate is also the cheapest option: €23.60 instead of €27.10, plus no plate costs of €20 to €40. A new licence plate is only necessary if you expressly want one or the vehicle was deregistered in the meantime.

Seller: submit the notice of sale under § 15 Abs. 5 FZV

Under § 15 Abs. 5 Satz 2 FZV, the seller's notification of sale becomes unnecessary as soon as the buyer has already fulfilled their obligations under Satz 4 — the re-registration. In practice, however, the seller cannot reliably verify this promptly. Submit the notification yourself as a precaution, without undue delay, to the vehicle registration authority, stating the buyer's name and full address. This notification is the seller's most effective protection, because as long as it is missing and the re-registration is not proven, the seller remains listed as the holder in the register and is, in effect, still held liable for motor vehicle tax, fines and toll violations. For this reason, have the buyer's details confirmed in the sales contract, check them against their identity document, and keep a copy of the notification. It is best to complete this step on the very day of handover.

Choose the route: online via i-Kfz or an in-person appointment

Since 1 September 2023, level 4 of internet-based vehicle registration expressly covers the re-registration and therefore the change of holder — including for legal entities. The online route is significantly cheaper: the fee schedule lists separate items for it of €9.90 to €12.40 instead of €23.60 to €27.10 at the counter. The requirements are an identity document with the online identification function activated, an NFC-capable smartphone or card reader, and the security codes on the vehicle documents. If the documents are older than the cut-off dates of 2015 or 2018, book an appointment instead with the vehicle registration authority responsible for your place of residence — the re-registration must be carried out there, not at the seller’s place of residence.

Carry out the re-registration

At the appointment or in the online application, your details are checked against the Central Vehicle Register, the new holder is entered and registration certificate Part I is reissued; Part II is re-registered in your name. If you keep the licence plate, the plates stay on the vehicle — otherwise the old plates are de-stamped and you have new ones made at a plate-embossing shop. The fee depends solely on the chosen scenario in the fee schedule of the Fee Schedule for Measures in Road Traffic (Gebührenordnung für Maßnahmen im Straßenverkehr, GebOSt) and is therefore the same nationwide. How quickly you receive the documents and which means of payment are accepted depends on the competent authority; in the online procedure the documents are sent by post.

Check the documents and complete the follow-up steps

Check the new registration certificate immediately for errors in the name, address and vehicle data — a later correction means another official procedure. Keep Part II at home, never in the vehicle, since it documents the right of disposal and makes resale easier in the event of theft. After that, expect the motor vehicle tax notice from the Hauptzollamt (main customs office), which will be collected via the SEPA mandate you issued, and convert the eVB into a final insurance contract.

Fees & costs

Scenario (GebOSt fee schedule)	On site	Internet-based (i-Kfz)
Re-registration in a different registration district, keeping the previous licence plate (Nr. 221.9 / 221.9.1)	€23.60	€9.90
Re-registration in the same registration district, keeping the previous licence plate (Nr. 221.8 / 221.8.1)	€24.20	€10.40
Re-registration in the same registration district, new licence plate (Nr. 221.10 / 221.10.1)	€26.20	€12.40
Re-registration in a different registration district, new licence plate (Nr. 221.2 / 221.2.1)	€27.10	€12.10
Plates for a new licence plate number (plate-embossing shop, no official fee)	approx. €20–€40
Warning fine (Verwarnungsgeld) for failing to notify a sale or acquisition (Nr. 180 BKat)	€15
Means of payment at the counter	Depends on the competent authority

The official fees for a change of holder are set uniformly nationwide in the fee schedule of the GebOSt (Anlage zu § 1 GebOSt) and therefore do not vary from one local authority to another. Which of the four amounts applies depends solely on two questions: does the vehicle change registration district, and is the previous licence plate kept? It is notable that the combination often thought impossible — changing registration district while keeping the licence plate — is, at €23.60, the cheapest of all variants. The fee schedule lists it expressly as “change of address following a change of residence from a different registration district while keeping the previous licence plate — with and without change of holder”.

You can save significantly through the internet-based procedure: for every scenario there is a separate fee number with the suffix “.1”, ranging between €9.90 and €12.40. In the cheapest case you therefore pay less than half — €10.40 instead of €24.20 corresponds to a saving of around 57%. The requirements, however, are sufficiently new vehicle documents with a security code and an activated online identification function.

The licence plates are not included in the official fee. They cost around €20 to €40 per vehicle at the plate-embossing shops near vehicle registration offices and are a private service, not an administrative fee. This is exactly where the greatest savings potential lies: anyone who knows they are allowed to keep the licence plate saves this item entirely. The cost of a due periodic roadworthiness test may be added on top. If the notification of sale or acquisition is not made, item 180 of the catalogue of fines (Bußgeldkatalog) provides for a warning fine of €15; economically far more significant, however, is the seller’s continuing liability for tax and offences. Which means of payment the cashier’s office of your Zulassungsstelle accepts depends on the competent authority — many offices no longer accept cash.

Important notes

Keeping the licence plate applies nationwide — since 1 October 2019. The previous licence plate may be kept even if the new holder lives in a different registration district. The earlier rule, under which new plates were mandatory when moving to a different district (Landkreis), is outdated. The legal basis is § 15 Abs. 5 Satz 4 Nr. 4 FZV, which expressly grants the buyer the right to choose.

Requirement: continuous registration. Keeping the licence plate requires the vehicle to remain registered without interruption. If it is deregistered before the sale — for example because the seller wants to save on tax and insurance — keeping the plate is excluded and plate costs will be incurred. Clarify this point before the handover.

The seller must take action themselves. The notification of sale under § 15 Abs. 5 Satz 2 FZV is unnecessary once the buyer has already fulfilled their obligations under Satz 4 — the re-registration. However, the seller cannot reliably verify this promptly. As long as the re-registration is not proven, the seller remains listed as the holder in the register and is held liable for motor vehicle tax, fines and toll violations arising after the handover.

“Without undue delay” does not mean “within a few days”. § 15 Abs. 5 FZV requires the notification without undue delay, that is, without culpable hesitation within the meaning of § 121 BGB. The ordinance does not contain a fixed deadline in days; the assessment is made on a case-by-case basis. In practice, this means: complete the re-registration as soon as the documents are complete, and document any delays that are not your fault.

Warning fine of €15. Item 180 of the catalogue of fines expressly covers the failure to notify a “sale or acquisition” and provides for a warning fine of €15 for it. The amount is low; the real risk lies in the continuing holder liability.

Online saves more than half. i-Kfz level 4 of 1 September 2023 allows the fully internet-based re-registration, including for companies. The fee schedule rewards this with separate items between €9.90 and €12.40. For this you need the online identification function with a PIN, an NFC-capable smartphone or card reader, and the hidden security codes on the documents and stamp stickers.

Keep the periodic roadworthiness test in mind. Under § 6 FZV, an HU inspection report must be submitted if the due date of the next test does not already follow from registration certificate Part I. An expired HU usually leads to refusal or to a requirement to have it carried out afterwards; the specific handling depends on the competent vehicle registration authority. Agree in the purchase agreement who pays for a due HU.

A purchase agreement is not legally required, but is essential in practice. § 6 FZV does not require one — what is required are ZB I, ZB II, proof of identity, the eVB number and the SEPA mandate. Many vehicle registration authorities nevertheless insist on proof of acquisition. Regardless of that, the written agreement is your evidence of the purchase price, mileage, agreements on defects and handover date.

Change of holder within the family and in the event of inheritance. Transferring the vehicle to a spouse, children or parents is also a change of holder and must be notified — the fees are the same, and the licence plate may also be kept. In the event of inheritance, proof of being an heir replaces the purchase agreement — which documents suffice depends on the authority.

Company vehicles and legal entities. If the vehicle is re-registered to a company, the authority of the acting person to represent it must be proven. Since i-Kfz level 4, the internet-based procedure is also open to legal entities. Here too, the vehicle registration authority responsible is the one at the buyer’s registered seat, not the seller’s.

Common mistakes

The seller does not submit a notice of sale

The most expensive mistake when selling a car. Anyone who relies on the buyer eventually re-registering the vehicle remains listed as the holder in the Central Vehicle Register in the meantime. The consequence: motor vehicle tax notices, fine notices (Bußgeldbescheid) and toll demands for journeys someone else has long since made – and the burden of proof lies with you. § 15 Abs. 5 FZV obliges you to notify the sale without undue delay, stating the buyer’s name and address.

Buying unnecessary new licence plates

Many buyers reflexively order new plates from the plate-embossing shop because they live in a different district from the seller. Since 1 October 2019 this has been unnecessary: the previous licence plate may be kept nationwide. The mistake costs twice — €20 to €40 for the plates, plus the higher official fee of €27.10 instead of €23.60.

Deregistering the vehicle before the sale

If the seller deregisters the vehicle before handover, keeping the licence plate is ruled out, because it requires continuous registration. A cheap re-registration then becomes a re-registration after deregistration (Wiederzulassung) with new plates, and the buyer cannot drive the vehicle until it is registered. Agree expressly in the purchase agreement that the vehicle will remain registered until handover.

Registration certificate Part II is missing or only available as a copy

Without Part II in the original, no re-registration is possible — the authority refuses the application and the appointment is forfeited. Common causes: the document is still held as loan security by the seller’s bank, or it has been lost. The vehicle registration authority must first issue a replacement document, which costs additional time and fees. Check Part II, therefore, before paying the purchase price.

Putting off the re-registration

Anyone who puts off this official procedure for weeks on end breaches the duty to notify without undue delay and risks a warning fine of €15 under item 180 of the catalogue of fines. The side effects weigh more heavily: until the re-registration, the motor vehicle tax continues to run against the previous holder, fine notices are served on them, and in the event of a claim the buyer has difficulty proving they are the holder.

Showing up with an expired periodic roadworthiness test

If the HU due date does not follow from registration certificate Part I, § 6 FZV requires the inspection report. If the periodic roadworthiness test has expired, in practice the application is usually refused or made subject to the requirement to have the test carried out afterwards — the handling depends on the competent vehicle registration authority. Factor the cost of a due HU into the purchase price and have it carried out beforehand.

Attempting the online re-registration with documents that are too old

The i-Kfz procedure only works if registration certificate Part I was issued on or after 1 January 2015 and Part II on or after 1 January 2018, because only these forms carry the hidden security codes. Anyone who overlooks this abandons the process in the middle of the application and still has to book an appointment. The procedure just as often fails because of a non-activated online identification function or a forgotten PIN.

Relying on the previous owner’s insurance

The seller’s motor liability insurance does not transfer to the buyer; the new holder needs their own eVB number. Without it, the re-registration is processed neither online nor at the counter. Equally annoying is an eVB obtained too early, whose validity expires before the appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep the previous owner’s licence plate, even in a different registration district?

Yes. Since 1 October 2019, the previous licence plate can be kept nationwide, even if the new holder lives in a different registration district. § 15 Abs. 5 Satz 4 Nr. 4 FZV expressly grants the buyer the right to choose to state that the previous licence plate is to be kept. The requirement is that the vehicle remains continuously registered and was not deregistered in the meantime.

What does a change of holder cost in 2026?

The fees are set uniformly nationwide in the GebOSt fee schedule. In person, the re-registration costs €23.60 for a different registration district while keeping the licence plate (Nr. 221.9), €24.20 for the same district while keeping the licence plate (Nr. 221.8), €26.20 for the same district with a new licence plate (Nr. 221.10) and €27.10 for a different district with a new licence plate (Nr. 221.2). Online via i-Kfz, the amounts drop to €9.90–€12.40.

Does the previous owner have to come to the Zulassungsstelle?

No. If the new holder has all the documents, they can arrange the re-registration alone. Under § 15 Abs. 5 Satz 2 FZV, this does indeed make the seller's notification of sale unnecessary — but in practice the seller cannot verify this promptly. As long as the re-registration is not proven, the previous holder should therefore, as a precaution, notify the sale themselves without undue delay, stating the buyer's name and address.

What must the seller do after the sale?

The previous holder must notify the vehicle registration authority of the sale without undue delay, stating the buyer’s name and address. If this notice of sale is omitted, they remain listed as the holder in the Central Vehicle Register and are in practice still held liable for motor vehicle tax, fines and toll violations. Have the acknowledgement of the buyer’s details signed, therefore, and keep a copy.

How quickly must I have the vehicle re-registered?

§ 15 Abs. 5 FZV requires the notification without undue delay, that is, without culpable hesitation within the meaning of § 121 BGB. The law does not specify a fixed deadline of a few days; the individual case is assessed by the vehicle registration authority. Anyone who fails to submit the notification risks a warning fine of €15 under item 180 of the catalogue of fines.

Can I complete the change of holder online?

Yes. Since 1 September 2023, level 4 of internet-based vehicle registration (i-Kfz) expressly covers the re-registration and therefore the change of holder, including for legal entities. The fee schedule lists separate numbers 221.8.1, 221.9.1, 221.10.1 and 221.2.1 for it, with amounts between €9.90 and €12.40. The requirements are an identity document with the online identification function activated, as well as the security codes on the vehicle documents and stamp stickers.

What happens if the periodic roadworthiness test has expired?

Under § 6 FZV, an HU inspection report must be submitted if the due date of the next periodic roadworthiness test does not follow from registration certificate Part I. In practice, an expired HU usually leads to refusal or to a requirement to have the test carried out afterwards. The specific handling depends on the competent vehicle registration authority, which is why it is better to have the HU carried out before the appointment.

Do I need a purchase agreement for the re-registration?

§ 6 FZV does not require a purchase agreement. What is required are registration certificate Part I and Part II, proof of identity, the eVB number and the SEPA direct debit mandate for the motor vehicle tax. Many vehicle registration authorities nevertheless require the purchase agreement as proof of acquisition, so you should bring it along as a precaution.

What applies if the vehicle was deregistered before the sale?

Keeping the licence plate requires the vehicle to remain continuously registered. If it was deregistered before the sale, keeping the previous licence plate is ruled out and it becomes a re-registration after deregistration (Wiederzulassung) in the name of the new holder. Seller and buyer should therefore clarify beforehand whether the vehicle will remain registered.