Change your vehicle address (change of residence)

KFZ-Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office) · Ummeldung (change of address) under § 15 FZV

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Anyone who moves house with their car must notify the vehicle registration authority of the new address. The legal basis is § 15 Abs. 1 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (FZV) of 20 July 2023: if vehicle or holder data change, these changes must be reported to the vehicle registration authority without undue delay. The special case of moving to a different registration district is governed by § 15 Abs. 4 FZV. The fees are set out nationwide in the fee schedule of the fee ordinance for measures in road traffic (Anlage to § 1 GebOSt) — they are therefore not set by the individual local authority and are identical everywhere in Germany.

A single question decides the effort and the cost: do you stay in the same registration district, or are you moving to a different one? A move within the same district is merely a correction of the vehicle documents – this costs €4.30 online (Nr. 225.1). Moving to a different registration district costs €23.60 if you keep your licence plate (Nr. 221.9), or €27.10 if you want a new licence plate (Nr. 221.2). Through the i-Kfz portal, these amounts drop to €9.90 and €12.10 respectively – a saving of around 60%.

Since 1 January 2015 you have been allowed to keep your existing licence plate nationwide; changing the plates when you move has become voluntary. If you fail to notify the authority, you risk a warning fine (Verwarnungsgeld) of €15 under number 180 of the catalogue of fines (Bußgeldkatalog) – and, far more unpleasant, a prohibition on operating the vehicle under § 15 Abs. 4 FZV if the address is not corrected despite being requested to do so.

Last updated12 October 2026

Legal basis§ 15 Abs. 1 and Abs. 4 FZV · Nr. 221.2 / 221.9 / 225.1 GebOSt

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Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta

Independent information site: we are not the Kfz-Zulassungsstelle, not an authority and not a paid advisory service – we do not submit applications on your behalf. All the information comes from official sources and is explained here in plain terms; binding information always comes from the competent body. The administrative fees are regulated nationwide; licence plate prices, means of payment and appointment scheduling depend on the competent 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.

Within or outside the registration district?

Many guide pages gloss over this distinction, yet it decides the fee, the documents and the procedure. A registration district (Zulassungsbezirk) usually corresponds to a district (Landkreis) or an urban district and can be recognised from the distinguishing sign on the licence plate – that is, the one to three letters before the hyphen. If you move from Munich to Munich-Pasing, you stay within district “M”. If you move from Cologne to Leverkusen, you change from “K” to “LEV”, and therefore change the registration district.

The more common case is a move within the same registration district. Here, the vehicle is not re-registered; only the address on the vehicle documents is corrected. No new licence plate, no new emissions sticker and no new inspection sticker are issued. With a move to a different registration district, on the other hand, the vehicle is entered in the register of the new authority; there, you additionally have the choice between keeping your licence plate and getting a new one.

Scenario	On site	Internet-based (i-Kfz)	Fee schedule
Move within the same registration district (correction of the documents)	€10.20	€4.30	Nr. 225 / 225.1
Move to a different registration district, keeping the existing licence plate	€23.60	€9.90	Nr. 221.9 / 221.9.1
Move to a different registration district, new licence plate wanted	€27.10 + plates	€12.10 + plates	Nr. 221.2 / 221.2.1

Required documents

Registration certificate Part I (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I, formerly Fahrzeugschein) – original
This document identifies you as the vehicle holder and contains the technical vehicle data. It is collected during the Ummeldung and reissued or corrected with the new address. A copy or a photo is not sufficient; if Part I has been lost, you must first apply for a replacement document with a statutory declaration in lieu of an oath (eidesstattliche Versicherung), which extends the appointment.

Registration certificate Part II (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II, formerly Fahrzeugbrief) – original
Part II is the proof of the right of disposal over the vehicle and must be presented for every change to the holder data. For financed or leased vehicles, the certificate is often held by the bank or the leasing company – request it in good time, as experience shows this takes several working days. Without Part II, the Ummeldung is not processed.

Identity card or passport with a current Meldebestätigung (official confirmation of registration)
The vehicle registration authority must be able to verify the new address. Ideally, use the identity card (Personalausweis) whose address has already been changed at the Bürgeramt (citizens’ office); updating the chip and the address sticker is free of charge as part of the Anmeldung (residence registration). If you only hold a passport, you additionally present the Meldebestätigung that the Bürgeramt issues at your appointment there.

SEPA direct-debit mandate for motor vehicle tax
Under § 13 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 KraftStG, the vehicle registration authority may only register the vehicle if a SEPA direct-debit mandate for the motor vehicle tax has been granted on an account of the holder or a third party; without a mandate, re-registration is generally excluded. Only if the competent Hauptzollamt waives the mandate because of considerable hardship for the holder, and certifies this, is registration exceptionally possible without a SEPA mandate. Bring the completed form with the IBAN and the account holder's signature. If the account holder differs from the holder, that person's signature is additionally required.

Proof of the periodic roadworthiness test (Hauptuntersuchung, HU — commonly called ‘TÜV’)
The date of the next HU is usually shown on the registration certificate Part I; only if it is not entered there or is illegible do you present the last HU inspection report from the testing organisation. If the HU has already expired, many authorities require it to be carried out before the Ummeldung. The HU inspection report is issued by TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ or KÜS and remains valid indefinitely as proof that the test was carried out.

eVB number from your motor vehicle insurer
The electronic insurance confirmation (elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung, eVB number) has seven digits and is issued free of charge by your insurer, usually within minutes by email or SMS. It is required if you receive a new licence plate or change insurer at the same time; for a plain address change with the existing plate, many authorities do not ask for it. An eVB number is usually valid for several months.

Existing licence plates – only if changing the plate
If you choose a new licence plate, the old plates must be presented for de-stamping. Bring them removed from the vehicle; the authority invalidates the stickers and either returns the plates or disposes of them. If you keep your existing licence plate, the plates remain unchanged on the vehicle.

Security codes for the online procedure (i-Kfz)
For the internet-based Ummeldung, you need the covered security code on the registration certificate Part I (issued from 1 January 2015) and on Part II (issued from 1 January 2018). The fields are scratched off and can only be used once. Older documents without a code rule out the online procedure – then only the in-person appointment remains.

Online identity function with PIN for the i-Kfz portal
Identification takes place via the eID function of the identity card, the electronic residence title, or the eID card for EU citizens. The online function must be activated and the six-digit PIN must be known; Bürgeramt offices reset a forgotten PIN free of charge. You additionally need the AusweisApp on an NFC-capable smartphone or a card reader.

Power of attorney and a copy of your ID if represented
You do not have to appear in person: an informal written power of attorney with your signature, a copy of your identity document and the ID of the authorised person are sufficient. This option is also used by commercial registration services, which take over the visit to the authority for an extra fee. For company vehicles, a current extract from the commercial register (Handelsregisterauszug) or the trade registration is additionally required.

Step by step

Register your new address at the Bürgeramt – deadline: two weeks

Complete the registration of your residence first, because the vehicle registration authority checks the new address against your identity card or the Meldebestätigung. Here, the one hard deadline of the whole moving process applies: under § 17 Abs. 1 of the Federal Act on Registration (Bundesmeldegesetz, BMG) you must register with the registration authority within two weeks of moving in. You need to bring identity documents for everyone being registered and the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord’s confirmation). The address change on the identity card is carried out at the same appointment and is free of charge. For details, see register your address at the Bürgeramt.

Check the registration district and choose the procedure

Compare the distinguishing sign on your licence plate with the area of responsibility for the new home address. If you stay within the same registration district, you only need a correction of the vehicle documents under Nr. 225 or Nr. 225.1 of the fee schedule – this is the cheapest case and can be completed entirely online in many local authorities. If you change district, the new vehicle registration authority at your new place of residence is responsible, and you additionally decide on keeping your licence plate or not. Checking with the vehicle registration office before the appointment often saves a second trip here.

Gather your documents

Have the registration certificates Part I and Part II ready in the original, together with the identity card showing the new address or the Meldebestätigung, and the signed SEPA direct debit mandate. Request the Fahrzeugbrief from the bank or the leasing company in good time if the vehicle is financed – this is the most common cause of delays. If you change insurer or licence plate at the same time, obtain an eVB number, which your insurer issues free of charge and usually within a few minutes.

Option A: Online via i-Kfz – €9.90 instead of €23.60

The fee schedule expressly provides for the internet-based address change after a move: €9.90 if you keep your licence plate (Nr. 221.9.1), €12.10 with a new licence plate (Nr. 221.2.1), and €4.30 within the same district (Nr. 225.1). You identify yourself in your vehicle registration authority’s portal with the online identity function and the PIN, enter the scratched-off security codes from Part I and Part II, and pay electronically. A visit to the authority is no longer necessary at all, and the new documents arrive by post. Expect a delivery time of a few working days; until then, the provisional proof of registration from the portal applies.

Option B: Appointment at the vehicle registration office at your new address

If you lack the security codes, the online identity function or the PIN, take the traditional route. Book an appointment online in advance – in densely populated areas, waiting times for a free appointment are often several weeks, while the process itself takes only about 15 to 30 minutes. The caseworker checks the documents, records the new address in the vehicle register and usually hands you the corrected documents during the same appointment. You do not have to appear in person: an informal power of attorney with a copy of your ID is sufficient for another person or a registration service to take over the visit.

Keep or change your licence plate

Since 1 January 2015 the obligation to change the licence plate when moving to a different registration district no longer applies – you keep it nationwide, the plates stay on the vehicle and no plate costs are incurred. Since 1 October 2019, keeping the licence plate has also been possible when the vehicle holder changes across district boundaries, which is relevant for buyers of a used car from a different district. If you still want the local licence plate of your new home, the plates cost around €20 to €40 for a pair on the open market or at the plate makers outside the authority; the inspection sticker and the emissions sticker are then reapplied.

Update the motor vehicle tax at the Hauptzollamt and your insurance

The vehicle registration authority forwards the changed holder data to the customs administration, so that the competent Hauptzollamt (main customs office) changes to the one at your new address. This is not fully automatic, however: you must notify the competent Hauptzollamt yourself of any change of name, address or bank details, otherwise notices fail to reach you or direct debits fail. A new SEPA mandate is free of charge, but it is submitted to the Hauptzollamt and not to the vehicle registration office. Also notify your motor vehicle insurer of the move: the regional risk class depends on your place of residence, so the premium can change up or down.

Fees & costs

All the administrative fees for the Ummeldung are set out in the fee schedule of the Fee Schedule for Measures in Road Traffic (Gebührenordnung für Maßnahmen im Straßenverkehr, GebOSt) (annex to § 1 GebOSt). They apply nationwide – in Flensburg just as in Passau. Only the plate prices vary, because the plates are embossed by private businesses, along with any expenses for delivery.

Service	Amount
Address change within the same registration district, online (Nr. 225.1)	€4.30
Issuing/correcting the vehicle documents in person (Nr. 225)	€10.20
Ummeldung from a different registration district, keeping the licence plate, online (Nr. 221.9.1)	€9.90
Ummeldung from a different registration district, keeping the licence plate, in person (Nr. 221.9)	€23.60
Ummeldung with a new licence plate, online (Nr. 221.2.1)	€12.10
Ummeldung with a new licence plate, in person (Nr. 221.2)	€27.10
Licence plates (pair, open market)	approx. €20–€40
Changing the SEPA direct debit mandate at the Hauptzollamt	Free of charge

Typical total bills. Move to a different registration district keeping the licence plate: €23.60 in person, €9.90 online. Move to a different registration district with a new licence plate: €27.10 plus €20 to €40 for the plates, so around €47 to €67; online, this is reduced to around €32 to €52. Move within the same registration district: €4.30 online or €10.20 in person.

Payment. Which means of payment are accepted depends on the competent authority: many vehicle registration offices accept only an EC card, others only cash, and some both. In the i-Kfz procedure, payment is made electronically, usually by credit card or PayPal; the fee is collected before the application is submitted. Clarify the means of payment before the appointment, because a failed payment means a new appointment.

Additional costs that may arise. A personalised licence plate (Wunschkennzeichen) incurs a separate fee for reservation and allocation under the fee schedule – the details are given under Wunschkennzeichen. If you engage a commercial registration service, its fee is added on top, freely set by the provider. If a registration certificate has been lost, the fee for the replacement document is additionally charged. The fee schedule does not provide for a fee exemption on account of a move alone.

Important notes

“Without delay” is not a fixed number of days. § 15 Abs. 1 FZV requires notification “without delay”, which, under the legal definition in § 121 Abs. 1 Satz 1 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB), means without culpable hesitation. There is no statutory number of days – but anyone who leaves the matter unattended for weeks without good reason is committing a regulatory offence. In practice, it is advisable to complete the vehicle’s Ummeldung immediately after the Bürgeramt appointment.

Only one real deadline in the moving process. The two weeks under § 17 Abs. 1 BMG apply to the Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt, not to the vehicle’s Ummeldung. However, because the vehicle registration authority must have the new address proven, the vehicle’s Ummeldung is in practice tied to this deadline.

Going online saves over 50%. €9.90 instead of €23.60 if you keep your licence plate, €12.10 instead of €27.10 with a new licence plate, and €4.30 instead of €10.20 within the same district. This requires the online identity function with a PIN and the security codes on the documents.

Old vehicle documents rule out i-Kfz. The security code only exists on registration certificates Part I issued from 1 January 2015 and Part II issued from 1 January 2018. If you hold older documents, you cannot complete the Ummeldung online.

Keeping the licence plate also applies to a change of vehicle holder. Since 1 October 2019, the licence plate may additionally be kept when the vehicle holder changes across district boundaries. If you move and take over a vehicle at the same time, you therefore need to change neither the plates nor the distinguishing sign – details under change of holder.

The motor vehicle tax moves with you – but not your bank details. The vehicle registration authority forwards the change data to the customs administration, so that the Hauptzollamt at your new address becomes competent. However, you must notify the Hauptzollamt yourself of any change to the taxpayer’s name, address and bank details.

Do not forget your insurance. The premium depends on the regional risk class of your place of residence. A move can significantly lower or raise the premium; without notifying your insurer, you risk a backdated demand for payment. If the premium increases, you have a special right of termination to change insurer.

Company and leased vehicles need lead time. If the Fahrzeugbrief is held by the bank or the lessor, request it several working days before the appointment. For company vehicles, an extract from the commercial register or the trade registration is additionally required as proof of authority to represent the company.

A second residence does not automatically count. In principle, what matters is the vehicle’s regular location. If you have two residences, clarify with the vehicle registration authority which district is competent – the assessment depends on the competent authority.

Remember your other address changes too. Your driving licence, the Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting licence fee), your bank, your Krankenkasse (health insurance fund) and your Finanzamt (tax office) are not automatically informed of the move. The driving licence itself, incidentally, does not need to be changed when you move, because it does not contain an address.

Common mistakes

Ummeldung postponed because of an assumed “no deadline”

Even without a fixed number of days, notification under § 15 Abs. 1 FZV is mandatory. Consequence: a €15 warning fine under number 180 of the Bußgeldkatalog – and if you do not correct the address despite being requested to do so, the vehicle registration authority can prohibit the operation of the vehicle under § 15 Abs. 4 FZV. The vehicle is then effectively taken off the road and may no longer be driven.

Assuming the same fee for every move

If you move within the same city, you do not pay €23.60 but €4.30 online under Nr. 225.1. Consequence: incorrect budgeting, an unnecessary visit to the authority, and sometimes needlessly buying new plates, because the licence plate stays unchanged within the same district anyway.

Going to the vehicle registration office unnecessarily

The address change after a move is designed to be done online (Nr. 221.9.1 and 221.2.1). Consequence: you pay more than double, often wait weeks for an appointment, and lose half a working day – even though the process could be completed from home in a few minutes.

Showing up without the registration certificate Part II

The Fahrzeugbrief must be presented in the original; for financed vehicles, it is held by the bank. Consequence: the appointment ends without a result, the fee for the new appointment is charged again, and the wait for a free appointment starts over.

Bringing an identity document with the old address

The vehicle registration authority must verify the new address. Consequence: without an updated identity card or Meldebestätigung, the application is rejected. You should therefore always complete the Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt first, within the two-week deadline under § 17 Abs. 1 BMG.

Scratching off or damaging the security code prematurely

The covered codes on Part I and Part II can only be used once and must not be uncovered until you submit the online application. Consequence: if the code is illegible or already used, the i-Kfz procedure is blocked; only the more expensive in-person appointment or a chargeable replacement document remains.

Relying on a fully automatic tax transfer

The authority does forward the change data to customs, but you must notify the Hauptzollamt yourself of the taxpayer’s name, address and bank details. Consequence: tax notices fail to reach you, direct debits fail, return-debit costs and late-payment surcharges arise – and in extreme cases, a forced deregistration follows due to tax arrears.

Not informing your motor vehicle insurer about the move

The regional risk class, and therefore the premium, depends on your place of residence. Consequence: the insurer will demand additional premium if the new region is more expensive; conversely, you give away money if the new region is rated cheaper and you do not have the premium adjusted.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Ummeldung of a vehicle cost in 2026?

If you move to a different registration district, the address change while keeping your licence plate costs €23.60 in person and €9.90 online (Nr. 221.9 or 221.9.1 of the fee schedule). With a new licence plate, it is €27.10 in person or €12.10 online, in each case plus around €20 to €40 for the plates. The fees are set nationwide in the annex to § 1 GebOSt and do not vary from one local authority to another.

Do I have to change my licence plate when I move?

No. Since 1 January 2015, you have been allowed to keep your existing licence plate nationwide, even if you move to a different registration district. Since 1 October 2019, keeping the licence plate has also applied when the vehicle holder changes across district boundaries. Notifying the vehicle registration authority of the new address remains mandatory in every case.

How many days do I have to complete the Ummeldung?

There is no fixed number of days. § 15 Abs. 1 FZV requires that changes to the holder data be notified to the vehicle registration authority without delay; under § 121 Abs. 1 Satz 1 BGB, without delay means without culpable hesitation. The assessment is made on a case-by-case basis. In practice, this means: complete the Ummeldung as soon as the documents are complete – ideally straight after the Bürgeramt appointment – because the authority can treat any avoidable delay as an infringement. The two-week deadline under § 17 Abs. 1 BMG applies only to the Anmeldung, not to the vehicle’s Ummeldung.

What fine do I face if I forget the Ummeldung?

Number 180 of the Bußgeldkatalog provides for a €15 warning fine if the holder breaches the obligation to notify a change of address. The second consequence is far more serious: under § 15 Abs. 4 FZV, the vehicle registration authority can prohibit the operation of the vehicle if the address is not corrected despite being requested to do so. The vehicle is then effectively taken off the road and may no longer take part in public traffic.

Can I complete the Ummeldung online?

Yes. The fee schedule expressly provides for the internet-based address change after a move under Nr. 221.9.1 and Nr. 221.2.1, and sets the fee at €9.90 or €12.10 respectively. This requires the identity card or electronic residence title with the online function and PIN activated, and the security codes on the registration certificate Part I (issued from 1 January 2015) and Part II (issued from 1 January 2018).

What applies when moving within the same city?

If you stay within the same registration district, it is only a correction of the vehicle documents. Online, this address change costs €4.30 under Nr. 225.1 of the fee schedule; for issuing or correcting the vehicle documents in person, €10.20 is provided for under Nr. 225. The licence plate stays unchanged, and a plate change is not needed at all.

What happens to the motor vehicle tax?

The vehicle registration authority forwards the changed holder data to the customs administration, so that the competent Hauptzollamt changes to the one at your new address. This is not fully automatic, however: you must notify the competent Hauptzollamt yourself of any change to the taxpayer’s name, address or bank details. A new SEPA direct debit mandate is free of charge, but it is submitted to the Hauptzollamt and not to the vehicle registration office.

Do I have to inform my motor vehicle insurer about the move?

Yes, regardless of whether you change registration district. The premium depends, among other things, on the regional risk class of your place of residence, which can change with the move. If you do not notify the new address, you risk a backdated premium demand and, in extreme cases, problems with the settlement of a claim.