Apply for a seasonal licence plate (Saisonkennzeichen)

KFZ-Zulassungsstelle · Licence plates

Online / in personi-Kfz: €12.80

The seasonal licence plate (Saisonkennzeichen) is an official licence plate that is valid only within a previously fixed operating period. Its legal basis is § 10 Abs. 3 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung, FZV). Important if you are researching elsewhere: the often-cited reference “§ 9 Abs. 3 FZV” comes from the 2011 version of the FZV. Since the ordinance was recast (Federal Law Gazette, Bundesgesetzblatt, BGBl. 2023 I Nr. 199), § 9 FZV now governs only the general allocation of licence plates and the alternating licence plate (Wechselkennzeichen) — the seasonal licence plate is now set out exclusively in § 10 Abs. 3 FZV.

The advantage is obvious: motor vehicle tax and the insurance premium are payable only for the operating period, and there is no need to register and deregister every year. The period must cover at least two and at most eleven months (§ 10 Abs. 3 Satz 4 FZV) and, under Satz 3, must be measured in full months — a day-exact period such as 15 March to 15 October is excluded. This is exactly where most plans fail.

The allocation costs €30.00 (GebOSt, Annex, Nr. 221.1); if you submit the application online via i-Kfz under § 27 FZV, you pay only €12.80 (Nr. 221.1.1). Outside the operating period, the vehicle must not be put into operation or parked on public roads (§ 10 Abs. 3 Satz 6 FZV) — both are a regulatory offence under § 77 FZV in conjunction with § 24 Abs. 1 StVG. You will find all amounts in detail under Fees & costs, and the special cases under Important notes.

Last updated12 October 2026

Legal basis§ 10 Abs. 3 FZV · § 77 FZV · GebOSt Nr. 221.1

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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 advice service — we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in plain language; binding information always comes from the competent body. The GebOSt fees apply nationwide; appointments, the procedural path and the availability of i-Kfz can vary depending on the vehicle registration authority. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither solicitors 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

Electronic insurance confirmation (elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung, eVB number). You get the seven-digit eVB number free of charge from your motor insurer — by phone, in the customer portal or via the app. It is the proof that the liability insurance required under § 1 PflVG exists for the vehicle; without it, no application is processed. When you request it, state the planned operating period explicitly, so that the contract and the licence plate match. The number is generally valid for several months, but expires as soon as it has been used once.

Registration certificate Part I (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I, formerly Fahrzeugschein). Part I must be carried in the vehicle and is reissued when the seasonal licence plate is allocated, because the operating period is entered on it. Bring the original — the vehicle registration authority does not accept copies or photos. For a new registration, the manufacturer’s certificate of conformity (CoC) takes its place.

Registration certificate Part II (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II, formerly Fahrzeugbrief). Part II shows who is entitled to dispose of the vehicle and is presented at every registration, conversion and change of licence plate. It does not belong in the vehicle, but in your documents at home. If the vehicle is financed or leased, Part II is usually held by the bank or the leasing company — request it several weeks before the appointment, otherwise the registration process falls through.

Proof of a valid roadworthiness test (HU). The HU certificate under § 29 StVZO must be valid at the time of registration; if it has expired, the vehicle will not be registered. Plan the test appointment deliberately within the operating period: if the sticker expires during the dormant period, you may not drive to the test centre with the seasonal licence plate. For such trips, only the short-term licence plate under § 42 Abs. 1 Satz 3 FZV remains available.

Identity card (Personalausweis) or passport of the vehicle holder. The vehicle holder identifies themselves with a valid identity document; for a passport, the vehicle registration authority additionally requires a current registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung), because local jurisdiction depends on the place of residence or the vehicle’s regular location. If the address on the identity document differs from the actual one, first re-register your place of residence. Legal entities must submit a current extract from the commercial register (Handelsregisterauszug) and proof of authority to represent the company.

SEPA direct debit mandate for the motor vehicle tax. The motor vehicle tax (Kraftfahrzeugsteuer) is collected exclusively by SEPA direct debit; you submit the mandate for the competent Hauptzollamt (main customs office) at your registration appointment. With a seasonal licence plate, the tax is charged only for the operating period and calculated proportionally. Without a signed mandate, the vehicle registration authority cannot complete the process — not even if all other documents are complete.

Stating the desired operating period (start and end month). Have both month numbers ready: they are embossed on the plate and entered on the registration certificate. Only full months are permitted, at least two and at most eleven (§ 10 Abs. 3 Sätze 3 and 4 FZV). Think it through carefully beforehand — a later change is permitted, but costs another €30.00 and usually new plates as well.

Reservation confirmation for the personalised licence plate (Wunschkennzeichen, optional). If you have reserved a letter-and-number combination online in advance, bring the reservation confirmation with you. Note the character limit under Anlage 4 FZV, Abschnitt 5 Nr. 4: for a single-line seasonal licence plate, only seven characters are permitted; for two-line plates and motorcycle plates, only five characters in the identification number. A longer combination cannot be embossed as a seasonal licence plate — the reservation is then worthless.

Classic car expert report (Oldtimergutachten, only for the H seasonal licence plate). If the seasonal licence plate is also to carry the letter “H”, an expert report under § 23 StVZO is required. § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 4 FZV expressly refers to the cases in Abs. 1 Satz 3, so that combining a classic car (Oldtimer) plate with a seasonal licence plate is permitted. The report is a freely priced expert service; its price is not regulated by law and depends on the expert engaged.

Power of attorney for representation. If you do not appear in person, the authorised person needs an informal power of attorney signed by you, a copy of your identity document and their own valid identity document. Without these three elements, the vehicle registration authority rejects the application.

Step by step

Set the operating period in full months

First decide on the start and end month. The operating period must cover at least two months and may last at most eleven months (§ 10 Abs. 3 Satz 4 FZV); at the same time, under Satz 3 it must be measured in full months. A day-exact period such as 15 March to 15 October is therefore excluded — only combinations such as 03 to 10 or 04 to 11 are permitted. The period begins on the first day of the start month and ends on the last day of the end month. Plan generously: the first warm day in March and the last autumn drive often fall outside a period chosen too tightly, and any later correction costs another €30.00.

Request the eVB number and gather documents

Request the electronic insurance confirmation (eVB number) from your motor insurer and explicitly state the planned operating period, so that the contract and the licence plate match. Then have registration certificate Part I and Part II, the valid HU proof, your identity document and the SEPA direct debit mandate for the motor vehicle tax ready — you will find the full list under Required documents. If the vehicle is financed or leased, Part II is often held by the bank; request it several weeks before the appointment. In conurbations, expect several weeks’ lead time for the appointment itself.

Choose the type of licence plate: personalised, H or green plate

The seasonal licence plate can be combined. You reserve a personalised licence plate online in advance with your vehicle registration authority. The classic car letter “H” is expressly permitted via the reference in § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 4 FZV to Abs. 1 Satz 3, and under § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 5 FZV, green licence plates can also be allocated as seasonal licence plates for tax-exempt vehicles under § 10 Abs. 2 FZV — this is the most interesting option for agricultural and forestry tractors or trailers. In all cases, note the character limit under Anlage 4 FZV, Abschnitt 5 Nr. 4: seven characters for a single-line seasonal licence plate, five characters for two-line plates and motorcycle plates.

Submit the application — at the vehicle registration office or online via i-Kfz

The competent authority is the vehicle registration authority of your place of residence or of the vehicle’s regular location. In person, the allocation costs €30.00 under Nr. 221.1 of the Annex to the GebOSt; if you submit the application online instead via the i-Kfz portal under § 27 FZV, it is only €12.80 under Nr. 221.1.1 — less than half. For the online route, you need an identity card with the online identification function activated, together with a PIN, a card reader or an NFC-capable smartphone, as well as the hidden security codes on the registration certificate and on the stamp stickers. In person, an online appointment booking is required in most local authorities.

Have the plates embossed and stamped

The plates are embossed by a private plate maker, usually right next to the vehicle registration office; this embossing is a freely priced private service and is not regulated by the fee ordinance. On the seasonal licence plate, the operating period appears in its own field on the right-hand edge: under Anlage 4 FZV, Abschnitt 5 Nr. 4, the number above the hyphen denotes the start month and the number below the hyphen denotes the end month; the digits follow DIN 1451-2:1986-02. The common notation “04/10” is therefore only a stand-in for running text — on the plate, the months appear one above the other. Stamping costs €2.60 under Nr. 228, and the stamp stickers cost €0.70 or €1.20 respectively under Nr. 228.2.

Check the registration certificate and plan for the end of the season

Check at the counter that the operating period has been correctly entered in the registration certificate Part I — this entry is the basis for the tax calculation, insurance cover and every police check. Park the vehicle on private land in good time before the last day of the final month: outside the operating period, it may neither be driven nor parked on public roads (§ 10 Abs. 3 Satz 6 FZV). For necessary trips during the dormant period — to the workshop, the roadworthiness test, a change of location — the short-term licence plate under § 42 Abs. 1 Satz 3 FZV remains available, provided the seasonal licence plate is not carried at the same time.

Fees & costs

Service	Amount
Allocate seasonal licence plate, at the vehicle registration office (GebOSt, Annex, Nr. 221.1)	€30.00
Seasonal licence plate online via i-Kfz (Nr. 221.1.1)	€12.80
Change of the operating period (Nr. 221.1)	€30.00
Vehicles exempt from registration but requiring a licence plate (Nr. 227.6)	€27.00
Stamping the licence plate (Nr. 228)	€2.60
Stamp stickers (Nr. 228.2)	€0.70 or €1.20
Plate embossing at a private plate maker	Not regulated by law, depends on the plate maker
Motor vehicle tax	Only for the operating period, pro rata
Motor insurance	Depends on the insurer

The fees under the Fee Schedule for Measures in Road Traffic (Gebührenordnung für Maßnahmen im Straßenverkehr, GebOSt) apply nationwide — unlike many local-authority services, there is no range here depending on the federal state (Bundesland). Nr. 221.1 of the Annex expressly lists side by side “registration or re-registration”, “change of the licence plate”, “change of the operating period for the seasonal licence plate” and “change of licence plate type”, and sets a uniform €30.00 for all of them. That is why a later shift of your seasonal period costs exactly as much as the initial allocation.

The online route via i-Kfz under § 27 FZV is significantly cheaper at €12.80 under Nr. 221.1.1 and also saves you the appointment. It does, however, require that you can identify yourself electronically and that all hidden security codes on the registration certificate and the stamp stickers are undamaged. If the vehicle is exempt from registration but requires a licence plate — for example certain agricultural or forestry trailers — Nr. 227.6 applies instead, at €27.00.

Not regulated by the GebOSt, and therefore freely priced, are the plate embossing at the private plate maker and any classic car expert report under § 23 StVZO. For the motor vehicle tax, you pay only for the operating period; for tax-exempt electric vehicles, the exemption period remains unaffected, because under § 3d Abs. 3 KraftStG, “the periods outside the operating period stated on a seasonal licence plate” have no effect on the tax exemption. The insurance premium is not regulated by law: the only obligation is liability insurance cover under § 1 PflVG, and the structuring of the premium is a matter for the insurer.

Important notes

Full months only — no day-exact season. § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 3 FZV states: “The operating period must be measured in full months.” So you cannot choose from 15 March to 15 October. The period always begins on the 1st of the start month and ends on the last day of the end month.

Short-term licence plate during the dormant period. § 42 Abs. 1 Satz 3 FZV expressly permits driving a vehicle with a seasonal licence plate outside the operating period using a short-term licence plate — provided the seasonal licence plate is not carried at the same time. For the workshop trip in January, the brought-forward roadworthiness test or the transport to a new location, this is the only legal way.

Trips to deregister the vehicle are regulated separately. Under § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 8 FZV, seasonal licence plates outside the operating period count, for trips to deregister the vehicle (Außerbetriebsetzung) and for return trips after the plates have been stamped, as unstamped licence plates within the meaning of § 12 Abs. 4 FZV. This legally secures the trip to the vehicle registration office — any other trips are not covered.

Parking is also prohibited, not only driving. § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 6 FZV names two separate prohibited acts: putting into operation (Nr. 1) and parking (Nr. 2) on public roads are each permitted only during the operating period. Under Satz 7, the vehicle holder must not order or allow either of them — so responsibility does not end with the driver.

Green licence plates are possible as seasonal licence plates. § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 5 FZV also permits the allocation of a seasonal licence plate for the tax-exempt vehicles under § 10 Abs. 2 FZV, that is, for vehicles with a green licence plate. This is especially relevant for agricultural and forestry tractors and trailers, which are in use for only part of the year anyway.

Combination with H and personalised licence plates. The classic car letter “H” is expressly permitted via the reference in § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 4 FZV to Abs. 1 Satz 3, and a personalised licence plate is also possible. The limit is the number of characters under Anlage 4 FZV, Abschnitt 5 Nr. 4: seven characters for a single-line seasonal licence plate, five characters for two-line and motorcycle plates.

The month numbers appear one above the other. Anlage 4 FZV, Abschnitt 5 Nr. 4 requires that, in the field for the operating period, the number above the hyphen denotes the start month and the number below the hyphen denotes the end month. The notation “04/10” commonly used in guides is only a stand-in and does not correspond to the official rendering on the plate.

Dormant insurance outside the season. Liability insurance cover exists only during the operating period; outside it, most insurers provide premium-free dormant cover (Ruheversicherung) that insures the vehicle, parked on private land, against certain damage. This premium structure is not regulated by law and therefore depends on the insurer — have the scope confirmed to you in writing.

Electric vehicles do not lose any exemption time. Under § 3d Abs. 3 KraftStG, the periods of deregistration and the periods outside the operating period have no effect on the duration of the tax exemption. A seasonal licence plate therefore neither extends the exemption nor shortens it.

Common mistakes

Planned a day-exact period

Many vehicle holders plan the season according to the calendar of their first and last drive and want to register, for example, from 15 March to 15 October. This is excluded under § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 3 FZV, because the operating period must be measured in full months. The result: at the counter, you have to replan on the spot, or you choose too short a period and later pay €30.00 for the change.

Vehicle driven outside the operating period

Anyone who, contrary to § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 6 Nr. 1 FZV, puts a vehicle into operation outside the operating period commits a regulatory offence within the meaning of § 24 Abs. 1 StVG under § 77 Nr. 1 FZV; the amount of the regulatory fine depends on the catalogue of fines (Bußgeldkatalog) of the competent fining authority. The insurance side carries significantly more weight: if there is no liability insurance cover for the trip, this can be a criminal offence under § 6 PflVG — and in the event of an accident, you are personally liable for the entire damage.

Vehicle parked at the roadside instead of in the garage

Parking on public roads is regulated as a separate offence in § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 6 Nr. 2 FZV and is prohibited outside the operating period — even if the vehicle is not moved for weeks. Under Satz 7, the obligation expressly also applies to the vehicle holder, who must not order or allow the parking either. Anyone who believes a stationary vehicle is unproblematic risks, besides the regulatory fine, being towed away at their own expense.

HU appointment falls within the dormant period

If the roadworthiness test expires in January but the season does not start until April, you are caught in a trap: driving to the test centre with the seasonal licence plate is not permitted. It is only legal with a short-term licence plate under § 42 Abs. 1 Satz 3 FZV once the seasonal plates have been removed. Anyone who drives anyway commits two offences at once — against the operating period and against § 29 StVZO.

Personalised licence plate reserved too long

Under Anlage 4 FZV, Abschnitt 5 Nr. 4, only seven characters are permitted for a single-line seasonal licence plate, and only five characters in the identification number for two-line and motorcycle plates — the field for the operating period needs space. A longer combination reserved online therefore cannot be embossed as a seasonal licence plate. The reservation fee is then lost, and you have to reserve again.

Relied on an outdated legal basis

Numerous guides, forums and even forms still refer to “§ 9 Abs. 3 FZV” for the seasonal licence plate. This reference comes from the 2011 version of the FZV; since the ordinance was recast (Federal Law Gazette, BGBl. 2023 I Nr. 199), § 9 FZV only governs the general allocation of licence plates and the alternating licence plate. Anyone who relies on the old provision in an objection (Widerspruch) or regulatory-fine proceedings is arguing in vain — § 10 Abs. 3 FZV is what applies.

Operating period misunderstood as a deregistration

The end of the operating period is not a deregistration (Außerbetriebsetzung): the vehicle remains registered, listed in the register and assigned to the vehicle holder. Anyone wishing to deregister it permanently must go through the regular deregistration process. Otherwise, reporting obligations and the assignment in the register continue, even though the vehicle is no longer actually used.

Frequently asked questions

What does a seasonal licence plate cost in 2026?

The allocation costs a nationwide uniform €30.00 under Nr. 221.1 of the Annex to the Fee Schedule for Measures in Road Traffic (Gebührenordnung für Maßnahmen im Straßenverkehr, GebOSt). If you submit the application online via i-Kfz under § 27 FZV, it is only €12.80 under Nr. 221.1.1. Added to this are €2.60 for stamping (Nr. 228) and €0.70 or €1.20 for the stamp stickers (Nr. 228.2), plus the plate embossing at the private plate maker, which is not regulated by law.

May I choose a day-exact period, for example 15 March to 15 October?

No. § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 3 FZV expressly states: the operating period must be measured in full months. Only entries such as 03 to 10 or 04 to 11 are therefore permitted, never day-exact periods. The operating period begins on the first day of the start month and ends on the last day of the end month.

Can I change the operating period afterwards?

Yes, the vehicle registration authority can change the operating period; the change is expressly named in Nr. 221.1 of the Annex to the GebOSt and costs €30.00 — exactly as much as the initial allocation. For vehicles exempt from registration but requiring a licence plate, Nr. 227.6 applies, at €27.00. Because the period is embossed on the plate, new plates generally also have to be embossed and stamped.

Where may the vehicle be parked outside the operating period?

Only on private land — in the garage, in a carport, or on your own or a rented parking space. Under § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 6 Nr. 2 FZV, the vehicle may be parked on public roads only during the operating period; parking is therefore a separate infringement and not merely a side effect of the driving ban. Under Satz 7, the same obligation applies to the vehicle holder, who must not order or allow the parking either.

May I drive the vehicle to the workshop or for the HU in winter?

Not with the seasonal licence plate — but § 42 Abs. 1 Satz 3 FZV expressly permits driving a vehicle with a seasonal licence plate outside the operating period using a short-term licence plate, provided the seasonal licence plate is not carried at the same time. You must therefore remove the seasonal plates for this trip. In addition, under § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 8 FZV, seasonal licence plates count as unstamped licence plates within the meaning of § 12 Abs. 4 FZV for trips to the Außerbetriebsetzung and for return trips after stamping.

What happens if I drive outside the operating period?

This is a regulatory offence: under § 77 Nr. 1 FZV, anyone who puts a vehicle into operation contrary to § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 6 Nr. 1 FZV commits a regulatory offence within the meaning of § 24 Abs. 1 StVG; parking and the vehicle holder’s responsibility are also covered. The amount of the regulatory fine depends on the catalogue of fines of the competent fining authority. The insurance side carries significantly more weight: if there is no liability insurance cover for the trip, this can be a criminal offence under § 6 PflVG.

Can the seasonal licence plate be combined with a personalised, H or green licence plate?

Yes. § 10 Abs. 3 Satz 4 FZV expressly refers to the cases in Abs. 1 Satz 3 and thereby permits the classic car letter H; under Satz 5, green licence plates can also be allocated as seasonal licence plates for tax-exempt vehicles under § 10 Abs. 2 FZV. Personalised licence plates are also possible but are subject to the character limit under Anlage 4 FZV, Abschnitt 5 Nr. 4: seven characters for a single-line plate, five characters for two-line and motorcycle plates.

How is the operating period shown on the plate?

In its own field on the right-hand edge of the plate, two numbers appear one above the other, separated by a horizontal line. Under Anlage 4 FZV, Abschnitt 5 Nr. 4, the number above the line denotes the start month and the number below the line denotes the end month; the digits follow DIN 1451-2:1986-02. The widely used notation 04/10 is only a stand-in for text and does not correspond to the official rendering on the plate.

How do motor vehicle tax and insurance work with a seasonal licence plate?

The motor vehicle tax is charged only for the operating period and calculated proportionally; for tax-exempt electric vehicles, periods outside the operating period have no effect on the duration of the tax exemption under § 3d Abs. 3 KraftStG. The structuring of the motor insurance premium, by contrast, is not regulated by law and therefore depends on the insurer: a premium-free dormant cover outside the season, insuring the vehicle against certain damage while parked on private land, is common. Only your contract is binding — ask before registration.

Do I need an appointment for the vehicle registration office?

Most vehicle registration authorities require an online appointment booking, and in conurbations, appointments in spring are regularly booked up several weeks in advance. Book early, therefore, if your operating period is to begin in March or April. Anyone using the online route via i-Kfz under § 27 FZV needs no appointment and, at €12.80, also pays the lower fee.