Vehicle Registration.
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Photo: Inga Wittneben |
Purchasing a new or used car and intend to register it in Germany? In that case file an application for registration at the Motor Vehicle Registry, Autozulassungsstelle, part of the local Traffic Office, Strassenverkehrsamt, using an appropriate form.
It is not necessary to register your car personally. Rather, you can authorise another person to manage the registration on your behalf. This authorisation has, however, to be done in writing and in German. If you are buying a car from a dealer, they will usually offer to manage the registration, normally free of charge. You will, however, be requested to pay the administrative fee that is due.
For the registration of a vehicle, a bundle of documents and objects have to be presented in original to the Motor Vehicle Registry. There is an official list of the relevant items and it is necessary to distinguish between registrations of new or used vehicles.
New vehicles.
In case that you intend to register a brand new car that has never been registered before, usually the following items are required:
Registration Certificate Part II, Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II
This document contains data related to the vehicle as well as to its owners. By Octo-ber 2005, it has replaced a document which was called Fahrzeugbrief and which still applies to older registrations.
Liability Insurance Certificate, Versicherungsbestätigung
Vehicles must at least have third party insurance, Haftpflichtversicherung. You can also choose insurance polices, that grant a much wider protection in cases of dam-ages. These policies are called Teilkaskoversicherung and Vollkaskoversicherung.
Passport, Reisepass or Identity Card, Personalausweis
Even if you have authorised another person to manage the registration, your personal Identity Card or Passport must still be presented.
Direct Debit Mandate, Einzugsermächtigung
You must authorise the local tax office to withdraw the relevant motor vehicle taxes from your bank account. To do this, the Dusseldorf Motor Vehicle Registry has pre-pared an appropriate form in German.
Vehicle, Fahrzeug
The vehicle that you wish to register has to be presented at the Dusseldorf Motor Ve-hicle Registry. According to our information, this new requirement is applied on a random basis only.
Used vehicles
If you plan to register a used vehicle that has already passed a registration before, you have to provide all the items listed above plus those listed below.
Registration Certificate Part I, Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I
This document mainly contains data related to composition and equipment of a vehi-cle. By October 2005, it has replaced a document which was called “Fahrzeugschein” and which still applies to older registrations.
General Inspection Report, Prüfbericht über Hauptuntersuchung
In Germany, vehicles must pass a regular safety inspection. This can be done by the
TÜV and DEKRA among others. New cars must be inspected three years after the first registration. Thereafter, cars must be checked every two years.
Emission Test Certificate, Bescheinigung über Abgasuntersuchung
This test can be carried out by the TÜV, DEKRA and by your local garage. Usually, new cars must be tested after tree years of their first registration. Thereafter, each car must be tested every two years.
Number Plates, Kennzeichenschilder
Number plates must be presented in specific cases only, e.g. if you have bought a used vehicle which was registered in another town or if you wish to change the cur-rent number plates of your car. For new plates you may contact one of the private services situated in the building accommodating the Motor Vehicle Registry.
