Kraftfahrzeugkennzeichen: Kurzzeitkennzeichen beantragen

You can apply for a short-term license plate as a private individual or company for a roadworthy but unregistered vehicle.

The maximum validity period is 6 days from the day of allocation. The expiration date is visible on the right-hand side of the short-term license plate. After this date, the short-term license plate automatically loses its validity.

The vehicle must meet certain requirements in order to use a short-term license plate:

• an EC type approval must be available or an individual approval or operating license must have been issued,
• for used vehicles, valid proof of a passed main inspection must be available (main inspection report) and
• motor vehicle liability insurance must be in place.

If your vehicle does not have an EC type approval or operating license, you may only use a short-term license plate for journeys in connection with obtaining the required certificates. In this case, you may only drive to the nearest inspection center in the district that issued the license plate or in the neighboring district with the short-term license plate.

If your vehicle does not have a valid main inspection or safety inspection, it will be issued with a temporary license plate for the journey only:

• to the nearest inspection center in the registration district and back or
• to the nearest garage in the registration district in which the license plate was issued or
• to a neighboring district and back for the immediate repair of any significant or minor defects found.

This does not apply to vehicles that have been classified as unsafe to drive.

• Vehicle registration certificate (registration certificate part I)
• Certificate of conformity (abbreviation: COC) or
• Original individual approval of the vehicle
• Previous license plates, if applicable
• For used vehicles: main inspection report
• Electronic insurance confirmation (eVB)

• You need the vehicle for:
  • a test drive on which you can
  • determine and prove its serviceability
    or
  • a transfer journey to take the vehicle to another location.
• You have your own specific need for the allocation of a short-term license plate.
• You must specifically name the vehicle to the registration authority and provide evidence of the vehicle data.
• The vehicle must have a:
  • EC type approval,
  • individual approval or
  • operating license.
• The vehicle must have an EC type approval for the entire period of validity:
  • valid main inspection and
  • a safety inspection, if applicable.
• You have proof of existing motor vehicle liability insurance in the form of an electronic insurance confirmation (eVB) for short-term license plates.

Note: If you apply for short-term license plates for several vehicles at the same time, you must provide proof of need.

EUR 10,20

You, an authorized representative or a person entitled to receive the temporary license plate apply for the temporary license plate at:

• your local registration authority or
• the local registration authority responsible for the location of the vehicle.
• Depending on the services offered by the registration authority, you can download a form or use an online service via the Internet.
• Make an appointment with your local registration authority by telephone or, if possible, online.
• Bring all the necessary documents and the payment of EUR 10.20 with you to your appointment.
• Your documents will be checked directly on site.

If the check is positive, you will receive your personal short-term license plate during the appointment. In most cases, there are also private dealers not far from the registration offices where you can have the short-term license plate printed on a license plate immediately afterwards.

Note: If you are an applicant who is not registered in Germany, you can apply for the short-term license plate at the responsible registration authority if you name a person authorized to receive it.

Usually immediately

The short-term license plate is valid for a maximum of 6 days.

• Short-term license plate approval
• Short-term license plates are for vehicles that are used for trial or transfer journeys
• Other driving purposes are not permitted
• Requirements for the vehicle:
  • EC type approval or EC individual approval or operating license
  • General inspection report for used vehicles
  • Motor vehicle liability insurance
• Validity period: maximum 6 days
• Fees: EUR 10,20
• Responsible: Vehicle registration office at the place of residence or location of the vehicle

Local competent licensing authorities

Local licensing authorities

The licensing authorities are the district administrators, mayors of the independent cities and the large cities belonging to the district.

Forms: none
Online procedure possible: no
Written form required: yes
Personal appearance required: yes