Betriebserlaubnis für ein zulassungsfreies Fahrzeug beantragen

Would you like to drive a vehicle that does not require registration and does not have EU type approval? Then you must apply for an operating permit.

Various types of vehicles that do not require registration require an operating license in order to participate in road traffic. These include, for example

• self-propelled work machines and forklifts
• Single-axle tractors for agricultural or forestry purposes
• light motorcycles
• two- or three-wheeled mopeds
• motorized medical wheelchairs
• Small electric vehicles such as e-scooters
• trailers in agricultural or forestry operations.

Depending on the vehicle type, an operating permit can be issued with or without the allocation of a separate license plate.

The general type approval (ABE) is issued by the manufacturer for vehicles that are manufactured in series and belong to a type approved by the European Union (EU).

You must apply for an individual type approval (EBE) if your registration-free vehicle does not have an EU type approval. These can be, for example

• Self-constructed vehicles
• one-off productions
• Vehicles from small series
• Vehicles from abroad without EU type approval.

Even if you want to put a vehicle with a license plate back into operation that was taken out of service more than 7 years ago, you need an individual type approval.

For an EBE, you must submit an expert opinion from an officially recognized expert or a technical service appointed to test complete vehicles of the respective vehicle class, which contains various test reports. These reports must prove that the necessary tests have been carried out and that the vehicle complies with the regulations.

You will receive the operating license for an unlimited period. It expires if:

• You make changes to the vehicle and the type of vehicle approved in the operating license is changed,
• a danger to road users is to be expected,
• the exhaust or noise behavior is impaired,
• you do not comply with possible requirements for installations or removals or
• you permanently take the vehicle out of service.

After the operating permit has expired, you can apply for a new operating permit with an expert opinion from an officially recognized expert or a technical service designated to test complete vehicles of the respective vehicle class.

• Identity document
• Technical data of the vehicle
• any restrictions on the operating license
• for vehicles requiring license plates:
  • Registration certificate part I, formerly vehicle registration document
  • Proof of valid general inspection
  • Proof of insurance/license plate, if applicable
• for vehicles not requiring a license plate:
  • Informal confirmation of roadworthiness from a competent body, e.g. vehicle workshop or expert, including description of the vehicle (manufacturer, chassis number)
  • Proof of ownership, e.g. purchase contract or invoice, in the original in each case
  • Full certificate from a test center if the manufacturer no longer exists

There is no deadline.

The following information is available:

The Federal Motor Transport Authority can issue you with proof of a general operating license for vehicles manufactured in the former GDR. This applies to

• mopeds (mokicks, mopeds)
• Bicycles with auxiliary motor
• light motorcycles from the former GDR that were first put on the road before March 1, 1992
• Motorized ambulance chairs from the former GDR that were first put on the market before March 1, 1991
• trailers from the former GDR production without registration.

• Appeal and action before the administrative court

• Permission to operate vehicles without registration
• Various types of registration-free vehicles require an operating permit in order to be able to participate in road traffic.
• These include, for example
  • self-propelled work machines and forklifts
  • Single-axle tractors for agricultural or forestry purposes
  • light motorcycles
  • two- or three-wheeled mopeds
  • motorized medical wheelchairs
  • Small electric vehicles such as e-scooters
  • trailers in agricultural or forestry operations.
• Vehicles that correspond to an approved type in accordance with European Union (EU) regulations automatically receive type approval from the manufacturer.
• Individual type approval must be applied for non-approved vehicles, for example
  • self-constructed vehicles
  • individual productions
  • Vehicles from small series
  • Vehicles from abroad without type approval.
• also applies to the commissioning of vehicles with license plates that were taken out of service more than 7 years ago
• For individual type approval, an expert opinion from a recognized expert or a technical service designated to test complete vehicles of the respective vehicle class is required.
• Can be issued with or without the allocation of a separate license plate number
• The operating license remains valid until
  • modifications are made that change the type of vehicle approved in the operating license,
  • a danger to road users is to be expected,
  • the exhaust or noise behavior is impaired,
  • ordered conversions or conversions are not carried out,
  • the vehicle is permanently taken out of service or
  • the operating license is expressly withdrawn.
• If the operating permit expires, a new operating permit can be applied for with an expert opinion from a recognized expert
• Responsible: locally competent vehicle registration authority

locally responsible vehicle registration authority