Personalised German plate: how a combination is built and what it costs
In short
A German plate has two parts: a distinguishing sign of one to three letters for the administrative district of registration — M in Munich, B in Berlin — and an identification number specific to the vehicle (§ 9(1) FZV). Only the second part is chosen, and only if the combination is not already taken. Reserving a number costs €2.60 per number under the GebOSt fee schedule (no. 230); it must happen before the appointment at the registration authority, otherwise the next free number is simply allocated. Availability is checked only by the official portal — we simulate nothing here.
How a plate is built
Reserving: when, where, at what price
The reservation fee is one of the few officially fixed amounts in the whole process. All the others — registration, plates, insurance — are set out under the cost of registering a car in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my plate if I move?
We publish no rule on that: § 9 FZV describes the plate's composition, not the case of moving, and we have not verified this point on an official source. It is one of the questions we clarify for your case with the competent office.
Are certain letter combinations excluded?
§ 9 FZV sets the structure but lists no excluded combinations; we have not verified authorities' practice on this and so do not report it. In any case the official portal rejects a combination that cannot be allocated.