Temporary German plates: which one do you need?
In short
For an unregistered vehicle German law offers two regimes open to private individuals. The Kurzzeitkennzeichen (§ 42 FZV) runs until the end of the fifth day following issue and covers only test drives and transfer drives; it requires valid evidence of the Hauptuntersuchung and safety inspection plus liability insurance, and without an HU certificate journeys are confined to the authority's district and one neighbouring district. The Ausfuhrkennzeichen (§ 45 FZV) runs up to a year, its term following the insurance proved, and requires that the vehicle be taken abroad permanently. The official fees are €10.20 and €31.40 respectively under the GebOSt schedule.
Which form fits what you are doing
| What you want to do | The regime | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Test-drive a vehicle in Germany before buying it | Kurzzeitkennzeichen | €10.20 |
| Move a purchased vehicle within a few days | Kurzzeitkennzeichen | €10.20 |
| Take a vehicle out of Germany for good | Ausfuhrkennzeichen | €31.40 |
| Run a vehicle in Germany on a lasting basis | No temporary form — ordinary registration | €30.00 |
Kurzzeitkennzeichen: the three conditions
The geographic restriction that ruins the plan
This is where most plans fail, and it is not in the first paragraph: without type approval or a valid HU certificate the Kurzzeitkennzeichen is still issued, but journeys stay confined to the authority's district and one neighbouring district.
The deadline is stricter than it sounds too: it runs to the end of the fifth day following ISSUE. Not from the first journey, not from collecting the vehicle. Collect the plate on Monday and set off on Friday, and there is nothing left of it.
Ausfuhrkennzeichen: the term follows the insurance
Frequently asked questions
Can a Kurzzeitkennzeichen be extended?
§ 42 FZV provides for no extension: the period is measured to the end of the fifth day after issue. For anything longer it is simply the wrong instrument.
May I drive abroad on a Kurzzeitkennzeichen?
The FZV restricts journeys geographically only where type approval or a valid HU certificate is missing. Whether the plate is recognised in the destination country, however, is a matter for that country's law and for your insurance contract — neither is in the FZV, and we assert nothing about it. Settle it with your insurer before setting off.
What does a Kurzzeitkennzeichen cost in total?
The official fee is fixed: €10.20 (GebOSt 221.4). On top come the plates from a private supplier and the short-term liability cover, whose price varies widely by insurer and vehicle. We give no figure for those two items because we cannot back them with an official source.
Do I need a German address for the Ausfuhrkennzeichen?
§ 45 FZV hangs not on a German address but on the intended permanent export and proof of liability insurance. Which documents a particular authority asks for in a given case is a matter of practice, which we check for your file.