Answer

How do I transfer car ownership in Germany (Umschreibung)?

Umschreibung is the process of transferring a car to a new keeper (Halter) at the Zulassungsstelle. You need Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I & II, valid HU, an eVB from the new keeper's insurer, a SEPA mandate for KFZ-Steuer and the plates. The fee is €26–37 (plus new plates if the district changes). Non-residents complete the Umschreibung via a keeper-based service with Vollmacht.

When must I do the Umschreibung?

Immediately after purchase. Driving a car whose Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I still names the previous owner is a risk — the insurance follows the keeper on the papers, not the new owner.

Step by step at the counter

The new keeper (or a representative with Vollmacht) presents Teil I, Teil II, the HU report, a fresh eVB number, a SEPA mandate and ID. The office rewrites the keeper entry, issues a new Teil I, stamps Teil II, and either keeps the existing plates or issues new ones. The appointment itself is usually 20–40 minutes.

What does the seller have to do?

Hand over Teil I and Teil II, sign the Kaufvertrag with date, mileage and VIN, and then report the sale to their insurer. A seller who wants certainty asks for a copy of the new Teil I, because their liability for the plates ends only once the keeper change is registered.

Umschreibung when the buyer lives abroad

The new keeper still needs a German address, so a non-resident buyer runs the transfer through a keeper service with a signed Vollmacht — exactly the same structure as a first registration. Ownership stays with the buyer under the Kaufvertrag; only the keeper entry is German.

Umschreibung vs Ummeldung vs Neuzulassung

Umschreibung = the car changes keeper. Ummeldung = the same keeper changes address or district. Neuzulassung = a car that is currently deregistered or never registered in Germany gets plates. The fee band is similar, but the documents differ: only a Neuzulassung may need a COC.

Umschreibung: costs and documents

Item	Cost	Who provides it
Zulassungsstelle keeper change	€26 – €37	Paid by the new keeper
New plates (district change)	€15 – €30	New keeper
eVB insurance number	Free with the policy	New keeper's insurer
HU report	€90 – €140 if expired	Usually the seller
Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I & II	—	Seller, as originals
Vollmacht	—	New keeper, if represented

FAQ

Can I keep my old plates?

If the car stays in the same registration district, yes. If it moves to a different district, new plates are issued.

Who pays for the Umschreibung?

The buyer, as the incoming keeper. The seller only pays if they promised a car "registered and handed over" in the contract.

What if the seller has already deregistered the car?

Then it is not an Umschreibung but a Wiederzulassung: the car needs valid HU, a fresh eVB and new plates, and it may not be driven to the office on public roads.

Can the transfer be done remotely?

Yes, with a signed original Vollmacht and the complete document set. Neither buyer nor seller has to attend in person.

Last updated: July 2026