Question 1

Can I register a car in Germany if I don't live there?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and it's the specific problem we solve. Under German law, ownership (Eigentümer) and registered keeper (Fahrzeughalter) are two separate roles. You remain the legal owner via your purchase contract; we act as the registered keeper on the vehicle papers, using our Brandenburg address and UG. This is the identical structure leasing companies and corporate fleets use every day. Whether it's the right fit for your specific situation depends on how and where you plan to use the car — message us on WhatsApp with the details and we'll tell you honestly.

Question 2

Do I need a German address?

Accepted Answer

No — that's the entire point of our service. We provide the registered-keeper address in Brandenburg; you don't need an Anmeldung, a German lease, or any German utility bill. What you do need is a valid passport, a purchase contract for the vehicle, and the vehicle's CoC / Fahrzeugbrief. We register, insure, and plate the car under our address and hand you the keys — with no fiction that you live somewhere you don't.

Question 3

Who is the registered keeper (Halter) and who is the owner (Eigentümer)?

Accepted Answer

German vehicle law splits two roles that most other countries merge. The Eigentümer is the legal owner — the person whose money bought the car, established by the purchase contract, and who can sell it or bequeath it. The Halter is the registered keeper — the entity on the Fahrzeugschein responsible to the authorities for insurance, road tax, TÜV, and fines. You are the Eigentümer. We are the Halter. This is not a fiction; it is a formal legal distinction the German Straßenverkehrsgesetz explicitly recognises.

Question 4

Is this legal?

Accepted Answer

The keeper structure itself is legal and long-established — every leasing company in Germany uses it. Whether it works for you depends on your specific circumstances: how much time you spend in Germany, where the car is primarily used, your tax residency, your insurance history, and the vehicle in question. We won't give you a blanket 'yes it's fine' — the honest answer requires understanding your case. Send us your situation on WhatsApp and we'll tell you straight whether and how the model applies to you.

Question 5

Who is this service for?

Accepted Answer

International owners who want a legally registered German car without a German address — UK residents post-Brexit, US buyers doing European Delivery, digital nomads without a fixed lease, expats on rotating assignments, retirees splitting time between countries, motorhome and RV travellers, and collectors with vehicles in multiple countries. If none of those describe you exactly, message us — we've probably seen your situation before.

Question 6

What does the service cost?

Accepted Answer

One-time setup €149 and ongoing €99 per month for the keeper service — that covers registration, plates to your dealer, insurance brokering, keeper obligations, fine and tax handling, TÜV/HU coordination, and English/German support. Insurance premiums and road tax are passed through at cost with no markup. De-registration and export at the end is €149 flat. Run your own numbers on the calculator, or ask on WhatsApp for a firm quote in your exact scenario.

Question 7

Are there hidden fees?

Accepted Answer

No — and we publish them on the calculator page precisely because competitors bury theirs in the fine print. Insurance is at cost, road tax is at cost, plate manufacturing is at cost. We charge €149 setup, €99 monthly, and €149 to de-register. Anything genuinely additional (a lost key coding, an unusual TÜV re-test, a bespoke transport to your dealer) is quoted before we do it, in writing.

Question 8

What is the minimum contract term?

Accepted Answer

Six months. That reflects the underwriting requirement from AXA and Zurich — insurers won't onboard and off-board a vehicle inside a single quarter. After the six-month minimum the service continues month-to-month and you can cancel with 30 days' written notice. If your plans are for less than six months, tell us on WhatsApp and we'll point you toward long-term rental instead.

Question 9

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

SEPA direct debit is standard for the monthly service fee. Setup and any one-off items can be paid by credit card or bank transfer. Annual prepayment is available at a 5% discount. Insurance premiums are collected by the insurer directly from you or, on request, we can bundle them into the monthly SEPA at cost.

Question 10

How long does registration take?

Accepted Answer

Five German business days on average, from the moment we hold your complete document set to the moment plates ship to your dealer. Complex cases — classic cars needing H-Kennzeichen, motorhomes over 7.5 t, or imports requiring §21 individual approval — can take longer, and we tell you the honest range up front. See the timeline article on the blog for a full breakdown by vehicle type.

Question 11

What documents do I need?

Accepted Answer

Your passport (photo page), the vehicle purchase contract, the vehicle's CoC (Certificate of Conformity) or Fahrzeugbrief, an eVB electronic insurance confirmation (we arrange this), and the dealer contact for plate delivery. If the car is over three years old we also need the current HU (TÜV) certificate. We send a clear PDF checklist on day one so nothing gets missed.

Question 12

What happens with traffic fines, inspections (TÜV/HU) and taxes?

Accepted Answer

Because we are the registered keeper, all of these arrive at our address first. We scan and forward fines to you within one business day; you pay directly to the authority or reimburse us if we've fronted it. TÜV/HU reminders come to us; we book the inspection near you or coordinate at a partner workshop. Road tax (Kfz-Steuer) is paid by us to the Zollamt and passed through on your invoice at cost.

Question 13

Where can I drive the car?

Accepted Answer

Anywhere in the EU, EEA and Schengen area without restriction — that's the point of an EU registration. Your German plates and Grüne Karte (Green Card) insurance certificate are valid from Portugal to Poland, into Norway, Switzerland, and non-EU Balkan states, with no customs paperwork. Extended stays in a single foreign country (typically over six months) can trigger local registration duties — check with us if you plan to base the car abroad long-term.

Question 14

How does insurance work for non-residents?

Accepted Answer

Insurance follows the keeper, not the owner. Because we are the registered Halter, AXA or Zurich write the policy on our master fleet agreement at our Brandenburg postcode and driving history — not yours. That's why non-residents get standard German rates instead of the punitive foreign-driver premiums other agencies impose. You are named as the primary driver and pay the underwriting rate directly, with zero markup from us.

Question 15

Can I use my own foreign insurance?

Accepted Answer

No — and this is a hard legal requirement, not our preference. German law requires the vehicle policy be in the name of the registered keeper. Since we are the Halter, the policy has to sit on our master agreement with AXA or Zurich. You do get the benefit: our fleet No-Claims Bonus (SF-class) is applied to your vehicle immediately, saving typically 30–40% versus a new-applicant premium.

Question 16

What happens if I have an accident?

Accepted Answer

One WhatsApp message to our claims line, 24/7. We coordinate with AXA or Zurich, dispatch a partner workshop or tow, and file the Schadensmeldung on your behalf. You handle the driving side; we handle the paperwork side. Claims support is included in the €99 monthly fee — there is no per-incident charge for our assistance.

Question 17

What cover levels are available?

Accepted Answer

Liability only (Haftpflicht) is the legal minimum. Partial comprehensive (Teilkasko) adds theft, fire, glass, wildlife and weather. Fully comprehensive (Vollkasko) adds own-damage and vandalism. For vehicles over €50,000 we recommend Vollkasko; for anything over €150,000 or track-driven we build a bespoke policy with optional riders (GAP, track days, cross-border extended).

Question 18

Will the car be in my name on the papers?

Accepted Answer

You are the Eigentümer (owner) — established by your purchase contract, which is your title document. The Fahrzeugschein (vehicle registration certificate) and Fahrzeugbrief list us as the Halter (keeper). This mirrors exactly how leasing works: the driver isn't on the Schein either. If you specifically need your own name in the Fahrzeugbrief, that route is possible too and involves more paperwork — ask us about the direct-owner variant on WhatsApp.

Question 19

Can I sell the car later?

Accepted Answer

Yes, whenever you choose. As owner, you sign the sale contract with the new buyer. We handle de-registration (Abmeldung) at the Zulassungsstelle and issue the papers the new buyer needs for their own registration. There is no exit lock-in beyond the six-month minimum — after that, one WhatsApp message starts the process.

Question 20

What happens if I stop the service?

Accepted Answer

After the six-month minimum, 30 days' written notice ends the contract. We de-register the vehicle (€149 flat), release the insurance, and hand back the Fahrzeugbrief. If you want to transfer to another German keeper — a friend with an Anmeldung, or a leasing company — we coordinate that instead of full de-registration.

Everything, answered.