Glossary
German car-registration terms, in plain English
13 of the German bureaucracy terms you'll meet when registering a car — Zulassungsstelle, eVB, HU/TÜV, Vollmacht, COC and more.
Zulassungsstelle
The German vehicle registration office where cars are registered, transferred and deregistered.
Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I
The German vehicle registration certificate carried in the car (formerly Fahrzeugschein).
Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II
The German vehicle title (formerly Fahrzeugbrief), proving ownership.
eVB-Nummer
A 7-character insurance confirmation code required to register a car in Germany.
HU / TÜV
The mandatory German vehicle safety inspection, every two years for passenger cars.
Vollmacht
A written power of attorney letting someone else act on your behalf.
COC (Certificate of Conformity)
The EU manufacturer's certificate proving a car meets EU type approval.
Anmeldung vs Abmeldung vs Ummeldung
The three German registration actions: register, deregister, and re-register a car.
Wunschkennzeichen
A custom licence plate combination reserved online for around €12.80.
Kurzzeitkennzeichen
German short-term plates, valid 5 days, used for HU trips and cross-country moves.
Ausfuhrkennzeichen (export plates)
Red-numbered German plates for driving a car out of Germany after purchase.
SEPA-Mandat (KFZ-Steuer)
The direct-debit authorisation for German vehicle tax, mandatory at registration.
Umweltplakette
The green environmental sticker required to drive into most German city Umweltzonen.