Glossary
German car-registration terms, in plain English
28 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.
Wohnsitz
A German domicile — a dwelling that is available to you and kept in a way that indicates you intend to retain it.
Halter
The registered keeper of a vehicle in Germany — the person or company responsible for it, which need not be the legal owner.
Umweltplakette
The green environmental sticker required to drive into most German city Umweltzonen.
HU (Hauptuntersuchung)
The mandatory German roadworthiness inspection, commonly called TÜV, due every two years for passenger cars.
Ruheversicherung
The free dormant-insurance cover that automatically protects a German-registered car while it is deregistered or off the road.
Saisonkennzeichen
A German seasonal licence plate that is valid only during the months printed on it, with tax and insurance charged pro rata.
H-Kennzeichen
The German historic-vehicle plate for cars at least 30 years old, carrying a flat annual tax rate.
Schadenfreiheitsklasse (SF-Klasse)
The German no-claims class that determines how much of the base insurance premium an owner actually pays.
Regionalklasse
The German insurance region rating derived from the claims record of the district where the car is registered.
Typklasse
The German insurance rating class assigned to a specific vehicle model based on its claims and repair-cost record.
Halterhaftung
The German legal liability that attaches to the registered keeper of a vehicle rather than to whoever was driving.
Empfangsbevollmächtigter
A person or company in Germany authorised to receive official post on behalf of someone living abroad.
Standschaden
Damage that develops in a vehicle because it stands unused for an extended period rather than from being driven.
Rekommissionierung
The structured process of returning a stored vehicle to road-ready condition before it is used again.
Wertgutachten
An independent written vehicle valuation used for insurance, customs, sale or dispute purposes in Germany.
Differenzbesteuerung
The German VAT margin scheme under which tax is charged only on a dealer's profit margin, not the full sale price.