Model B
Register a Car in Your Own Name — Without European Residency
Live in the United States, Australia or another country outside Europe and want your name on the vehicle papers? In eligible German Model B cases, you are the registered keeper (Halter), using your documented foreign address. You remain the legal owner under the purchase contract. Identification, power of attorney, vehicle documents and German insurance are reviewed before we confirm the route — no relocation or fictitious European residence.
Last updated: 2026-10-21 · This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Live abroad. Keep your car in Europe.
Your car. Your name. No move to Europe.
Live in the United States or Australia, buy a vehicle in Europe and keep it in Germany for your European trips. If you want your name on the registration documents too, we assess the German own-name route before you buy or commit to registration.
- You own the vehicle
- Your purchase contract establishes ownership. You do not need to transfer ownership to us for our registration service.
- Your name on the papers
- In eligible Model B cases, you are the registered keeper (Halter). Model A instead names a German company as keeper; you remain the owner.
- Your home stays abroad
- Use your genuine, documented foreign residential address. A German correspondence recipient is arranged where required, not a fictitious European residence.
Ownership and registration are different legal roles. Registration and insurance acceptance are confirmed individually. German plates do not grant European residency or remove visa, customs, tax or vehicle-use requirements in other countries.
Key facts
- Your name as Halter in Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I & II where eligible
- You remain Eigentümer via purchase contract
- No move to Europe for eligible non-resident cases
- Insurance arranged through AXA / Zurich for the registered keeper
- Typical timeline: 7–14 business days
- €500 setup + €1,188 annually; €1,688 first-year base, extras separate
- Works with our storage service near Berlin
- Change from Model A to Model B is possible later
Who is Model B for?
Americans and Australians who live at home but want their own vehicle for European trips, along with collectors and other international owners who specifically want to be named as the keeper. Model B is assessed using your actual foreign residence and intended vehicle use. Model A is an alternative company-keeper route, not a transfer of ownership. Compare both before choosing.
Documents checklist
- Apostilled ID (passport)
- Notarised power of attorney (Vollmacht)
- Proof of foreign residency
- Vehicle purchase contract
- Vehicle CoC or Fahrzeugbrief
- Valid HU (TÜV) certificate for used vehicles
Step-by-step process
- Start with your residence country, vehicle or listing and intended use. Send identity, vehicle and insurance documents only through the secure upload link supplied after the initial review, never through WhatsApp.
- We arrange insurance quotes through AXA and Zurich for you as registered keeper.
- Apostille + notarisation completed in your country (we send the exact templates).
- We attend the Zulassungsstelle under your Vollmacht and register you as Halter.
- Plates and Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I & II ship to you or your dealer.
Does own-name registration cause insurance problems?
Insurance policies must match the registration setup — that is exactly what our Model B framework is built for. Model B policies are arranged through our insurance partners AXA and Zurich and issued for the registered keeper. We do not use ambiguous keeper structures on Model B, and we do not sell a policy that does not match the keeper on file.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
When Model A is the better choice
Speed and simplicity. Model A skips the apostille/POA/residency-proof chain and is typically live in ~5 business days. Fleet-rate insurance through our master AXA/Zurich policy is often materially cheaper on high-value cars. You stay legal owner via purchase contract — nothing about ownership changes; only the keeper role on the certificate.
FAQ
Can Americans and Australians own and register a car in Europe without European residency?
You can purchase and own a vehicle in Europe while living in the United States or Australia. Buying the vehicle does not by itself qualify it for registration. In eligible cases, German registration can name you as the registered keeper (Model B) using your documented foreign residential address and an authorised German correspondence recipient where required. You do not have to relocate to Europe for that route. The authority, vehicle documents, German insurance and intended location and use must all be checked individually. German plates do not change visa limits or another country's tax, customs or vehicle-use rules.
Is Model B really registration in my own name?
Yes. Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Teil II are issued with you as Halter. You are both Eigentümer (owner via purchase contract) and Halter (registered keeper), without a German Anmeldung.
Does own-name registration cause insurance problems?
Policies must match the registration setup, which is exactly what our Model B framework is built for. Model B policies are arranged through our insurance partners AXA and Zurich and issued for the registered keeper. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
How long does Model B take?
Typically 7–14 business days from complete document set to plates dispatched, versus ~5 business days for Model A. The difference is document handling: apostille, POA and residency proof must clear before the Zulassungsstelle appointment.
When is Model A the better choice?
Model A is faster (~5 business days), needs less paperwork on your side (no apostille or POA notarisation), and the fleet insurance is often cheaper for high-value cars. If you don't specifically need papers in your name, Model A is the simpler route.
Can I switch from Model A to Model B later?
Yes — a change of Halter is a straightforward Zulassungsstelle transaction. You keep the same plates and insurance is re-issued for the new keeper.