Core Service · English
Register a car in Germany — without a German address.
We handle the full Zulassung — insurance, KFZ-Steuer, license plates and paperwork with the Kfz-Zulassungsstelle — from our Brandenburg office. Non-residents, expats, digital nomads and international collectors get a fully-legal German registration in about five business days, without ever setting foot in a Bürgeramt.
Direct answer
Yes — a non-resident can legally register a car in Germany. The Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV) requires a keeper with a German address, but German law separates the Halter (registered keeper) from the Eigentümer (owner). We provide the keeper role under our Brandenburg UG, or place you directly on the Fahrzeugbrief through a written legal framework — you own the car, you drive the car, we handle the German administration.
What's included
How the process works
01
Send documents
Passport, purchase contract, COC — via WhatsApp or email. We tell you exactly what's missing on day one.
02
We register & insure
Our team files at the Zulassungsstelle, binds AXA / Zurich cover on your case, and sets up KFZ-Steuer with the Hauptzollamt.
03
Plates shipped
Sealed German plates and Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I couriered to you or your dealer anywhere in the EU. You drive.
Halter vs. Eigentümer — the legal basis
German vehicle law, codified in the Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV), distinguishes between two roles:
- • Eigentümer (owner) — holds legal title to the vehicle, established by the Kaufvertrag. Ownership is a matter of civil law and is not printed on the registration certificate.
- • Halter (registered keeper) — the party the Zulassungsstelle records as responsible to the authority for tax, insurance and fines. The keeper must have an address in Germany.
The two roles being separate is the same structure used every day by leasing companies, corporate fleets, dealer courtesy fleets and long-term rental operators. It is not a workaround — it is how the German system is designed. We are the keeper on file; you are the owner on paper. If you prefer to appear as keeper yourself without a German Anmeldung, our personal model handles that through apostilled ID, a power of attorney and a written service framework.
GermanCarRegistration is a service provider, not a law firm. For your specific residency, tax and insurance situation, we confirm what is possible in writing before starting your file.
FAQ — Registering a car in Germany as a non-resident
Can I register a car in Germany without a German address?
Yes. Under §6 FZV a vehicle needs a registered keeper (Halter) with a German address, but the keeper and the legal owner (Eigentümer) do not have to be the same person. Our Brandenburg UG can act as the keeper on the Zulassungsbescheinigung while you remain the owner via the purchase contract — or, in our personal model, you appear directly on the Fahrzeugbrief through a written legal framework. Either way, no German Anmeldung is required from you.
How long does German car registration take?
Typically 5 business days from receipt of complete documents (passport, purchase contract, COC/CoC). Same-day or 48-hour handling is available for urgent cases in Brandenburg and Berlin.
What documents do I need?
A passport copy, the signed Kaufvertrag (purchase contract), the vehicle's Certificate of Conformity (COC) or existing Fahrzeugbrief for used cars, an eVB insurance number (we generate this via AXA or Zurich), and a SEPA mandate for vehicle tax to the Hauptzollamt.
How much does it cost?
Pricing is individual and depends on the vehicle, residency, model chosen (keeper vs. personal) and insurance appetite. Insurance and KFZ-Steuer are always passed at cost through AXA / Zurich with no markup. Send us your case on WhatsApp and we'll return a tailored quote within one business day.
Is it legal for a non-resident?
The legal framework we operate under is standard German law — the same separation of Halter and Eigentümer used by leasing companies, corporate fleets and dealer courtesy vehicles. What is legal for you specifically depends on your residency, tax status and use case; we always confirm your individual situation in writing before starting a file.
Can the car be driven across the EU?
Yes. A German-registered vehicle carries EU-wide driving rights under the Vienna Convention. There is no 30-day export-plate limit and no annual re-registration in the country you spend time in.