With a temporary license plate, you can test
drive a vehicle or transfer it to another location. Other
purposes of travel are not permitted and may be punished.
The validity period is a maximum of 5 days from the date of
allocation. The expiration date is visible on the
right-hand edge of the temporary license plate. After this date, the
temporary license plate automatically loses its validity.

The vehicle must meet certain requirements in order to use a
temporary license plate:

• it must have EC type approval or
  an individual approval or
  operating license must have been issued,
• For used vehicles, valid proof
  of a passed general inspection (general
  inspection report) must be available, and
• Motor vehicle liability
  insurance must be in place.

If your vehicle does not have EC type approval or
an operating permit, you may only use a
temporary license plate for journeys related to obtaining
the necessary certificates. In this case, you may only drive to
the nearest inspection center in the district that issued the
license plate or in the neighboring district with the
temporary license plate.

If your vehicle does not have a valid general inspection or
safety test, it will only be issued with a short-term license plate for the
journey:

• to the nearest inspection center in the registration district and back, or
• to the nearest repair shop in the registration district where the license plate was issued, or
• to an adjacent district and back for the immediate repair of significant or minor defects that have been identified.

This does not apply to vehicles that have been
classified as unsafe for road use.

• You need the vehicle for:
  • a test drive to determine and verify its
  • determine and
    verify its usability
    , or
  • a transfer trip to take
    the
    vehicle to another location.
• You have a specific need for the
  allocation of a short-term license plate.
• You must specify the vehicle to the
  registration authority and provide proof of the
  vehicle's details.
• The vehicle must have:
  • EC type approval,
  • individual approval, or
  • operating permit.
• The vehicle must have a: valid general
  inspection and
  • valid general inspection and
  • , if applicable, a safety
    inspection.
• You have proof of existing
  motor vehicle liability insurance in the form of an
  electronic insurance confirmation (eVB) for
  short-term license plates.

Note: If you are applying for short-term license plates for several vehicles at the same time, you must provide proof of need.

You yourself, an authorized representative, or a person
authorized to receive the license plate can apply for the temporary license plate at:

• your local registration authority or
• the local registration authority responsible for the location of the vehicle.
• Depending on what the registration authority offers, you can download a form or use an online service via the Internet.
• Make an appointment with your local registration authority by phone or, if possible, online.
• Bring all the necessary documents and the payment of EUR 10.20 with you to your appointment.
• Your documents will be checked on site.

If the check is successful, you will receive your personal temporary license plate during the
appointment. In most cases, there are private dealers
not far from the registration offices where you can have the temporary license plate
printed on a license
plate immediately afterwards.

Note: As an applicant who is not registered in
Germany, you can apply for the temporary license plate at the
responsible registration authority if you name a person who is
authorized to receive it.

Usually immediately upon arrival, waiting time depends on how busy it is.

Usually immediately

• Vehicle registration certificate (Part I)
• Certificate of conformity (
  COC) or
• Original individual approval certificate for the vehicle
• Previous license plates, if applicable
• For used vehicles: general inspection report
• Electronic insurance confirmation (eVB)

• Fee: €13.10
• plus costs for license plates and insurance
• There are no fees for motor vehicle tax.

Cash / EC

Forms: none
Online procedures possible: no
Written form required: yes
Personal appearance required: yes