Update: This article was reviewed for validity on 05/04/2026 and remains current in 2026.

The total estimated costs are €65.00 - €120.00.

If you plan to drive a vehicle temporarily on German roads, be it for test drives, transfers, or other short-term purposes, you will need a short-term license plate.

It is particularly more sensible and cost-effective to consider a short-term registration if the vehicle only needs to be driven for a short period. A regular registration can quickly become expensive, and deregistration may require another visit to the registration office.

The costs for the aforementioned short-term registration are composed of various fees and expenses, which can vary depending on your individual circumstances.

In this article, we will take a look at the main costs associated with registering a car with a short-term license plate in Germany.

We will assume the most common type of short-term license plate registration:

• Car
• 6-day insurance
• Driving only within Germany

Registration fee: €13.10

Registering a vehicle with a short-term license plate in Germany requires the payment of a registration fee. This fee is €13.10.

Insurance costs: €35.00 - €45.00

For a vehicle to be driven on public roads, it requires liability insurance.

The costs for this vary depending on the provider. With us, short-term license plate insurance costs €35-45, depending on the offer.

Cost of the license plate: €20-50

The cost of the aluminum short-term license plate itself depends on the local plate manufacturer. You can expect to pay a total of €20-50 for 2 plates here.

Tabular cost breakdown

Further requirements and notes:

Roadworthiness/HU

It should be noted that your vehicle must have a valid HU (Hauptuntersuchung/TÜV - main inspection) and, if applicable, a safety inspection during the registration period.

An inspection at an inspection body (TÜV/GTÜ/etc.) could incur additional costs. Typically, a successful main inspection costs approximately €80.00.