Guide for transfer-plates (Überführungskennzeichen) [2026]

July 01, 2025

Update: This article was reviewed for validity on 05/04/2026 and remains current in 2026. There are 3 types of transfer plates Short-term plates Customs or export plates Dealer plates Every vehicle driven on public roads in Germany requires registration and liability insurance. Depending on the use case, a different license plate is needed: Short-term plates These plates are valid for 5 days and are intended for private transfer journeys. The registration expires automatically. Example: You have bought a car and want to drive it from the dealer to your hometown to register it there. Cost: €70.00 - €120.00 You can find out more about the costs in our article: What do short-term plates cost? Savings tip: If you buy the short-term license plate insurance separately, you not only save money, but you can also decide later where you want to insure the vehicle. Customs plates / Export plates You need these plates if, for example, you have sold a vehicle abroad and now want to transfer it there (permanently). Example: You have sold your car to someone residing abroad. You now want to transfer the vehicle abroad to keep it there permanently. Cost: Approximately €120.00 Dealer plates / Red plates These plates can only be applied for by dealers, workshops, inspection centers, or classic car owners at the registration office and are intended for test drives, for example. Example: A car dealer with several locations wants to move his vehicles from one location to another. Cost: Approximately €500 per year The following applies to all license plates: Insurance All vehicles require liability insurance Restriction of use There are usually restrictions on these plates. For example, car sharing is generally not permitted. Validity period The validity of transfer plates is limited. For short-term plates, for example, to 5 days. Deregistration Short-term plates expire automatically, as do export plates. Registration The license plates must be applied for at the responsible authority.You must bring the following documents: Valid identity card/passport Valid HU (main inspection) For companies/registered businesses For dealer plates: Registered motor vehicle business Business registration Commercial register extract For associations Association register extract EVB (electronic insurance confirmation) SEPA direct debit mandate for vehicle tax Possibly a certificate of good conduct Possibly driving aptitude register information

Cost for temporary plates (Kurzzeitkennzeichen) [2026]

July 01, 2025

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 Cost item Amount Registration fee €13.10 Insurance €35.00 - €45.00 Vehicle license plate €15.00 - €50.00 Total €65.00 - €120.00 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.