✔️ No follow-up insurance
✔️ No deductible
✔️ Immediate registration possible
Within a few minutes.
If it takes longer or you have not received any messages from us at all, please contact us .
The EVB is activated for you for 12 days.
After that, it will automatically become invalid
With the EVB (and your documents) go to the admission office . Your vehicle will then be registered there.
CAR = CAR
Everything else (truck, trailer, motorcycle, etc.) = All
Yes, just write to us briefly. We will cancel the order if your EVB expires unused.
You can reach us at any time by e-mail or via our contact form.
*Only the conditions stated on the insurance card apply
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Andere
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| Price |
✔️
Clear and at no extra cost |
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Often hidden costs |
| Delivery |
✔️
Fast: 1 minute |
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Often slow: +2 hours |
| Cancellation |
✔️
Free & easy |
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Often expensive & heavy |
| Follow-up insurance |
✔️
Voluntarily |
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Often mandatory |
| Payment |
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All popular methods |
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Few |
The EVB is activated immediately after purchase and can be used for registration. You can therefore buy the EVB online at your local registration office and use it straight away.
The insurance is valid for a single vehicle and is tied to this vehicle.
Your insurance card lists where you are allowed to drive your vehicle. Below you will find a non-binding list of the current countries (as of May 2024).
Within the EU:
Outside the EU:
(**) Insurance cover on the basis of Green Cards issued for Azerbaijan, Serbia and Cyprus is limited to those geographical areas under the control of the respective government.
Yes, your vehicle must have a valid MOT (main inspection) before you are allowed to drive.
If the HU has expired or is otherwise invalid, the vehicle may no longer be driven.
The short-term license plate becomes valid once the insurance has been activated at the registration office. This means you can drive off on the same day and the insurance expires automatically afterwards.
You must submit the following documents for registration.
If you are a company or an association, you should bring your trade license or proof of association with you.
If you are registering on behalf of a third party, you must bring a signed power of attorney with you.
You will receive the EVB number from us after you have taken out your insurance with us.
No.
The term “green card” has historical reasons, so it can also be printed on normal (white) paper if you want to have the insurance documents with you.
You will receive the insurance documents by e-mail and can save them on your smartphone so that you always have them to hand.
No, we already do this fully automatically and save you this additional effort. This means that the insurance card is already equipped with an EVB and can be used directly. You don't have to do anything else.
Cancellation of an unused EVB is free of charge. Please send us an e-mail or a message via our contact form.
You have not used the EVB? No problem.
Just send us a short message with your order number and we will confirm receipt of your cancellation request.
After the EVB becomes invalid (currently 12 days), we will cancel the EVB and you will receive a refund. Unfortunately, it is not possible to refund you in advance, as we first have to wait for the status of the EVB usage.
You can also let us know before the EVB expires. We will take care of everything else for you.
You have two options:
No, but you can print out the insurance card yourself and take it with you.
No, you have to buy the short-term license plates on site.
The plates for the short-term license plates are obtained locally from the plate embosser. We only sell the EVB or the insurance for this and do not send out license plates.
The total cost for a 5-day temporary license plate usually ranges between 60 and 130 Euros. This is made up of the administrative fee (approx. €13.10), the embossing costs for the plates (approx. €15-50), and the short-term liability insurance (approx. €50-100). You can save money with online eVB numbers, which are often available from approx. €35.
Important notes:
Validity: The license plate is valid for a maximum of 5 days (more or less depending on the insurance) and expires automatically (identifiable by the expiration date on the yellow strip).
For a temporary license plate (5-day license plate), you need the following at the registration office:
Important facts:
Steps to apply:
Validity: 5 days from allocation. Other durations are possible depending on the insurance.
Yes, you can obtain a temporary license plate immediately on the day of application if you submit all required documents in full. These include: an electronic insurance confirmation (eVB number), your identity card or passport with registration certificate, the vehicle documents and, if applicable, proof of a valid general inspection.
The validity begins immediately on the day of allocation and cannot be postponed to a later date.
The license plate is then valid for a maximum of five days plus the day of application, i.e. a total of six days. You should particularly consider this when applying before a weekend or public holidays.
Applying on a Saturday, Sunday, or a public holiday is not possible, as registration offices are not open then.
However, you can register the vehicle there if there is no public holiday at that location (another federal state).
No, it is not possible to obtain a temporary license plate without vehicle registration documents.
Since 2015, you can only apply for temporary license plates if you have vehicle documents.
You generally have three options for transporting a deregistered car home:
The most common option is to obtain short-term license plates, which allow you to drive a roadworthy but not regularly registered vehicle exclusively for test drives and transfer journeys.
Requirements:
This requires a valid trailer driving license, a car with a tow hitch, and the trailer itself. This option is often the only possibility, especially for vehicles without a valid TÜV.
You can commission a service provider to transport your vehicle. The transport of a used small car from Hamburg to Wiesbaden costs approximately 400 euros.
A transfer license plate is an umbrella term for a short-term license plate, an export license plate, and a red license plate.
These terms are often used synonymously, but there are important differences:
Conclusion: In everyday language, most people mean the short-term license plate for Germany when they say "transfer license plate."
Any person may drive with a 5-day temporary registration plate if they are the owner or authorized user of the vehicle for a transfer or test drive. No special driving license beyond the regular driver's license class is required.
The prerequisite is that the vehicle is insured for the journey (eVB number) and that the necessary vehicle documents for applying for the temporary registration plate are available. The plate is vehicle-specific, not person-specific.
The shortest temporary registration plate is the 5-day registration plate.
The validity period is a maximum of 5 calendar days from the registered start date. Shorter validity periods do not exist in the German registration system.
The cost of a short-term license plate is independent of whether the vehicle has a valid TÜV inspection or not. Registration, insurance, or driving without a valid TÜV is not possible.
A temporary registration plate is suitable for this, as it may allow a trip to the nearest inspection center if all requirements are met.
Alternatively: Transport by trailer or towing service.
An alternative to temporary license plates is transporting the vehicle on a trailer. In this case, the car is loaded and moved without its own registration. This requires a suitable towing vehicle, a trailer hitch, and an appropriate driver's license.
Another option is transport by a towing service or a freight forwarding company. The vehicle is transported entirely on a transporter and moved without its own road registration.
Red dealer plates are also an alternative, but they are exclusively available to commercial car dealers, workshops, or inspection centers and cannot be used by private individuals.
In some cases, the seller or an authorized person can also transfer the vehicle with their own registration, provided there is a corresponding agreement.
Another option is to fully register the vehicle before transfer, so that it can then be driven regularly with normal license plates.
Under certain circumstances, insurance coverage exists as long as the driver is authorized and the vehicle is used with the knowledge and consent of the authorized person.
Short-term license plate insurance is generally tied to the vehicle and is not limited to individual named drivers. Crucial factors are the authorization to use the vehicle and the possession of a valid driver's license.
No insurance coverage exists if the driver is unauthorized, the vehicle is used without consent, or legal or insurance conditions are violated. In such a case, the insurer may refuse benefits or seek recourse from the responsible party.
The vehicle owner for a temporary license plate is the person to whom the vehicle is actually registered or who applies for the temporary license plate.
This is usually the applicant for the temporary license plate. This person is listed as the owner in the registration process, even if the vehicle is only temporarily registered for 5 days.
There are no different "types" of temporary license plates in the sense of different classes. It is a uniform type of license plate with a clear purpose.
Distinctions are made exclusively according to the purpose of the vehicle:
Temporary license plates for transfer and test drives within Germany. It is limited to a maximum of 5 days and is used for vehicles without regular registration.
Temporary license plates for use abroad are only possible to a limited extent. Use outside Germany is not standardized and depends on the respective national regulations of the destination country.
A distinction from other types of license plates exists separately, not within the temporary license plate system.
A vehicle with a temporary license plate is insured via a special motor liability insurance for temporary license plates. This insurance is taken out in advance and proven by the eVB number.
The insurance cover applies exclusively to the specifically assigned vehicle and only for the period of validity of the temporary license plate (maximum 5 days). It includes statutory liability, i.e., damages to third parties resulting from the use of the vehicle.
Damage to the vehicle itself is not insured. The cover only applies to journeys within the scope of the intended use (test drives and transfer journeys).
Yes, a temporary license plate can usually be issued immediately.
The electronic insurance confirmation (eVB number) is usually provided directly online or by phone within a few minutes. With this, the registration office can immediately assign the temporary license plate if all documents are complete.
The prerequisite is a personal application at the registration office or a responsible motor vehicle authority. There, the issuance takes place directly on site on the same day. Afterwards, the plates are embossed and the vehicle can be used immediately.
A temporary registration plate is the official term for the 5-day license plate with a yellow border and limited validity.
The term "transfer license plate" is not a separate official type of license plate, but rather a colloquial collective term. In everyday use, it usually refers to the temporary registration plate.
An export license plate (red border) is to be distinguished from this. It is valid for a longer period and is used for vehicle exports abroad.
In German usage, "Kurzzeitkennzeichen" (temporary registration plate) and "Überführungskennzeichen" (transfer license plate) generally refer to the same thing.
A deregistered car can be brought home using temporary license plates, transport on a trailer, or commercial vehicle transport.
Temporary license plates allow for a single transfer journey within their maximum validity period of five days. This requires insurance (eVB number) and vehicle documentation.
When transported on a trailer, the vehicle is loaded and moved without its own registration. This requires a suitable towing vehicle, a trailer hitch, and a driver's license.
For commercial transport, a towing or freight service handles the complete loading and transportation of the vehicle without road registration.
A daily registration is a regular, full vehicle registration for an individual or a company. The vehicle receives standard license plates and is legally considered a registered vehicle. It is mostly used for sales promotion and can then go into regular operation.
A temporary license plate is a limited registration for a maximum of 5 days. It is exclusively for test drives and transfer journeys of a vehicle not permanently registered. Its validity then expires automatically.
The key difference lies in the duration and purpose: A daily registration is a genuine, full registration within the regular system, whereas a temporary license plate is a highly time-limited special registration for short-term journeys.
To transfer a vehicle, short-term license plates, export license plates, and regular license plates are suitable for vehicles that are already registered.
The short-term license plate is used for domestic transfer and test drives of an unregistered vehicle and is limited to a maximum of 5 days.
The export license plate is used for transferring a vehicle abroad and is valid for a longer period.
A vehicle with an existing registration can be transferred with regular license plates, provided it is not deregistered.
With short-term license plates, journeys outside the permitted purpose of use are not allowed.
Everyday use and permanent commercial journeys are not permitted. The vehicle may not be used for regular use or as a permanent means of transport.
Use for races or motorsport events, as well as driving without a valid driving license or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is not permitted.
Furthermore, use outside the intended purpose of the test and transfer drive is not permitted, especially if there is no connection with a vehicle inspection, transfer, or commissioning.
Short-term license plate insurance policies do not have a uniform fixed price, as they vary depending on the provider and coverage. Liability insurance for 5 days typically ranges from about 30 to 80 euros.
Providers such as kurzzeitkennzeichen.express are at the lower end of this spectrum and offer rates starting from around 35 to 45 euros for insurance, plus the usual fees for plates and registration costs.
The application is made by the person who is transferring or commissioning the vehicle. In practice, this is usually the buyer or the person transferring the vehicle.
The seller only applies if they are transferring the vehicle themselves or conducting a test drive. What matters is not the role of owner, but the actual use and responsibility for the journey.
Car dealerships generally do not use temporary license plates for their day-to-day operations.
Instead, they use red dealer plates. These are intended for commercial use and can be used for test drives, transfers, and workshop trips on various vehicles.
Temporary license plates, on the other hand, are intended for individual vehicles and temporary use by private individuals or non-commercial transfers.
A transfer license plate, in the sense of a temporary license plate, is valid for a maximum of 5 calendar days.
Driving is only permitted within this period. After this, the registration automatically expires and the vehicle may no longer be driven on public roads.
The vehicle owner is the person to whom the temporary license plate is issued during the registration process. This is usually the applicant, but depending on the circumstances, a different vehicle owner can be registered.
Legally, this person is listed as the keeper for the period of validity, regardless of whether they are the owner of the vehicle. The key factor is the assignment in the registration application, not the purchase agreement or ownership status.
Insurance coverage applies only to authorized drivers within the scope of the insurance terms and conditions. A short-term license plate is vehicle-specific, not person-specific; a named entry is generally not provided for.
If a person drives without authorization or without the consent of the authorized person, this constitutes unauthorized use. In such a case, the insurer may refuse to pay or seek recourse.
However, if there is express or implied permission from the authorized person and a valid driving license exists, insurance coverage remains in effect if this is permitted by the insurance terms and conditions.
The export plate is used when a vehicle is permanently transferred abroad. It is valid for a longer period and replaces the temporary license plate for export journeys.
Transporting the vehicle on a trailer is an alternative when it does not have road registration. The vehicle is loaded and not driven itself.
Commercial vehicle transport by a freight forwarder or towing service is also possible. The vehicle is fully loaded and transported securely.
Red dealer plates are only available to commercial dealers, workshops, and inspection organizations and are not accessible to private individuals.
A vehicle that is already registered can be transferred with regular license plates as long as it has not been deregistered.
Yes, temporary license plates can be applied for without a purchase agreement.
The crucial factor is not the purchase agreement, but proof of the vehicle and its identifiability. Usually, vehicle documents such as registration certificate Part I or II, an eVB number, and an ID document are required.
A purchase agreement may be requested as proof of authorization to dispose of the vehicle, but it is not a mandatory legal requirement in every case.
July 01, 2025
![Überführungskennzeichen Ratgeber [2026]](http://kurzzeitkennzeichen.express/cdn/shop/articles/Untitled-1_ee3996aa-56da-4d4b-84ed-8e231f400dbb.png?v=1776966924&width=1995)
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
July 01, 2025
![Was kostet eine Zulassung mit Kurzzeitkennzeichen? [2026]](http://kurzzeitkennzeichen.express/cdn/shop/articles/Untitled-2_44f6d6bf-e0f3-43ae-8b9e-315be583f3b8.png?v=1776074638&width=1166)
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.
*Please note that the above information is for general information purposes only and is not binding. Only the statutory provisions, insurance conditions, general terms and conditions and the conditions you find on the insurance card apply.
Hinweis für übersetzte Texte: Nur die deutschsprachige Seiten der Website sind rechtsverbindlich. Übersetzungen in andere Sprachen dienen ausschließlich der Barrierefreiheit.
