Apply for a short licence plate
Service description
If you are the owner of a vehicle that requires registration, you are not allowed to drive it on public roads without a licence.
If you only need a registration for a short time, you can apply for a temporary licence plate, for example for
- Test drives
- Transfer journeys
With the test drive, you give prospective buyers the opportunity to test the vehicle. Transfer journeys are used to relocate the vehicle, for example when selling.
You can also use the short-term licence plate to drive a vehicle that has a seasonal licence plate but is outside the specified operating period.
The temporary licence plate starts with the identification number "03" or "04". You may only use the licence plate once. Once the registered period has expired, it is invalid. You will receive a vehicle registration document with the temporary licence plate. You may only use the licence plate for the vehicle entered in the vehicle registration document.
Who should I contact?
Local competent authorisation authorities
Prerequisites
- You apply for the short-term licence plate in person or authorise a person with a power of attorney.
- Your vehicle has EU type approval or individual type approval.
- You can provide proof of a general inspection (HU) and, if applicable, the safety inspection (SP).
- Your vehicle has motor vehicle liability insurance for the period of the short-term licence plate.
- If your vehicle does not have an EC type approval or operating licence, your journeys serve to obtain an operating licence. To do this, you only need to drive in the immediate or neighbouring district of your vehicle registration authority.
- If your vehicle does not have a valid HU or SP, it will only receive a temporary licence plate
- for the journey to the nearest test centre
- for the journey to the nearest workshop
- If your vehicle is not roadworthy, you are not permitted to drive it.
Which documents are required?
- Identity document, for example identity card
- additionally in case of representation:
- written authorisation
- Identity document of the authorised person
- If you are not registered in Germany as the applicant, please indicate a person authorised to receive the application:
- Identity document of the person authorised to receive
- additionally for underage vehicle owners:
- Declaration of consent and identification documents of the legal guardians
- for legal entities:
- Extract from the commercial register,
- Business registration or
- Extract from the register of associations
- Proof of motor vehicle liability insurance
- Proof of operating licence
- Vehicle documents
- Certificate of conformity
- Proof of the valid general inspection (HU) and, if applicable, the safety inspection (SP)
What deadlines do I have to observe?
The short-term licence plate is valid for 6 consecutive days, including the day of registration. If you have only taken out motor vehicle liability insurance for 5 days, you may not use your vehicle beyond this period.
Validity period: 6 days
Processing time
You will receive the short-term licence plate on the day you apply for it. It is not possible to pre-date the licence plate.
Legal basis
Further information
Short text
- Driving vehicles subject to registration without a licence is not permitted on public roads
- Short-term licence plates can be applied for:
- Test drives
- Transfer journeys
- Can only be used for the specified vehicle
- limited in time
- also applies to vehicles with seasonal licence plates outside their operating period
Typing
3