Vehicles: Replacing the Certificate of Registration, Part I (Vehicle Registration Certificate)
Service description
The Certificate of Registration, Part I, has replaced the vehicle registration certificate. It is an official document used to establish ownership of a motor vehicle and to verify compliance with technical operating requirements. The person listed on the Certificate of Registration is the registered owner of the vehicle in question and is therefore not necessarily the legal owner or even the actual owner (even though this is usually the case).
The advantages include greater protection against counterfeiting, EU-wide readability and standardization, and a greater amount of information.
There is no general requirement to exchange the old vehicle registration certificate for the new Certificate of Registration, Part I. However, a vehicle may not have both the old and new documents in circulation at the same time. The documents are automatically replaced when a new vehicle registration certificate must be issued anyway—for example, because the old one has been lost (regardless of whether the old vehicle title is still available). The vehicle registration certificate is destroyed and replaced by the Certificate of Registration Part I, while the vehicle title is invalidated and replaced by the Certificate of Registration Part II.
What documents are required?
- Valid ID card or passport (with a current certificate of residence)
- In the case of representation by a representative acting under a written power of attorney, the representative’s valid ID card or passport must also be presented
- For vehicle owners who are minors, please also provide a declaration of consent and valid identification documents for their legal guardians (usually the parents)
- Old vehicle registration certificate and title (if available).
- If Part I of the registration certificate is lost, it may also be necessary to submit an affidavit.
- If applicable, a police report confirming the theft
- Proof of a valid general inspection in accordance with § 29 StVZO (general inspection report)
Special information for the Fulda districtChecklist for Loss or Theft of the Vehicle Registration Certificate, Part I
- In the event of loss, an affidavit must be submitted. The vehicle owner must appear in person at the registration office; representation by a third party is not permitted in this case.
- In the event of theft, a report can be filed with the police. The original copy of the theft report must be submitted to the vehicle registration office.
- Vehicle Registration Certificate/Certificate of Registration II (required only for vehicle documents issued before October 1, 2005)
- Current, still valid proof of vehicle inspection
- valid ID card (or valid passport with proof of residence)
- Foreign residents must present a passport with a valid residence permit and proof of registration (for EU citizens, the "EU ID card")
- Administrative fee of at least 11.70 euros; additional fees may apply in certain cases (e.g., 30.70 euros for an affidavit)
Provided that all required documents have been submitted in full, the vehicle registration certificate can be issued on the spot.
What fees apply?
Special information for the Fulda district- Administrative fee of at least 11.70 euros; additional fees may apply in certain cases (e.g., 30.70 euros for an affidavit)
Legal basis
What else should I know?
Transferring old information to the new documents can sometimes be problematic. In general, the new Field 22 on the Certificate of Registration, Part I, is used to transfer the entries from the “Remarks” field of the previous vehicle registration certificate. If there is not enough space there, a supplementary sheet is issued; sometimes it is also attached.
Please verify that all information has been transferred correctly when the new documents are issued, and report any discrepancies as soon as possible.
When your new registration documents are issued, ask to have your old vehicle registration certificate invalidated so that you have a record of the previous entries.