Discovering Germany

Car Registration If a vehicle is brought to Germany, it must be registered at the place of residence within four to six weeks. The following paperwork is needed: + Passport + Registration papers from country of origin + Original invoice or sale contract to prove the power of disposal + Proof of liability insurance for the car if it was second hand when you bought it + “ Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung” (UBB) from Flensburg stating that the car has never been registered in Germany. If the car was made in Germany and a “ KFZ- Brief ”, i.e., a document indicating ownership, has never been issued, you will need a certificate from the car manufacturer in Germany stating that the KFZ-Brief has not been issued + “EU- Typgenehmigung ”. This means a confirmation that the vehicle in general is able to be registered in other EU-countries. Normally you will get this when buying a car from the car dealer. For cars not older than three years, the statement is already standard. If you do not have this, the car has to be checked in Germany by the TÜV (Technical Inspection Agency) to get all the data needed Roadworthiness Test – MOT (TÜV) All motor vehicles have to undergo a roadworthiness test at regular intervals (a new car for the first time after three years, after that every two years). Some garages will also take the car to the test for a fee. The registration document ( KFZ-Schein ) is needed. If the car passes this test, a TÜV sticker is fixed onto the rear number plate of the car. The expiry date is shown by the number at the top of this sticker. It is a legal requirement to have a TÜV- approved first aid kit and a reflective triangle in the car at all times. Emission Test ( Abgas-Untersuchung, ASU ) This special measurement of exhaust emissions can be carried out by any reputable garage. It is compulsory every year or every two years, depending on the type of catalytic converter in the car. When the car has passed this test, an ASU sticker showing the expiry date is fixed onto the front number plate of your car. Environmental Badge Obligatory for Green Zones In many German cities, environmental green zones ( Umweltzonen ) have been created. An environmental zone is an area into which only vehicles that comply with certain emission levels are allowed to drive. These cars must be marked with a certain windscreen environmental badge. The following signs mark the beginning and the end of the green zone. The additional sign with the badges marks which badges are free to pass into the zone. + Insurance card from a German insurance company ( Deckungskarte ) + Roadworthiness and emissions tests (TÜV and Abgas-Untersuchung ) Helpful Hint: For further information on imported cars, the Federal Office for Vehicles ( Kraftfahrt Bundesamt ) should be contacted. Their website is www.kba.de .

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Discovering Germany