Moving with a car: change the address in your documents online

Why the address in your documents must be correct

The Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV, Germany's Vehicle Registration Ordinance) requires keepers to report a new address to the registration authority without undue delay. If you fail to do so, you risk a warning fine or a regular fine. More important in everyday life: tax assessments, manufacturer recalls or fine notices will otherwise be sent to your old address.

The change of address only affects the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (registration certificate part I, the vehicle registration document). The Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II (registration certificate part II, the German vehicle title) remains unchanged; the new address is not entered there.

First the residents' registration office, then the vehicle documents

The order is crucial. Register your new residence with the residents' registration office first. The registration authority checks the details in the application against the population register, and an address that is not yet recorded there usually leads to rejection.

When entering your details, use the exact spelling from your confirmation of residence registration (Meldebestätigung), i.e. street name, house number with any addition and postcode. Abbreviations such as “Str.” instead of “Straße” are not a problem, but an incorrect district or a transposed house number is.

What you need for the online change of address

As the vehicle remains registered, neither a new eVB number (electronic insurance confirmation) nor a new SEPA mandate is required. Uploads of the confirmation of residence registration or the registration document are not necessary at Zulassung24 either.

The application is always submitted by the person to whom the vehicle is registered. If the car is registered to your spouse, for example, they must complete the identity check and the signature themselves.

• Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I with 7-character security code
• current official registration number
• new address as stated in the confirmation of residence registration
• ID card or passport for the photo ident

Keeping your number when moving to another district

Since 2015, you may keep your registration number anywhere in Germany when moving to another registration district. Switching to the new area code is therefore not mandatory. The plates stay on the vehicle and you save the cost of new ones.

If you would still like the code of your new place of residence, this is a separate procedure with the assignment of a new number. It is not required for a simple change of address.

This also applies to personalised numbers: a combination you have received remains unchanged when you change your address.

Special cases: second residence, several vehicles, moving abroad

Your main residence is what counts for the vehicle documents. If you only register a second residence, nothing changes in the vehicle documents. If you keep several vehicles, a separate application is required for each one, because each Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I is reissued individually.

If you move abroad permanently, a change of address is the wrong route. A vehicle with German registration requires a residence in Germany. In this case, deregister the vehicle, for example via our sister platform Abmeldung24, and register it in your new country of residence according to the rules there.

What arrives by post after the decision

In the online procedure, there is no sticker for your existing registration document. After a positive decision, the registration authority sends you a completely newly issued Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I with your new address by post.

At Zulassung24, a change of address costs €84.90, including the official basic fee and 19% VAT. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, Klarna, Apple Pay or Google Pay.