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eVB number: what it is, how to get it and how long it is valid
No registration without an eVB number: what this insurance confirmation is, how you obtain it, how long it remains valid and which mistakes you should avoid.
Updated on 29 October 2026 · 4 min read
What the eVB number is
The eVB number stands for elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung, the electronic insurance confirmation. With it, your motor insurer confirms to the registration authority that liability insurance exists for the vehicle. Without this proof, no vehicle may be registered in Germany.
The number consists of 7 characters, a combination of letters and digits. It is not the same as your insurance policy number, even though both come from the same insurer.
The background is the compulsory insurance requirement under the German Compulsory Insurance Act. The registration authority retrieves the data stored for the eVB electronically, so you do not have to present any paper.
Where to get the eVB number
The eVB number is issued exclusively by the motor insurer with which you want to insure the vehicle. With most insurers, you receive the number by email or in the app immediately after taking out the policy online, and sometimes by phone within a few minutes.
It is generally issued free of charge. The insurer thereby grants provisional cover, which begins with the registration. You then receive the final contract and the premium invoice.
Which procedures require an eVB
A new eVB number is always required when a vehicle is newly registered to a keeper or returns to the road after a break.
With a change of address, the existing policy continues. Simply inform your insurer of the new address informally.
- new registration of a new or used car
- transfer after a change of keeper
- re-registration of a deregistered vehicle
- not required for a simple change of address or for deregistration
How long an eVB number is valid
There is no uniform nationwide validity period. Each insurer determines how long the number can be used. Periods ranging from a few weeks to several months are common. If the eVB is not used for a registration within this time, it expires.
So do not plan too far ahead. Request the number once the purchase contract and vehicle documents are available, and check the expiry date in your insurer's confirmation.
Several quotes, comprehensive cover and short-term plates
You may request an eVB number from several insurers, for example to compare quotes. Only the number you actually enter in the registration becomes a contract. The others expire at the end of their validity, usually at no cost.
The provisional cover of the eVB initially relates to motor third-party liability. Whether partial or fully comprehensive cover also applies from the day of registration depends on what you applied for with the insurer. Clarify this before your first drive, especially with a new or high-value vehicle.
For short-term number plates, there is a special form of eVB that is only valid for this temporary plate. It cannot be used for a regular registration, and vice versa.
Typical input errors
Most problems with the eVB are caused by small details that can easily be avoided in advance.
- confusing it with the insurance policy number
- transposed characters or 0 instead of O when entering it
- eVB issued to a person other than the future keeper
- number already used for another vehicle or expired
Frequently asked questions
Does the eVB number cost anything?
No, insurers generally issue the eVB number free of charge. Costs only arise from the insurance premium, which starts with the registration.
Can I use one eVB number for two vehicles?
No. Each eVB number is valid for exactly one registration procedure. You need a separate number for each additional vehicle.
Does the keeper also have to be the policyholder?
Not necessarily. Many insurers allow, for example, a parent to take out the policy for a child's vehicle. What matters is that the future keeper is stated correctly when requesting the eVB; otherwise the number will not match the application.
What happens to the eVB after registration?
The registration authority reports the registration to your insurer. The provisional cover then becomes the regular insurance contract, and you receive the documents from your insurer.