Registering a Foreign Car in Germany: What the Registration Office Really Needs

What makes registering an imported vehicle special?

When you buy a car in Germany, registration is usually straightforward: the documents are in German, the roadworthiness test has already been carried out, and the vehicle has previously been registered in Germany. With an import from another EU country, things are different:

• The vehicle documents are issued in the language of the country of origin
• The foreign roadworthiness test is not automatically recognised in Germany
• The vehicle is deregistered in its country of origin and arrives without German plates
• A COC may be missing, or the type approval may need to be proven via an individual approval

Registration is therefore not a given, but it is no insurmountable hurdle either — provided you prepare properly.

The first step: clarifying things in advance with the registration office

Before you buy and transport the vehicle, it pays to call the registration office responsible for you. There you can ask specific questions:

• Which documents are needed for a vehicle from country X?
• Is a certified translation of the documents required?
• Will the foreign roadworthiness test be recognised, or is a new HU required?
• Are there any special requirements for this particular vehicle?

Registration offices are not entirely uniform in their requirements. What applies in Munich may differ slightly in Hamburg. A brief preliminary conversation prevents nasty surprises.

COC (Certificate of Conformity): what it is and why it matters

The COC (Certificate of Conformity, in German Übereinstimmungsbescheinigung) is a manufacturer-issued document. It confirms that a specific vehicle — identified by its vehicle identification number (VIN) — conforms to an EU-approved vehicle type.

Why the COC matters so much: With a valid COC, the registration office can verify the vehicle's type approval directly. A costly individual approval under §21 StVZO is usually unnecessary. This saves time and money.

When is a COC available? Vehicles produced for the EU market (or at least for an EU member state) should generally have a COC. Exceptions:

• Vehicles originally produced for non-EU markets and later imported into the EU
• Very old vehicles (predating the EU type-approval regime)
• Vehicles with extensive special equipment that affects the type approval

Where do you get the COC? Ideally from the seller. If it is not available, it can in some cases be re-ordered from the manufacturer for a fee — but this is not always possible or economical.

VIN check: Always compare the VIN on the COC with the VIN on the vehicle (stamped on the door frame or in the engine bay). Discrepancies are a serious warning sign.

Individual approval under §21 StVZO: the route without a COC

If no COC is available, registration has to go through an individual approval under §21 StVZO. This is an individual technical assessment of the vehicle by an officially recognised inspector (TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ or KÜS).

During the individual approval, the appraiser checks whether the vehicle meets the technical requirements for registration in Germany. The result is an expert report with which registration can be applied for.

What the individual approval costs: The fees are not regulated uniformly across Germany and vary depending on the inspection organisation and the vehicle. For your own budgeting, you should get a quote in advance. Pricing may vary.

What an individual approval means: It is more involved and more expensive than presenting a COC. In addition, the vehicle may need technical modifications (headlights for German right-hand traffic, removing speed-limiter stickers, indicator configuration) before the approval can be passed.

Roadworthiness test: foreign HU or a new one?

For registration in Germany, a valid roadworthiness test (HU) carried out by a German inspection organisation must be in place. Foreign roadworthiness tests (the British MOT, Spanish ITV, French CT, Dutch APK, etc.) are usually not automatically recognised as equivalent by German registration offices.

In practice this means: an imported vehicle has to undergo an HU in Germany, even if the foreign test was carried out only recently.

There are exceptions and room for discretion at individual inspection bodies — but as a default you should budget for a new HU in Germany. HU costs vary depending on the inspection organisation and region; a direct local comparison is worthwhile.

All the necessary documents at a glance

The following list gives an overview of the documents typically required. The exact requirements vary depending on the country of origin and the responsible registration office — always have them confirmed in advance:

From the country of origin:

• Foreign vehicle title (original, not a copy)
• Deregistration certificate from the responsible authority in the country of origin
• COC document (if available) or individual approval report under §21 StVZO
• Purchase contract (with date, signatures, vehicle data, purchase price)
• Where applicable, a certified translation of the foreign-language documents

For registration in Germany:

• Proof of a valid German roadworthiness test (HU report)
• eVB number (electronic insurance confirmation) from a German motor third-party liability insurer
• ID card or passport of the new owner
• Where applicable, a power of attorney if someone else carries out the registration
• SEPA direct debit mandate or proof for the vehicle tax (in some cases)

Technical modifications: what is often forgotten

Some vehicles from other EU countries are designed for left-hand traffic (the UK) or for different light distributions. Even though right-hand traffic is the norm within the EU, the following modifications may be necessary:

Headlights: Headlights designed for the right-hand traffic of another country may shine at an angle into the wrong side. In some cases this can be corrected with stickers or adjustment; in others, the headlights have to be replaced or adapted. The HU will clarify this.

Number-plate holder: Many vehicles from other EU countries are designed for the local plate format. German plates have different dimensions — the holder often needs to be adjusted.

Speedometer (km/h vs. mph): Only relevant for vehicles from the UK or other non-metric countries.

These points are usually not deal-breakers, but they create additional cost and time that belong in your overall budget.

The complete process at a glance

In practice, the registration process for an imported vehicle runs roughly as follows:

1. Buy the vehicle in the country of origin and secure the original documents
2. Deregister the vehicle in the country of origin and obtain the deregistration certificate
3. Transport the vehicle to Germany (export or short-term plates)
4. Check the COC — is it available? If not: plan an individual approval under §21 StVZO at TÜV/DEKRA
5. Have a new roadworthiness test (HU) carried out in Germany
6. Take out motor third-party liability insurance in Germany and obtain the eVB number
7. Compile all documents — arrange translations where necessary
8. Make an appointment at the registration office and register the vehicle
9. Pay the vehicle tax

The entire process can take several weeks depending on the availability of appointments and the completeness of the paperwork. Anyone wanting to use the vehicle during this time has to fall back on temporary short-term plates or transfer plates.