Registering a car in Germany

What paperwork do you need to register a car?

1. Passport
2. Fahrzeugbrief
3. Versicherungs Doppelkarte
4. Anmeldung

Got all the above. In the old days you needed your Aufenhaltserlaubnis but the Aufenhaltserlaubnis has been discontinued. Do you need something else, or just the above?

That's all I needed when I registered a car a few weeks ago. Don't forget it costs more nowadays as you'll be getting the new style Brief and Schein. You may want to photocopy both the old Brief and Schein in case they forget to give them to you, as the information about permitted tyre sizes is more comprehensive in the old version. If you have both the new Schein and a copy of the old Brief in the car you may save yourself some hassle with the TüV or Bavaria's finest.

Thanks Yeti, good tip. Will photocopy everything.

Problem is I plan to fly in Friday 16, buy something Friday or Saturday, register it Monday, and drive down to France on Tuesday 20.

So I really need all my ducks lined up on Monday.

If it's a Munich car you'll need the license plates as well, so they can put the valid stickers on (TÜV, ASU, Stadt München). Else, you'll need to buy new plates.

Don't you get the license plates from entrepeneurs just outside the TÜV if need be?

Actually I'm really not sure what situations you get to recycle the old plates, or when you have to get new ones. More info Oli!!!

Well if the car previously had M license plates, you should re-use them. If the car was previously registered in say Augsburg, they're useless but I'd bring them along nonetheless - they may want to see them before they are invalidated and disposed of. Yes, you can get new plates directly there if need be.

Is the car registered to someone else and you want to change the registration to yourself, or is it currently not registered at all (in which case you wouldn't need the old plates)?

Doesn't the seller of the car want to hang onto the plates so he can abmeld? I've never gotten to hang onto the plates so I'm note sure of the protocol

If you take the old plates with you then the deregistration is done automatically. It depends on whether the previous owner trusts you or not.

You can (optionally) re-use the old plates if you are registering in the same licensing area (e.g. Munich city) as the previous registration. If not then you are obliged to take new ones. The usual deal is to present your paperwork for the registration, they issue you a number (and a piece of paper certifying the number), you pay your fees, go to the plate printer of your choice (same building or nearby), get the plates, return them to the issuing desk for TÜV and ASU stickers, get your paperwork returned and drive off...

You do need an Aufenthaltserlaubnis if you are not an EU passport holder, as well as proof of your residence (your Anmeldung) and identity. If your Anmeldung is old (no set time, but say 2-3 years) you may need a "Meldebestätigung" (confirmation of residence) from your Gemeinde/Rathaus. Sometimes the nice people at the Zulassungstelle will simply call the Wohnungsanmeldeamt to confirm you are still resident, but if you get a grumpy soul who won't you just wasted your time.

You will also need to take a complete Lastschrift (form download here to permit them to deduct roadtax (KFZ-steuer) from your bank. This is a new requirement since August 2005.

If it's a used vehicle over 3 years old don't forget the TÜV and ASU certificates.

YL6

Am so, so there: an EU passport holder

Might have a problem with the "Meldebestätigung". Mine is easily 3 years old.

Will download Lastschrift, thanks

What are the opening hours of the zulassungsstelle? In particular on Monday mornings.

Montag - Freitag 08.00 Uhr - 12.00 Uhr
Montag - Mittwoch 13.30 Uhr - 15.00 Uhr
Donnerstag 13.30 Uhr - 17.00 Uhr

Google is your friend

They open at 7. The first time I registered a vehicle there I was there at about 6:50 and found myself queueing for ages. The second time I learnt from this and went at about 9 and there was no queue at all. Just my experience of course, it'll probably be completely different next Monday.

Edit: Keydeck that is the Zulassungsstelle for München-Land. If you're in the city you need the one just off Westendstrasse and that one opens at 7. I'd wander off to find a link but I'm sure MAM can do that himself

Edit 2: oh well, what the hell: link

Well spotted Jeeves, sorry for the misleading info.

Merci beaucoup