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Motor vehicle; information on vehicle registration
With a few exceptions, motor vehicles with a maximum design speed of more than six kilometers per hour and their trailers must have an official license plate as soon as they are used on public roads.
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Landratsamt Donau-Ries
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Eigenes Verfahren mit Formcycle
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Pflegstr. 2
86609 Donauwörth
Postal address
Pflegstr. 2
86609 Donauwörth
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Eigenes Verfahren mit Formcycle
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Standort im BayernAtlas
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Procedure details
Description
The registration authority of the city or district (registration district) in which you have your main residence (for companies or associations: company or association headquarters) assigns the license plates. The first group of letters of a registration number indicates the respective registration district. This is followed by the individual identification number, which consists of letters and numbers. If you change your registration within Germany, you can keep the previous license plate number (for a registered vehicle). However, you can also voluntarily apply for a license plate from the new registration district.
Official license plates must be provided with a stamp sticker from the registration authority. This does not apply to trailers that are not subject to registration and that have a repeater license plate.
The design of license plates and their attachment to the vehicle are prescribed by law. All newly registered or re-registered vehicles receive a license plate with a Euro field. For previously issued license plates (without the Euro field), the nationality plate "D" must also be clearly visible on the vehicle when driving abroad.
Most registration procedures can be carried out online. For more information, please refer to the website of your registration authority.
You can find an overview of the registration authorities in Bavaria under "Further links".
Information on the allocation of individual license plates can be found under "Related topics".
Legal bases
Related links
Related issues
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Motor vehicle; application for deregistrationThe registration of a motor vehicle can be interrupted if it is taken out of service.
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Motor vehicle; application for new registrationYou must register motor vehicles to operate them on public roads. This is done for reasons of road safety and to collect vehicle tax, as well as to be able to identify the owner or driver.
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Motor vehicle; application for transfer or re-registrationIn the event of a change of keeper due to sale, inheritance, gift, etc., change of residence or registered office or after decommissioning, the vehicle must be transferred to its new keeper or re-registered in the name of the previous keeper or the keeper data must be corrected.
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Motor vehicle; application for national individual type approval
For vehicles that are subject to type approval and for which no type approval or general operating permit (ABE) is available, the operating permit must be issued by the registration authority before the vehicle is put into operation for the first time.
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Vehicle license plates; application for an export license plateIf you wish to export a vehicle previously registered in Germany or a vehicle that is not registered or has been taken out of service, you will need an export license plate.
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Vehicle license plates; applying for an e-license plate
With the e-license plate, you can use specially marked parking spaces or drive on streets approved for this purpose. The vehicle must be a purely electric vehicle or meet special requirements as a hybrid vehicle.
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Vehicle license plates; applying for a replacement in the event of theft, loss or illegibilityIf you have lost your vehicle's license plate, it has been stolen or it is illegible, you must apply for a new license plate.
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Vehicle license plates; applying for a green license plate
Green license plates are issued for tax-exempt vehicles.
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Vehicle license plates; applying for a short-term license plateTest drives and transfer journeys with motor vehicles can be carried out with short-term license plates.
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Vehicle license plates; applying for a classic car license plateHistoric vehicles are becoming more and more popular. But how do you get your beloved classic cars on the road? How this is done depends on the intended use and the number of vehicles.
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Vehicle license plates; application for a red license plate for test and transfer drivesTest drives and transfer journeys with motor vehicles can be carried out with red license plates.
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Vehicle license plates; applying for a seasonal license plateSome vehicles are often only driven on public roads for a certain period of the year. If this period remains unchanged every year, e.g. from April to October, it may be advisable to register the vehicle with a seasonal license plate.
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Vehicle license plates; applying for an interchangeable license plateUnder certain conditions, two vehicles can be registered with one license plate.
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Vehicle license plates; applying for and reserving a desired license plateWould you like a specific combination of letters or numbers for your license plate, e.g. your initials, the abbreviation of your company or your date of birth or even the license plates of a previous registration district?
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Vehicle license plates; obtaining an insurance license plate for small vehicles
Certain smaller motor vehicles do not require registration to be used on public roads, but only an operating license and an insurance plate.
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Vehicle license plates; informationThe vehicle registration number (vehicle license plate), also known colloquially as the license plate, is assigned to the vehicle by the registration authority (vehicle registration office).
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License plates; notification in the event of theft, loss or discovery
If you have lost one or both of your vehicle's license plates, if they have been stolen or if they are no longer legible, a new license plate must be issued.
Status: 16.07.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wohnen, Bau und Verkehr
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