German export plates: how dealers use Ausfuhrkennzeichen
German export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) for foreign dealers: who can apply, documents, insurance, validity, costs and deregistration before export.
· 7 min read
German export plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) let you drive a car bought in Germany to your own country on its own wheels. The car must be deregistered first; you then need valid export insurance, a valid roadworthiness test (HU) and the vehicle documents. The plates show the expiry date in a red field and are valid as long as the insurance, at most one year. Add their cost to the landed price.
What German export plates are
German export plates are temporary registration plates for vehicles that are leaving Germany permanently. The legal basis is § 45 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung, FZV), which covers "drives for the permanent removal of a vehicle abroad".
Key features under § 45 FZV:
- The vehicle must not be currently registered in Germany, so a registered car is deregistered (außer Betrieb gesetzt) first.
- Liability insurance must be proven with a special insurance confirmation for export plates.
- Registration is limited to the duration of that insurance, at most one year.
- The car must have a valid HU (Hauptuntersuchung, the periodic roadworthiness test) beyond the plate's expiry date, or the test must be done first.
- The plate shows the area code, a number and the expiry date in a red field, and the registration certificate (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I) is restricted to export.
After the expiry date, the car must not be driven on public roads on those plates.
Export plates or truck transport?
Export plates make sense for one or two cars over a moderate distance; truck transport is usually better for several cars, long distances or cars with faults. Compare the two before you buy:
| Factor | Export plates and driving | Truck transport |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Single car, under ~1,000 km | Several cars, long distance, non-runners |
| Costs | Plates, fees, insurance, fuel, tolls, driver's time and return trip | Transport price per car |
| Risk | Wear, stone chips, breakdown, fines on the way | Transport damage (insured by carrier) |
| Paperwork | Deregistration, HU, insurance, plates | CMR consignment note, no plates needed |
| Car condition | Must be roadworthy with valid HU | Any condition |
A car driven 900 km also arrives with extra mileage and possibly new stone chips, which a retail buyer notices. Our guide to car transport costs in Europe gives typical truck prices per route.
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Request accessWho can apply for German export plates and what documents are needed?
Export plates are issued by the local vehicle registration office (Zulassungsstelle) or by specialised plate services on the buyer's behalf. The buyer, a German seller or an authorised agent can usually apply. Local offices differ in their practice, for example on whether they accept foreign addresses, so ask the office in advance or use an export plate service that deals with foreign buyers every day.
Typical documents:
- Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Teil II (registration certificate parts I and II), or proof of deregistration;
- identity document of the applicant (passport or national ID card) and, for a company, a company register extract;
- power of attorney if an agent applies for you;
- export insurance confirmation from an insurer that offers cover for export plates;
- valid HU report, or a new HU carried out before issue;
- the purchase contract or invoice, which many offices ask for to prove ownership.
Have the car's VIN ready; the office checks it against the documents.
How long are Ausfuhrkennzeichen valid and what does insurance cost?
Ausfuhrkennzeichen are valid for as long as the export insurance you buy, up to a maximum of one year. Insurers typically sell cover for periods from around 15 days upwards. Most dealers take the shortest available period, because the car only needs to reach its destination and be registered there.
Indicative costs for one car (prices vary between offices, insurers and the car's power):
| Item | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| Insurance for about 15–30 days | €100–250 |
| Registration office fee | €30–70 |
| Plates | €20–50 |
| Plate service or agent (optional) | €100–300 |
| New HU, if needed | €100–150 plus any repairs |
Together, expect roughly €200–400 if you do it yourself and €350–700 with a plate service. Add fuel, tolls, your time and the return journey.
Does the car have to be deregistered before it leaves Germany?
Yes. Under § 45 FZV, export plates are only issued for a vehicle that is not registered, so a registered car must be deregistered first. In practice the deregistration and the issue of export plates can often be done in the same visit to the registration office.
If the seller is a German dealer, the car is usually already deregistered and on the dealer's stock. If you buy from a private seller, agree in writing who deregisters the car and when, and do not drive it away on the seller's normal plates: the seller's insurance and registration stay in the seller's name.
The German Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II (title document) must come with the car. Your own registration authority will ask for it.
Can I drive through other EU countries on German export plates?
Yes. Export plates are a valid registration, and cars on them can drive through other EU countries to the destination, provided the insurance covers every country on the route. Check the insurance certificate before you set off: it lists the territories covered. Carry:
- the export registration certificate (Teil I for export);
- the Teil II, the purchase invoice and the CoC if you have it;
- the insurance certificate;
- the HU report.
German short-term plates (Kurzzeitkennzeichen, the yellow plates under § 42 FZV) are a different instrument, intended for test and transfer drives and valid for five days. They are not designed for permanent export, and recognition abroad cannot be assumed. For export, use Ausfuhrkennzeichen. Our overview of export plates in Europe compares the German system with Dutch, Belgian and other export plates.
Put export plates into the landed-cost calculation
Put the full cost of export plates and the drive into the landed cost before you bid, not after you have bought the car. A simple example for a car bought in Bavaria and driven to Poland:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price (margin-scheme car) | €14,500 |
| Export plates, insurance and fees | €400 |
| Fuel and tolls, about 900 km | €180 |
| Driver's time and return train | €250 |
| Registration costs at home | your country's fees and taxes |
| Landed cost before registration | €15,330 |
Compare that figure with the retail price of the same car in your own market. For the full import process, see how to import a car from Germany and our checklist for buying a car in Germany as a foreign dealer. MyCarDealer shows the market price in your country and the maximum bid after transport and VAT for a specific car; try it with a free valuation.
Frequently asked questions
What are German export plates?
They are temporary plates (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) for vehicles leaving Germany permanently, governed by § 45 FZV. They show an expiry date in a red field and are valid for as long as the export insurance, up to one year.
Who can apply for Ausfuhrkennzeichen?
The buyer, the seller or an authorised agent can apply at a German registration office, with the vehicle documents, ID, export insurance and a valid HU. Practice differs between offices, so many foreign dealers use a plate service.
How long are German export plates valid?
As long as the export insurance, with a maximum of one year. Most buyers take the shortest period insurers offer, often about 15 days, which is enough to drive the car home and register it.
Does a car need a valid HU for export plates?
Yes. The roadworthiness test must remain valid beyond the expiry date of the export registration; otherwise a new HU has to be carried out first.
Can I use yellow short-term plates to export a car?
Short-term plates under § 42 FZV are meant for test and transfer drives and are valid for five days. For a permanent export, German export plates are the appropriate instrument.