Cars and driving in Germany
Licences, registration, inspections and the cost of running a car.
Two things surprise newcomers: getting a German licence from scratch is expensive, and whether you can simply exchange the licence you already have depends entirely on which country issued it. There is no single rule that covers every licence.
Owning a car brings its own sequence — insurance confirmation before registration, registration before plates, and a periodic technical inspection after that.
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Cars & Driving guides
Checked against the relevant official sources, with the date each figure was last verified.
Converting a foreign driving licence
EU and EEA licences stay valid in Germany. Licences from elsewhere are usually valid for six months after you register, and converting them may need a theory test, a practical test, both, or neither, depending on the issuing country.
9 min read · updated August 2026
Buying a used car in Germany
The single most important decision is dealer or private, because it determines whether you have any legal recourse at all when something turns out to be wrong. Everything else follows from that.
13 min read · updated August 2026
Registering a vehicle
What the Zulassungsstelle needs, in what order, and why insurance and a direct debit mandate have to be arranged before you turn up rather than after.
8 min read · updated August 2026
TÜV and the HU roadworthiness inspection
"TÜV" is the name of a company, not the test. The test is the Hauptuntersuchung, several approved organisations carry it out, and driving with an expired one gets expensive quickly.
7 min read · updated August 2026
Car insurance in Germany
Third-party liability cover is compulsory and unlimited in a way it is not in many countries. The optional tiers above it, Teilkasko and Vollkasko, are where the actual decision lies.
9 min read · updated August 2026
Vehicle tax (Kfz-Steuer)
Vehicle tax is administered by customs, collected only by direct debit, and calculated from engine size and CO₂ emissions. The official calculator gives you the exact figure before you buy.
7 min read · updated August 2026
Financing a car in Germany
Three routes: a bank loan, dealer financing, or leasing. The balloon-payment structures common at German dealers are where the real cost hides, and comparing on the monthly payment alone is how people get caught.
9 min read · updated August 2026
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Official resources
The authorities and portals that decide or publish the rules in this area.
Driving licence — rights and obligations
Bundesportal
Official service description covering driving licence issue and exchange of a foreign licence.
Visit official websiteDriving licence — rights and obligations, opens in a new tabFederal Motor Transport Authority
Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA)
The federal authority for vehicle registration data and driving licence records.
Visit official websiteFederal Motor Transport Authority, opens in a new tabOwning a vehicle — official services
Bundesportal
Registration, re-registration, deregistration and the paperwork each step needs.
Visit official websiteOwning a vehicle — official services, opens in a new tabFrequently asked questions
It depends on the issuing country. EU and EEA licences stay valid; for others a period after registering your address applies, after which exchange or examination may be required. The rules differ by country, so check the official service description.
The periodic roadworthiness inspection required for most registered motor vehicles. Approved organisations carry it out, and the interval depends on the vehicle and registration circumstances.
Yes. Registration requires an electronic insurance confirmation, so insurance comes before plates rather than after.