Export plates: taking a car abroad from Germany for good
The car is sold and leaving the country, or you are moving abroad with it: that is what the export plate (Ausfuhrkennzeichen) with the red date field is for. What it costs, what the insurance requires and how long it lasts.
The export plate (Ausfuhrkennzeichen), often called an export or customs plate, is governed by section 45 of the vehicle registration ordinance (FZV). It is meant for vehicles driven under their own power to another country for good. The registration is limited to the term of the liability insurance, at most 12 months, and the roadworthiness test must be valid until the expiry date, otherwise it must be done first. The plate shows the district code, a number of up to four digits and one letter; the red field on the right shows the expiry date. You need an insurance confirmation for foreign vehicles, which not every insurer offers. The registration office’s fee under number 221.3 of the road traffic fee schedule (GebOSt), last amended by Art. 6 of the Ordinance of 12 August 2026, is €31.40; with seals and the register entry it comes to €32.80 to €35.00. Plates and insurance come on top. There is no online application; it is handled at the counter.
Export plate: fee and validity
GebOSt fee no. 221.3
€31.40
| With seals, KBA share and plates | €32.80 – €35.00 |
| Registration limited to | 1 month |
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
What the registration office charges
The fee under number 221.3 is the fixed part. Small items are added depending on the case. The table lists them one by one, as the fee calculator breaks them down.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration office fee, GebOSt no. 221.3 | €31.40 |
| Federal Motor Transport Authority, register entry, no. 125 | €0.00 – €1.20 |
| Two registration seals, no. 228.2 | €1.40 – €2.40 |
| Total, without plates and insurance | €32.80 – €35.00 |
You buy the plates from a plate maker. Export plates have their own format with a red field that not every maker stocks; those at the registration office usually do. Insurance is the largest item and depends on the term you choose.
Export plate: fee and validity
GebOSt fee no. 221.3
€31.40
| With seals, KBA share and plates | €32.80 – €35.00 |
| Registration limited to | 1 month |
Requirements
Insurance. Liability insurance for foreign vehicles with a confirmation under Annex 16 of the ordinance. It sets the term of the registration, which may be at most 12 months.
Roadworthiness test. The next inspection date must fall after the registration expires. If the inspection runs out before then, it must be done before the plate is issued. A short term often avoids a new inspection.
Vehicle data. For cars the ordinance also asks for the colour applied by the manufacturer. Have registration certificate part II or the certificate of conformity ready.
Documents. ID or passport, both parts of the registration certificate, for a registered vehicle the current plates for de-stamping, the insurance confirmation and the inspection report. A written power of attorney if someone applies for you.
Choosing the right term
You set the term with the insurer, not with the office. Count from the day of allocation to arrival in the destination country and registration there, and add slack for border queues, garage stops on the way or a delayed registration abroad. A longer term costs more in insurance; the office fee stays the same. Taking a car overland to a neighbouring country often needs only one month; for trips to distant countries many people choose several months.
The steps at the registration office
With every document you apply at the counter; the search by town or postcode finds the right office. The office checks insurance and inspection, allocates the number and issues registration certificate part I restricted to export with its expiry date. With the number you have the plates made, and the office seals them. On request you also get an international registration certificate, which helps in countries outside the EU. From then on the vehicle may be driven until the expiry date, in Germany and on the way abroad.
After the expiry date
Once the date is reached, the vehicle may no longer be driven on public roads in Germany. The registration ends by itself, without deregistration. If the car is still here, it needs a new registration or a short-term plate. The office may also set a shorter term or conditions so that the vehicle leaves within a reasonable time.
Export plate, or deregister and transport?
If the car is not driven but taken abroad by lorry, ship or trailer, no export plate is needed. It is enough to deregister it, and the buyer registers it in the destination country. The export plate is worth it when the car is to travel on its own wheels and the destination accepts it. For exports with VAT implications, the tax office requires proof of export through customs; that is a separate procedure, not settled by the plate.
Common mistakes
First, a term chosen too short. A queue at the border or a breakdown, and the date has passed. Second, overlooking an inspection that ends before the expiry date; the office will then refuse. Third, confusing the export plate with a short-term plate, which lasts only 5 days and is often not recognised abroad. Fourth, forgetting part II, which the buyer urgently needs in the destination country. A look at the requirements and the calculator above avoids all of this.