1. Plate retention: you may keep your existing license plate
Since 1 January 2015, Germany has allowed nationwide plate retention (Kennzeichenmitnahme) when a vehicle keeper changes their place of residence. The rule was added to the Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV, the German vehicle registration ordinance) as § 8 Abs. 1a and is continued in § 8 FZV of the revised version of the FZV in force since 2023. Under this rule, the existing license plate can be retained at the keeper's request if the vehicle continues to be operated in another registration district after a move. Since 1 October 2019, retention has additionally been possible when the keeper changes within Germany.
For you, this means: if you move from Munich to Hamburg, for example, you may continue to drive your vehicle with the Unterscheidungszeichen (district code) "M". You do not have to have new plates embossed or affix new registration seals. The license plate is retained in full – including any custom combination you may have reserved earlier.
2. Re-registration is still mandatory
Plate retention does not exempt you from the obligation to re-register. Under the FZV, the keeper must notify the registration authority of a change of address without delay. After the move, the Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office) of the new place of residence is responsible. There, the new address is entered in the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (ZB I, registration certificate part I) and the vehicle is transferred to the local register. Anyone who fails to re-register risks a fine and, in the event of damage, disadvantages with the motor insurance.
- Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (registration certificate part I) – updated with the new address
- Valid identity card or passport with the current registered address
- Electronic insurance confirmation (eVB number), if the authority requests it for a change of district
- SEPA direct debit mandate for the motor vehicle tax, as the responsible main customs office may change
3. When is a new custom plate at your new place of residence worthwhile?
After moving, many keepers deliberately want to carry the code of their new home town on their vehicle, or they use the visit to the authority to finally secure the letter and number combination they want. In this case, you waive retention and apply for a new license plate when re-registering. The new registration authority then allocates a plate with its own district code – on request, the combination you reserved in advance.
The process hardly differs from a regular reservation: on Wunschkennzeichen24.digital you check live whether your desired combination is available in the stock of the new authority, reserve it in your name and receive your reservation confirmation or PIN by e-mail. The matching DIN 74069 plates are embossed in parallel, so that you already have everything in hand for your re-registration appointment.
4. Fees: retention or new allocation?
The official fees are governed by the Gebührenordnung für Maßnahmen im Straßenverkehr (GebOSt), the fee schedule for road traffic measures. For a custom plate, the registration authority charges 10.20 € for the allocation under the note to Nr. 221 GebOSt and 2.60 € for the advance allocation (reservation) under Nr. 230 GebOSt. These items do not apply in the case of pure plate retention, as no new plate is allocated. The basic fee for the re-registration itself is payable in both cases and depends on the specific procedure.
In the case of a new allocation, there are also the costs of the license plates and – if you drive in a low-emission zone – a new emissions sticker under the 35. BImSchV, as the sticker must always show the current license plate.
5. Special cases: seasonal, E and H plates when moving
Plate retention generally also applies to Saisonkennzeichen (seasonal plates), E-Kennzeichen (plates for electric vehicles) and H-Kennzeichen (plates for classic cars). The operating period of a seasonal plate remains unchanged upon retention. If you wish to change the season period or have the classic-car status newly entered, a new plate is usually required. It is best to clarify such constellations in advance with the new registration authority – you will find the contact details of all 414 authorities in our directory of registration offices.