Apply for a red permanent number plate (dealer number plate)
As a reputable manufacturer, garage or dealer of motor vehicles, or as a manufacturer of trailers requiring registration that can be towed by motor vehicles, you may apply for a red number plate to use on unregistered vehicles for the following journeys:
- Test drives: to determine and demonstrateroadworthiness
- Test drives: Carrying out a test of avehicle by
- an officially recognised expert or
- a motor vehicle examinervehicleor
- a test engineerian officially recognised monitoring organisationation
- Transport journeys: The vehicle is to be taken to another location.
This also applies to any necessary journey to refuel or have the exterior cleaned in connection with a journey as described above, as well as to any necessary journey for the purpose of repairing or maintaining the vehicle in question.
The licence is issued for a limited period or on a revocable basis for recurring business use, including on different vehicles.
As a private individual, you are not authorised to use such a red number plate.
When using the red number plate, a special vehicle registration document for vehicles with red number plates must be kept. This vehicle registration document is issued by the registration authority.
Responsible authority
the licensing authority in whose district your registered office or branch is located
The registration authority is
- for an urban district: the city council
- for a rural district: the district administration
Contact
Details
Prerequisite
- The applicant’s reliability, which is generally to be demonstrated by:
- Information from the Federal Central Register (certificate of good conduct)
- Information from the Central Trade Register
- Information from the Driver Suitability Register at the Federal Motor Transport Authority
- A registered motor vehicle-related business
- There must be no outstanding fees or expenses from previous proceedings
- No outstanding motor vehicle tax arrears (including ancillary tax payments, such as interest and late payment surcharges)
Procedure
You or your representative must apply to the relevant vehicle registration authority for the red number plate to be issued.
Depending on the services offered by your registration authority, a form will be available to download or an online service will be accessible via the internet.
You will receive the red number plate and the vehicle registration document from the registration authority.
The registration authority will automatically inform your insurance company of the issue of the red number plate.
Deadlines
None
Note: The application may be submitted to the relevant registration authority at any time. The red number plate may only be used once it has been issued by the authority. Retroactive use is not permitted.
Required documents
- a valid identity card or passport held by the business owner
- if represented: additionally
- written power of attorney
- a valid identity card or passport of the authorised representative
- Declaration regarding the collection of motor vehicle tax (SEPA direct debit mandate)
- current business registration
- For legal entities: additionally
- Extract from the commercial register
- Identity cards of all members of the management board or persons with power of attorney
- Insurance confirmation (eVB code)
- Current proof of good character, for example:
- Extract from the Federal Central Register (certificate of good conduct)
- Extract from the Central Trade Register
- Extract from the Central Traffic Register held by the Federal Motor Transport Authority
Costs
Fees are set in accordance with the Schedule of Fees for Road Traffic Measures (GebOst).
Miscellaneous
Since February 2014, the Federal Customs Administration has been responsible for the taxation of motor vehicles. Further information and forms relating to ‘motor vehicle tax’ can be found on the Federal Customs Administration’s website.
Legal basis
Verordnung über die Zulassung von Fahrzeugen zum Straßenverkehr (Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung-FZV):
- § 41 Prüfungsfahrten, Probefahrten und Überführungsfahrten mit rotem Kennzeichen
Release note
Machine generated, based on the German release by: Verkehrsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 10.08.2026