Motor vehicle – Report a sale
If you sell your vehicle, you must inform the registration authority immediately.
You will remain registered with the registration authority as the owner even after the sale. This remains the case until your vehicle has been deregistered or re-registered in another person’s name. Only then do your obligations as the registered owner cease.
Tip: Deregister your vehicle before selling it. This applies especiallyif you are selling it abroad. This is the best way to protect yourself against the risk of having to continue paying road tax and any Aclaimsclaims from your motor insurance.
Responsible authority
The registration authority that issued the number plate.
The registration authority is,
- for a city district: the city council
- for a rural district: the district administration
Contact
Details
Prerequisite
You have sold your car.
Procedure
- You must notify the relevant registration authority of the sale of the vehicle without delay, either in writing or in person.
- Please provide the name and address of the person who has purchased the vehicle.
- The notification must also include confirmation that you have handed over the necessary documents to the buyer.
- Many registration authorities provide a notification form on their website for you to download.
Deadlines
Without delay
Required documents
A bill of sale or, at the very least, a receipt confirming the handover of the vehicle documents, bearing the date, time and signature of the buyer:
- Registration Certificate Part I (formerly: Vehicle Registration Certificate)
- Registration Certificate Part II (formerly: vehicle title)
- where applicable, the registration number, if the vehicle is still registered
- where applicable, the most recent inspection report covering the general inspection and emissions test (HU and AU)
Costs
None
Miscellaneous
Ask for the identity of theperson buying your vehicle, .
It is best to use a ‘contract of sale for a used vehicle’, which many service providers offer free of charge online.
Fill this out as completely as possibleeto the vehicle registration authority.
Regardless of whether you notify the Vehicle Registration Authority, you shouldyouyou should send a copy of the sales contract to your insurance companylto notify them of thepurchase and totoecontract promptly terminateif your vehicle has been deregistered or re-registered.
Legal basis
Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV):
- § 15 Mitteilungspflichten bei Änderungen
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Verkehrsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 05.06.2026