Car registration, driver's licenсe in Germany

Car registration

As of this date, if you own a vehicle with Ukrainian licence plates, you need to register it in Germany no later than one year after entering the country.

This is provided that you have not declared your intention to reside permanently in Germany. Otherwise, you need to register your vehicle in Germany from the date of your registration with the local authority.

After a period of one year, it is prohibited to drive a vehicle that is not registered. Such driving will constitute an administrative offence punishable by a fine.

You can register a car at the state registration authorities at the owner's place of residence. To obtain registration, you must submit an application and other required documents, including proof of motor third party liability insurance and your identity document. In addition, you may need to have your car assessed by a so-called monitoring organisation, i.e. an official traffic expert or a so-called technical service that meets certain requirements. You will also need to pay a fee.

Rules for cars with a foreign licence plate

The basic rule is that any vehicle with a foreign licence plate that is in Germany and/or used in Germany needs to be authorised in Germany. This rule usually comes into effect if you stay in the country for more than one month.

Traffic enforcement is carried out by the Länder and the institutions that are responsible for such enforcement under the laws of the Länder. Therefore, the authorities of the Länder deal with individual circumstances at their own discretion. You can find the contact details of the authority in your area of residence and its opening hours in the authority search section.

Driving licence

Currently, no action is required in Germany for holders of a Ukrainian driving licence until the end of the protected status. As of this date, a Ukrainian driving licence is recognised in Germany and all EU member states on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2022/1280. This also applies to those whose Ukrainian driving licence expires after 31 December 2021.