KraftfahrtBundesamt

Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) is the German Federal Motor Transport Authority. As a federal authority under the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMVI), it oversees motor vehicle traffic regulation, vehicle registration, and driver licensing in Germany.

Its core functions include issuing type approvals for vehicles and major components in line with European and national standards (EC type-approval and national homologation), ensuring compliance with safety and environmental rules, and coordinating with manufacturers and authorities during the introduction of new technologies.

KBA maintains the central registers for motor vehicles (Kraftfahrzeugregister) and for drivers (Fahrerlaubnisregister). It supports German registration offices (Zulassungsstellen) and provides data services for enforcement, statistics, and policy development. The agency also manages safety recall campaigns and disseminates information about defects and safety campaigns.

In addition, KBA collects and publishes data on vehicle registrations, types, fuel and emissions, and other statistics; it participates in international and EU regulatory processes, aligning German practice with EU and UNECE rules and contributing to cross-border information exchange.

Headquartered in Flensburg, the KBA employs engineers, statisticians, and policy specialists to carry out its duties. The agency serves policymakers, industry, and the public by ensuring safe, environmentally compatible motor traffic and providing authoritative data on Germany's vehicle fleet.