Zulassungsbescheinigung

Zulassungsbescheinigung is the official vehicle registration certificate used in Germany to document that a motor vehicle is registered in the national vehicle register. The term refers to two separate documents, known as Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II. Teil I is the everyday registration certificate carried with the vehicle, while Teil II serves as proof of vehicle ownership.

Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I, commonly required for driving, contains the vehicle’s identifying data and registration details. It lists the VIN (vehicle identification number), make and model, technical data, license plate number, date of first registration, and the current registered owner. It serves as the primary proof that the vehicle is legally registered and may be inspected by authorities or shown to third parties when required.

Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II is the ownership certificate. It contains information about the registered owner(s), their address, and historic data related to ownership. Teil II is traditionally the document kept by the owner and is used when transferring ownership or re-registrations. In the past, Teil II was known as the Fahrzeugbrief, while Teil I was the Fahrzeugschein; the two documents together replaced those older papers in the modern system.

Issuance and updates occur at the local Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration authority) and are recorded in the national vehicle register maintained by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA). A change of ownership, address, or vehicle status typically requires updating Teil I and/or Teil II. When a vehicle is deregistered, sold, or re-registered, the appropriate certificates are issued or updated accordingly. Both parts are essential for legal operation, transfer of ownership, and proof of registration in Germany.