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Procedure descriptions
Applying for the replacement of the operating licence of individual vehicles after loss
A motor vehicle or trailer is accompanied by a registration certificate Part I and Part II, and in the case of vehicles not requiring registration, an operating license/COC document.
If any of these are lost or stolen, you must report this immediately to your local registration authority and apply for a new registration certificate or operating license. In the event of theft, you must also file a theft report with the police immediately.
In some cases, the registration authority will also require you to submit a sworn statement about the loss of the vehicle document.
If the technical data for the vehicle is not stored, a clearance certificate must be applied for at the registration office. The clearance certificate must then be submitted to the manufacturer, who can issue a replacement type approval.
If the manufacturer no longer exists or the vehicle was manufactured in-house, the clearance certificate must be submitted to a testing organization. The testing organization will issue a technical report. The registration office can issue the replacement type approval on the basis of the test organization's report.
Responsible authority
Details
Prerequisite
Loss or theft of the vehicle document
Procedure
You must apply for a new operating license at your local registration authority.
- If the technical data for the vehicle is already stored at the registration office of the district, a replacement document can be issued immediately.
- If the technical data for the vehicle is not stored, a clearance certificate must be applied for at the registration office. The clearance certificate must then be submitted to the manufacturer, who can issue a replacement type approval.
If the manufacturer no longer exists or the vehicle was manufactured in-house, the clearance certificate must be submitted to a testing organization. The testing organization will issue a technical report. The registration office can issue the replacement type approval with the report from the testing organization.
Required documents
- valid identity card or passport
- for commercially used vehicles: additional proof of ownership
- in the event of loss:
- Declaration of loss or affidavit or police report of loss
- ID document of the person(s) responsible
- Possibly a confirmation from the vehicle owner
- in the event of loss by associations/companies: extract from the commercial register, business registration, extract from the register of associations
- In the event of theft: confirmation from the police that the theft has been reported
- If applicable, existing registration certificate part I or part II (formerly: vehicle registration certificate or vehicle registration document)
- If applicable, test report on a valid general inspection in accordance with the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO)
- Additionally in case of representation:
- Written power of attorney
- Valid identity card or passport of the authorized person
Costs
Scale of charges for road traffic measures
Tariff item 225 Issue, replacement or amendment of national or international vehicle documents or certificates due to changes in personal or technical data or loss or unserviceability, including the issue of a type approval and vehicle identity check in cases other than those covered by items 221 and 227. This fee is increased by €0.90 when a registration certificate Part I is issued. 10,20€
Miscellaneous
If you find the registration document or operating license you thought you had lost after the replacement document has been issued, you must return the old document to the registration authority as soon as possible.
Legal basis
Straßenverkehrsgesetz (StVG):
- § 5 Verlust von Dokumenten und Kennzeichen
Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung (StVZO):
- § 19 Erteilung und Wirksamkeit der Betriebserlaubnis
- § 21 Betriebserlaubnis für Einzelfahrzeuge
Verordnung über die EG-Genehmigung für Kraftfahrzeuge und ihre Anhänger sowie für Systeme, Bauteile und selbständige techniche Einheiten für diese Fahrzeuge (EG-Fahrzeuggenehmigungsverodnung - EG-FGV):
- § 13 Einzelgenehmigung für Fahrzeuge
Release note
Machine generated, based on the German release by: Verkehrsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 28.07.2025