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Vehicle License Plates; Applying for a Red License Plate for Test Drives and Transport Runs
Test drives and transport trips with motor vehicles may be conducted using red license plates.
Responsible for you
For contact details of the responsible authoritiy and local valid information select under "Select location" a location.
Procedure details
Description
Red license plates are issued by the local registration authority to reputable motor vehicle manufacturers, motor vehicle parts manufacturers, motor vehicle repair shops, and motor vehicle dealers on a temporary or revocable basis for recurring business use, including on different vehicles. A license plate with red lettering on a white background with a red border consists of a distinguishing mark and an identification number, which, like the short-term license plate, consists only of digits and begins with “06.”
Note: The red license plate must be used in conjunction with the special vehicle registration booklet.
Requirements
The applicant must
- be trustworthy and
- own a vehicle-related business registered in their name.
Required documents
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Business registration
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valid identity card or passport of the trade owner (or all trade owners)
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in case of representation: written power of attorney and additionally valid identity card or passport of the authorized person
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Declaration on the collection of motor vehicle tax
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for legal entities: Excerpt from the commercial register and identity card of all managing directors or authorised signatories
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Proof of the applicant's reliabilityto be substantiated as a rule by information from the Federal Central Register (certificate of good conduct), information from the Central Trade Register or information from the Central Traffic Register at the Federal Motor Vehicle Office
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if no application form is provided: written explanation of the need
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Confirmation of insurance in the form of an eVB number
Proceedings
You must submit the application to the licensing authority with jurisdiction over your place of business. You may also authorize a representative to do so on your behalf by providing a written power of attorney.
If an application form is required, you can obtain it in advance from the registration authority and fill it out at home. Depending on the services offered by your registration authority, a downloadable form or an online service may be available.
You can find information about the registration authorities under “Related Links.”
The registration authority will automatically notify your insurance company of the license plate assignment.
The registration authority will assign the license plates to you.
Fees
The fee for issuing a red license plate ranges from 25.60 to 205.00 EUR, depending on the amount of work involved.
Legal bases
Related links
Related issues
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Motor vehicle; Information on vehicle registration
Motor vehicles with a maximum design speed of more than six kilometers per hour, and their trailers, must—with a few exceptions—be equipped with a license plate as soon as they are used on public roads.
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Vehicle License Plates; Applying for an Export License PlateIf you wish to export a vehicle that was previously registered in Germany, or one that is unregistered or has been decommissioned, you will need an export license plate.
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Vehicle License Plates; Applying for a Temporary License PlateTest drives and transport trips with motor vehicles may be conducted using temporary license plates.
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Vehicle License Plates; InformationThe motor vehicle registration number (Kfz-Kennzeichen), colloquially known as a license plate, is assigned to the vehicle by the registration authority (Kfz-Zulassungsstelle).
Status: 06.07.2026
Editorially responsible for procedure description:
Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wohnen, Bau und Verkehr (Bavarian State Ministry of Housing, Building and Transport)
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