Bringing your car to Germany
Registration, technical inspection, insurance and the order in which these steps must happen.
Advanced8 min readLast updated: 2026-07-14Available in EN · DE
This guide is being written and reviewed. The outline below shows what it will cover.
On this page
- When a foreign registration must be changed
- The technical inspection and emissions test
- Insurance confirmation before registration
- Documents for the registration office
- Costs and typical waiting times
Rules, fees and processing times differ between federal states and municipalities and can change. Always confirm details with the responsible office before you act.