Fahrzeugschein in English: Every Important Field Explained
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The essentials
The Fahrzeugschein, officially Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I, is the German vehicle registration certificate you carry in the car. It shows the keeper and the technical data in fields with EU-wide letter codes plus German number codes. Power is in field P.2 in kW, the first registration in field B, the VIN in field E, HSN and TSN in fields 2.1 and 2.2. Documents issued since 2015 carry a hidden security code needed for online deregistration.
What is the Fahrzeugschein?
Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (registration certificate part I) is the current name of the former Fahrzeugschein. It is the document the driver carries in the car, and it shows the keeper and the technical data of the vehicle.
For online registration and deregistration it matters twice: it holds the vehicle data and, if issued from 2015, a hidden security code under a scratch-off field.
Source: Anlage 6 FZV, model of the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (gesetze-im-internet.de)
Where is what in the Fahrzeugschein?
The letter codes are harmonised across the European Union (Directive 1999/37/EC). The number codes are German additions. These are the fields people look for most:
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A | Registration number (plate) |
| B | Date of first registration |
| C.1.1 to C.1.3 | Name, first name and address of the keeper |
| D.1 / D.3 | Make / commercial name |
| E | Vehicle identification number (VIN) |
| F.1 / F.2 | Technically permissible / permissible maximum mass in kg |
| G | Mass of the vehicle in running order (kerb weight) in kg |
| I | Date of this registration |
| O.1 / O.2 | Towing capacity braked / unbraked in kg |
| P.1 | Engine capacity in cc |
| P.2 | Rated power in kW |
| S.1 | Seats including the driver's seat |
| 2.1 | Manufacturer code (HSN) |
| 2.2 | Type code with check digit (TSN) |
The document does not state horsepower. 1 kW is about 1.36 hp, so 100 kW in field P.2 is about 136 hp.
Does the Fahrzeugschein show the year of manufacture?
No. There is no field for the year of manufacture. Field B shows the date of first registration: the day the vehicle first received an official or export plate, in Germany or abroad. Field I is something else: the date of this registration, the day the current registration or the last change took effect.
Where is the security code and when do you reveal it?
On the back, in the left third, there is a marking with a hidden security code (Anlage 6 No. 4 FZV). It has seven characters and exists on documents issued from 2015. Documents from before 2015 have no code, and without the code the online route is not possible.
Reveal the code only right before the online application, and scratch carefully: a damaged code means a trip to the office. After a deregistration keep the cancelled document, because its code is needed again for a later online re-registration.
Source: Federal Ministry of Transport, internet-based vehicle registration (i-Kfz)
Fahrzeugschein or Fahrzeugbrief: what is the difference?
- Teil I (Fahrzeugschein) is carried while driving (§ 13 (6) FZV), Teil II (Fahrzeugbrief) is not and must not be kept in the car.
- The security code of Teil I has seven characters, the one of Teil II twelve.
- For a deregistration only Teil I is needed (§ 16 (1) FZV).
- For a registration or a change of keeper you also need Teil II.
- Field 16 of Teil I shows the number of the Teil II document.
Do you have to carry it, and does the digital version count?
The driver has to carry the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and hand it over on request (§ 13 (6) FZV). The digital Fahrzeugschein in the free i-Kfz app of the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) replaces the paper version inside Germany, including police checks. Abroad and at the main inspection you still need the paper document.
The digital version cannot be used for an online deregistration: only the paper document carries the security code.
How to deregister a car in Germany | How to register a car in Germany
Frequently asked questions
Where is the horsepower in the Fahrzeugschein?
The power is in field P.2 in kilowatts. The document does not state horsepower; 1 kW is about 1.36 hp.
Where are HSN and TSN in the Fahrzeugschein?
In fields 2.1 (HSN, manufacturer code) and 2.2 (TSN, type code with check digit) on the front.
Can I deregister my car with the digital Fahrzeugschein?
No. Only the paper Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I carries the security code that the online deregistration needs.
Deregister online with your security code
We deregister your car online, without an appointment. In the order we tell you exactly when you need which code and check it before it goes to the authority.