21 August 2025
Germany is set to go more digital – also when it comes to the country’s cars. The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has now taken the first step in the direction of the digitalisation of vehicle documents, with a test phase for a digital vehicle registration document that started in April. This should then be available to everyone in the second half of the year. But how do you get hold of a digital vehicle registration document, and what are its benefits? Our checklist clarifies the most important questions.
What is the digital vehicle registration document?
In addition to their driving licence, anyone who drives a car in Germany must also carry registration certificate Part 1 – the official name of the vehicle registration document. This states, for example, to whom the vehicle is registered, as well as the key numbers by which it can be clearly identified and the most important technical data. Until now, all drivers have been obliged to carry the original in paper form for each and every car journey. This is now set to change with the digital vehicle registration document. With the aid of an app that the Federal Motor Transport Authority is developing in tandem with the Federal Printing Office, drivers can now store the vehicle registration document in their smartphones and produce it when stopped for a vehicle check.
How will I be able to get hold of a digital vehicle registration document?
Users will need the “i-Kfz” app. This will be available in the Apple and Android app stores once the pilot phase has been completed – with the unfortunate exception of anyone who uses a Huawei smartphone. To have the digital vehicle registration document issued in the app, users will need an identity card or residence permit with online function (eID) and the corresponding PIN. As an alternative, they will be able to download the vehicle registration document via a QR code, which will be assigned upon registration.
What are the benefits of the digital vehicle registration document?
The main advantage is that you’ll no longer be able to leave it at home by mistake. At least, that is, if you have your mobile phone with you – and forgetting our mobile would for many of us be equivalent to leaving an arm behind. Advantage number two is directly related to advantage number one: the digital document can be shared with any number of other people. This means that several family members will be able to use a car without constantly having to remember to hand over the paper document. You will also be able to store two or more digital vehicle registration documents in the app – handy for anyone who has a private second or company car, for example. Another practical benefit is that, after the periodic vehicle inspection, the digital vehicle registration document will automatically be updated. If a vehicle is taken out of service or registered by a new owner after it has been sold, the digital document will automatically be invalidated.
Will the digital documents completely replace their old paper counterparts?
No, you can’t yet completely do without the paper registration document. The digital registration document is a legally recognised alternative to the paper form, even in the pilot phase. It is therefore valid for traffic controls and can also be presented when you take your car to the garage. However, there are exceptions:
- The digital version is currently not valid abroad. So, when they leave Germany, motorists will still have to carry the old green and yellow booklet with them until further notice.
- The same currently applies to the periodic vehicle inspection. According to the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations, you still need both the sticker on your licence plate and the corresponding stamp in the vehicle registration document once your car has passed its roadworthiness test. Legal changes would be necessary to allow the digital vehicle registration document to be valid on its own in this case.
When re-registering a car, vehicle owners will still have to bring the paper vehicle registration document, as the necessary security code can’t be found anywhere else.
© Adobe StockGoodbye paper: soon you will be able to save your vehicle licence in your smartphone with an app and show it at traffic checks.
Can we also expect to see a digital driving licence?
The Federal Ministry of Transport says that it is working on the introduction of a digital driving licence in Germany. However, the ministry does not give a date or timetable. When the time comes, the digital driving licence will likewise be integrated into the i-Kfz app. The EU, for its part, is planning to introduce a uniform digital driving licence. This is to complement the analogue one, not replace it, and should be available in all EU member states by 2030 at the latest. In March 2025, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers agreed on the corresponding reform of the Driving Licence Directive. The new regulations will still have to be adopted by the Council of Member States and the EU Parliament.
