- 1). Take your car to the nearest Technischer Überwachungsverein (Technical Control Board, or TUV) for certification. They will perform a safety inspection and an exhaust test to determine if your car is eligible for German registration. If your car fails the inspection, make the required repairs and bring it back to the TUV to get the certificate.
- 2). Collect your documents. You'll need your TUV safety and emissions certificates, your passport, confirmation that you have registered with the Einwohnermeldeamt (Resident's Registration Office), customs clearance certificates (your shipping company should have handled this, but you can get these from your local German customs office if they didn't), a statement from the Kraftfahrzeugbundesamt (Federal Motor Vehicle Office) that no German ownership certificate has been issued for your car, and the car's U.S. registration and license plates.
- 3). Go to your local Kraftfahrzeug-Zulassungsstelle (Motor Vehicle Registration Office) and ask for the application to register a car. Fill out the application. You will receive a certificate and a registration number.
- 4). Take the certificate and registration number to a local workshop which will make your new license plates. You will need to pay for the license plates at the workshop.
- 5). Return to the Kraftfahrzeug-Zulassungsstelle with your new license plates. The staff will put stickers on the plates showing that you have paid your registration fees and passed emissions and safety tests. They will also give you a certificate of registration and documents that specify when your next emissions test is due.
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