Applying for an operating license for a vehicle without registration

Various types of vehicles that do not require registration require an operating license in order to participate in road traffic. These include, for example

• self-propelled work machines and forklifts
• Single-axle tractors for agricultural or forestry purposes
• light motorcycles
• two- or three-wheeled mopeds
• motorized medical wheelchairs
• Small electric vehicles such as e-scooters
• Trailers in agricultural or forestry operations

Depending on the vehicle type, an operating permit can be issued with or without the allocation of a separate license plate.

The general type approval (ABE) is issued by the manufacturer for vehicles that are manufactured in series and belong to a type approved by the European Union (EU).

You must apply for an individual type approval (EBE) if your registration-free vehicle does not have an EU type approval. These can be, for example

• Self-constructed vehicles
• one-off productions
• Vehicles from small series
• Vehicles from abroad without EU type approval

Even if you want to put a vehicle with a license plate back into operation that was taken out of service more than 7 years ago, you need an individual type approval.

For an EBE, you must submit an expert opinion from an officially recognized expert or a technical service appointed to test complete vehicles of the respective vehicle class, which contains various test reports. These reports must prove that the necessary tests have been carried out and that the vehicle complies with the regulations.

You will receive the operating license for an unlimited period. It expires if:

• You make changes to the vehicle and the type of vehicle approved in the operating license is changed,
• a danger to road users is to be expected,
• the exhaust or noise behavior is impaired,
• you do not comply with possible requirements for installations or removals or
• you permanently take the vehicle out of service.

Once the operating permit has expired, you can apply for a new operating permit with an expert opinion from an officially recognized expert or a technical service designated to test complete vehicles of the respective vehicle class.

Various types of vehicles that do not require registration require an operating license in order to participate in road traffic. These include, for example

• self-propelled work machines and forklifts
• Single-axle tractors for agricultural or forestry purposes
• light motorcycles
• two- or three-wheeled mopeds
• motorized medical wheelchairs
• Small electric vehicles such as e-scooters
• Trailers in agricultural or forestry operations

Depending on the vehicle type, an operating permit can be issued with or without the allocation of a separate license plate.

The general type approval (ABE) is issued by the manufacturer for vehicles that are manufactured in series and belong to a type approved by the European Union (EU).

You must apply for an individual type approval (EBE) if your registration-free vehicle does not have an EU type approval. These can be, for example

• Self-constructed vehicles
• one-off productions
• Vehicles from small series
• Vehicles from abroad without EU type approval

Even if you want to put a vehicle with a license plate back into operation that was taken out of service more than 7 years ago, you need an individual type approval.

For an EBE, you must submit an expert opinion from an officially recognized expert or a technical service appointed to test complete vehicles of the respective vehicle class, which contains various test reports. These reports must prove that the necessary tests have been carried out and that the vehicle complies with the regulations.

You will receive the operating license for an unlimited period. It expires if:

• You make changes to the vehicle and the type of vehicle approved in the operating license is changed,
• a danger to road users is to be expected,
• the exhaust or noise behavior is impaired,
• you do not comply with possible requirements for installations or removals or
• you permanently take the vehicle out of service.

After the operating permit has expired, you can apply for a new operating permit with an expert opinion from an officially recognized expert or a technical service designated to test complete vehicles of the respective vehicle class.