Apply for variable license plates

If two vehicles of the same vehicle class are not operated at the same time, it is possible to obtain an interchangeable license plate if they have the same owner.

The full vehicle tax must be paid for both vehicles. However, insurance companies usually grant discounts because only one vehicle at a time can be used on public roads.

The allocation of an interchangeable license plate is only possible for vehicles in the following vehicle classes:

• Class M1
  Motor vehicles designed and constructed for the transportation of passengers, with at least four wheels and no more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat (passenger car, camper van)
• Category L
  Motorcycles or three-wheeled motor vehicles and light four-wheeled motor vehicles with an unladen mass of up to 400 kg (up to 550 kg when used for the transportation of goods) without batteries for electric vehicles and an output of up to 15 kW
• Class O1
  Trailers with a maximum permissible mass of up to 750 kg

Only if the vehicles belong to the same vehicle class is the allocation of an interchangeable license plate possible. An alternate license plate cannot be issued, for example, if the first vehicle is a passenger car and the second vehicle is a motorcycle or trailer.

It must be possible to use the same number of license plates with the same dimensions on the vehicles.

An interchangeable license plate cannot be issued for the following license plate types:

• Seasonal license plates
• Red license plates
• Short-term license plates
• Export license plates

License plates with green lettering, which can be assigned to owners exempt from vehicle tax, are also not permitted as interchangeable license plates.

However, a classic car license plate can be used as an interchangeable license plate.

The interchangeable license plate consists of a common license plate part for both vehicles and the respective vehicle-related part. The following applies

1. the distinguishing sign (one to three letters for the administrative district) and the part of the identification number that is the same except for the last digit form the common part of the license plate and
2. the last digit of the identification number forms the respective vehicle-related part.

Interchangeable license plates can be designed as single-line or double-line license plates or as motorcycle license plates. The use of a reduced two-line license plate (so-called light motorcycle license plate) is not permitted.

An interchangeable license plate may only be used on one of the vehicles at a time. A vehicle for which an interchangeable license plate has been allocated may only be put into operation or parked on public roads if the interchangeable license plate is attached to it in full with the common license plate part and its vehicle-related part.

It is therefore not permitted to drive both vehicles at the same time or to park the vehicle not fitted with a complete interchangeable license plate on public roads.