Procedure descriptions

Motor vehicle – Reporting technical modifications

Are you planning to make technical modifications to your motor vehicle or a trailer?
This may result in the vehicle’s type approval being revoked. Only once you have demonstrated, in such cases, that the technical modifications comply with the regulations will the registration authority be able to issue a new type approval for the vehicle.

Before carrying out any installation or modification, check whether

  • this will affect the roadworthiness certificate or
  • the modification is eligible for approval at all and whether you can obtain a favourable assessment for a new roadworthiness certificatel.

Tip: Please consult officially recognised experts in motor vehicle traffic or test engineersior engineers at a monitoring organisation.

Certain technical modifications must be assessed by the Technical Inspection Authority or an approved inspection organisation (for example, TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ, KÜS, GTS, FSP). You must then notify the registration authority of these modifications as soon as possible. These include, for example:

  • Changes to the vehicle class or the vehicle and body type
  • Changes to engine capacity, rated power, fuel type or energy source
  • An increase in the design-determined maximum speed
  • A reduction in the maximum design speed, if this is relevant to the driving licence or registration
  • Changes to the permissible axle loads, gross vehicle mass, support load or towing capacity
  • Increase in vehicle dimensions, except for passenger cars and motorcycles
  • Changes to the number of seats or standing places in buses
  • Changes to exhaust emissions or noise levels, insofar as these affect motor vehicle tax or driving restrictions

Forms/Online Services

Responsible authority

the licensing authority in whose district you have your main residence, place of business or branch

The registration authority is

  • for an urban district: the city council
  • for a rural district: the district administration
Kfz-Bürgerbüro / Zulassung Achern [Landratsamt Ortenaukreis]
Kfz-Bürgerbüro / Zulassung Kehl [Landratsamt Ortenaukreis]
Kfz-Bürgerbüro / Zulassung Lahr [Landratsamt Ortenaukreis]
Kfz-Bürgerbüro / Zulassung Offenburg [Landratsamt Ortenaukreis]
Kfz-Bürgerbüro / Zulassung Wolfach [Landratsamt Ortenaukreis]

Details

Prerequisite

The requirements for re-registering your vehicle following the technical modifications are as follows:

  • You must provide evidence that the modifications have been carried out in accordance with the regulations. To do this, you musthave the vehicleinspected by officiallyrecognised motor vehicle experts. If youprovide evidence ofcompliance through a General Operating Permit (ABE) forvehicle parts or a parts certificate,you will need a certificate of approval. This does not apply to vehicle parts for which the ABE does notstipulatea requirement for approval.
  • You must not have any outstanding fees or charges from previous registration procedures. If you have outstanding payments of more than 30 EUR, theregistration authority maynot register your vehicle until you have settled these. If the amount is less than 30 EUR,theregistration authoritymaydecide whether or not to register the vehicle anyway.
  • You must not have any outstanding motor vehicle tax debts of five euros or more. When calculating the amount, late payment penalties, interest and late payment surcharges are alsotaken into account.
  • If you wish someone to act on your behalf when registering your vehicle, you must provide that person with a written power of attorney. This must also include a declaration of consent stating that the registration authority may inform the authorised person of any outstanding fees and charges. Your representative must present the power of attorney and provide proof of identity.

Procedure

You or your authorised representative must notify the relevant type-approval authority of the technical modifications and apply for a new type-approval certificate.

Depending on the services offered by your registration authority, you can either download a form or use an online service via the internet.

The registration authority may require you to present the vehicle for inspection.

Required documents

  • a valid identity card or passport; a residence permit must be presented together with a valid national passport
  • if represented by another person: additionally
    • written power of attorney
    • a valid identity card or passport of the authorised person
  • In the case of minors: additionally, a declaration of consent and identity documents of the legal guardians
  • For legal entities or companies:
    • an extract from the commercial register or
    • business registration certificate or
    • an extract from the register of associations
  • Vehicle registration certificate, Part I, or old vehicle registration document
  • Registration certificate, Part II, or old vehicle registration document
  • Expert’s report or type-approval certificate from the parts manufacturer
  • Certificate of acceptance from an authorised testing organisation (e.g. TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ, KÜS, GTS, FSP)
  • Proof of a valid general inspection (HU) in the form of the most recent HU report

Costs

Fees are set in accordance with the Schedule of Fees for Road Traffic Measures (GebOst).

Please note: The costs for technical inspection and expert reports are not included in this. Please enquire directly with the relevant organisation in advance.

Miscellaneous

Please note: Check in advance whether your motor vehicle liability insurance covers the journey to the inspection organisation or technical inspection centre.

Legal basis

Verordnung über die Zulassung von Fahrzeugen zum Straßenverkehr (Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung-FZV):

  • § 15 Mitteilungspflichten bei Änderungen

Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung (StVZO):

  • § 19 Absatz 2 bis 4 Erteilung und Wirksamkeit der Betriebserlaubnis

Gebührenordnung für Maßnahmen im Straßenverkehr (GebOSt)

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Verkehrsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 31.07.2026