Lost driver's license and vehicle registration - what now?
Who loses a driver's license or vehicle documents, must act quickly, as there is a risk of a fine. But where and how does one actually obtain new papers and what does it cost?
During a move, falling out of a pocket on the bus, or stolen at a public pool - there are many reasons why driver's licenses or vehicle papers may suddenly be missing. Then it means reacting properly. After all, no one is allowed to be on the road without the necessary documents.
"Anyone driving in Germany with a car must carry a valid driver's license," says Philipp Mathey from the Automobil-Club Verkehr (ACV). During a traffic control, the driver's license must also always be presented in its original form, otherwise there is a warning fee of 10 Euro.
If the driver's license is lost, one should act immediately. "A new driver's license can be obtained at the driver's license office of the main residence, which is often located in the town hall," says Tim Schmidhäußler, trusted advisor of the Auto Club Europa (ACE). There, a provisional driver's license can also be issued, which can be shown until the new EU card driver's license is ready. Since the new EU card driver's license can take up to eight weeks to be completed.
In this case, a certificate of registration may be necessary
"If the lost driver's license is still an older paper driver's license issued at a previous residence, a so-called registration certificate of the driver's license office is usually required," explains Schmidhäußler about the long processing time.
In addition to applying for a new driver's license, biometric passport photos and a personal ID or passport are required according to ACV. If the driver's license was first issued at a different driver's license office, a registration certificate of the driver's license office is also required.
If the driver's license was stolen, for example, during vacation, it is important to file a report immediately. "The police-issued theft statement is usually required for the application at the residence," says Daniela Mielchen. "Furthermore, this statement can be useful in case of a traffic control to prevent a penalty procedure being initiated."
Mielchen points out that a provisional driver's license only applies in Germany and is usually not recognized abroad. "If a driver's license or vehicle documents are lost abroad, it is important to report this to the local police and obtain a loss statement."
This is important to note when losing a vehicle registration document
However, a visit to the police is not necessary if the vehicle registration document, i.e. the registration certificate part I, is lost in Germany. "In this case, a new vehicle registration document can be applied for and usually issued immediately at the responsible vehicle registration office," says Mathey. For this, a personal ID or passport, proof of the valid technical inspection (HU), the vehicle registration document and, in some cases, an affidavit of loss are required.
A copy of the vehicle registration document does not serve as a valid document and is not permitted during a traffic control, according to the ACV. The vehicle registration document must be able to be presented in the original at a police control, otherwise a fine of 10 Euro will be imposed.
This document should be kept at this location
However, there are different rules for the registration certificate Part II, the vehicle registration document. It should not be carried in the car, as lawyer Mielchen advises: "The vehicle registration document serves as proof of ownership and should therefore be kept in a safe place at home or in a safe at the bank." Since there is no provisional vehicle registration document, the vehicle registration document is only required for vehicle sales or transfer of registration.
If this document is lost, it can take up to six weeks to issue a new vehicle registration document. The vehicle registration office reports the loss to the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Flensburg, which publishes the procedure in the Federal Gazette of Traffic for 14 days. "Only after the expiry of the period can a new registration certificate Part II be issued," says Tim Schmidhaüßler from ACE.
For the application for a new vehicle registration document, a notarized declaration of loss is usually required, which must be submitted to the vehicle registration office. In addition, a personal ID or passport, the vehicle registration document, the last HU test report, and a proof of ownership may be required.
The cost of obtaining the documents is as follows:
Whether lost, damaged or stolen: "It is generally recommended to find out in advance from the relevant authority which documents are required for the new application and which costs are incurred," says lawyer Schmidhaüßler.
The costs for the issuance of the papers vary depending on the federal state. According to ADAC, a new vehicle registration document costs between 11 and 50 Euro, a provisional driving license costs around 80 Euro, and the issuance of a new driving license costs approximately 35 Euro. The issuance of a new vehicle registration document is calculated to be between 50 and 80 Euro by ADAC.
If you've lost your EU driver's license in another EU country, you should report it to the local police and obtain a loss statement, as advised by Daniela Mielchen. This is crucial when dealing with a lost driver's license abroad, as it can prevent a penalty procedure from being initiated during a traffic control.
In case of losing your car registration document in Germany, you can apply for a new one at the responsible vehicle registration office, as Philipp Mathey from the ACV explains. Some necessary documents for this application include a personal ID or passport, proof of the valid technical inspection (HU), the vehicle registration document, and in some cases, an affidavit of loss.
The Automobil-Club Verkehr (ACV) mentions that maintaining up-to-date documents is essential to avoid potential fines. For instance, if you're driving in Germany, you must carry a valid EU driver's license, and during a traffic control, the driver's license should always be presented in its original form to avoid a 10 Euro warning fee.
