Registration certificate of a German car: part I and part II
A car registered in Germany has a registration certificate of the European model in two parts: part I (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I), which is the one you can be asked for on the road, and part II (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II). To register the car in Spain, the DGT (Spain's traffic authority) requires part I to be handed over and also part II if it was issued. If part II is missing, the authority that issued the document must confirm that you are entitled to register it again, so it is wise to check both before paying.
What the European registration certificate is
It is the document certifying that a vehicle is registered in a member state. Its format is harmonised by Council Directive 1999/37/EC on the registration documents for vehicles. Each country issues a document in one part or in two parts, and the other member states must recognise it both to identify the vehicle in international traffic and to register it again in another country.
Germany uses the two-part system. According to a document from the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), the German federal motor transport authority, the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I replaced the old “Fahrzeugschein” and the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II replaced the old “Fahrzeugbrief”. If the seller or an advert uses those names, they mean part I and part II.
Part I and part II: what each contains
Part I is the more complete one and the one that travels with the car on the road: the directive allows member states to require the driver to carry it to identify the vehicle in traffic. The KBA explains that the data needed to register and check a vehicle appear in full only in part I.
Part II is shorter. The directive requires it to contain, among other data, the registration number, the date of first registration, the make, the type, the commercial name, the vehicle identification number and the approval number if known, and allows the owner's details to be added. For you, its importance lies in the Spanish registration: without it, the procedure depends on confirmation from the authority of the country of origin.
The codes worth reading before buying
The data on the document is preceded by harmonised Community codes, the same in all the countries that follow the directive, so you can read a German document without translating it line by line. According to the KBA, in the German document the codes appear on the front of part I and their explanation on the back. These are the ones that matter most when buying:
| Code | What it shows | What it is useful for |
|---|---|---|
| A | Registration number | Identifying the car in the advert and in the documents |
| B | Date of first registration | Knowing the real age and comparing it with the advert's |
| C.1 | Holder of the registration certificate | Comparing it with the person or company selling to you |
| C.4 | Whether or not the holder is the owner of the vehicle | Knowing whether the person named on the document is also the owner |
| D.1 to D.3 | Make, type and commercial name | Confirming it is the advertised model and version |
| E | Vehicle identification number (chassis) | Checking it against the number stamped on the car |
| K | Approval number, if known | The ITV (Spain's roadworthiness inspection) checks it when inspecting the car |
| P.1 to P.3 | Engine capacity, maximum net power in kW and fuel | Comparing them with the advert and with the certificate of conformity |
| V.7 | CO2 emissions in g/km, if the document includes them | Getting an idea of the registration tax |
The CO2 figure is one of those that the directive leaves optional in part I. It is wise to have the emissions well documented, because if they are not proven, the car is taxed in the 4th bracket of the registration tax. We explain it in how the registration tax is calculated.
What the DGT asks for to register it in Spain
Both parts. Annex XIII of Spain's General Vehicle Regulations (Reglamento General de Vehículos) establishes that, when a vehicle registered in another EU member state has a document of the model in Directive 1999/37/EC, the Traffic Offices (Jefaturas de Tráfico) require part I to be handed over and also part II if it was issued.
Those documents stay with the DGT. The Traffic Office informs the authorities of the country that issued the document of the handover within a period of two months, keeps it for at least six months and sends it to those authorities only if they request it within that time. Make copies before handing them over.
If the document has two parts and you do not present part II, the car can be registered only if you first obtain confirmation, in writing or electronically, from the authorities of the state that issued it that the applicant is entitled to register it again. The directive provides that route for exceptional cases: do not take it as your starting plan.
The rest of the file (ITV card, taxes and fee) we explain in how to register an imported car with the DGT.
What the ITV asks for
The pre-registration inspection comes before the DGT, and the criterion there is different. According to the procedure manual of the ITV stations of the Ministry of Industry, the original registration certificate or equivalent document from the country of origin is presented, and part II is not essential. With that documentation, the station identifies the car by its chassis number (VIN) and checks whether field K contains an approval reference valid in Spain.
If the authority of the country of origin keeps the original of the document and of the technical inspection card when processing the vehicle's deregistration, the manual accepts photocopies duly certified by that authority, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin or by its diplomatic representation in Spain. The ITV not requiring part II does not release you from it: the DGT does ask for it. More detail in the ITV inspection for an imported car.
What to check on the document before paying
- That both parts exist and are originals. Ask to see part II before paying and to have it handed over together with part I.
- That code E matches the car. Check the identification number on the document against the one stamped on the vehicle.
- Who is named as holder (C.1) and what code C.4 says. If the person selling to you is not the one on the document, ask them to explain why and to document it.
- That make, type and power match the advert and the certificate of conformity. We explain it in what the certificate of conformity (CoC) is.
- If the car is already deregistered in its country, that you are given the originals or the certified photocopies that the ITV accepts.
The document is only one part of the check: the history, mileage and condition of the car we review in what to check before buying a used car in Europe.
Mistakes to avoid
- Paying on the promise that part II will arrive later. Without it, Spanish registration depends on the authority of the country of origin confirming your right to register the car again.
- Assuming that, if the ITV did not ask for it, the DGT will not either. They are different procedures with different requirements.
- Confusing holder and owner. The document distinguishes the person in whose name the car is registered, and code C.4 shows whether they are also its owner.
- Not keeping copies. The DGT retains the parts of the foreign document that you hand over.
This guide refers to cars registered in another EU country with the European-model document. For any doubt about a specific case, consult the DGT or an administrative agent.
Sources consulted
Checked on 11 October 2026. We link to the original source so that you can consult the current text.
- Real Decreto 2822/1998, Reglamento General de Vehículos (texto consolidado), anexo XIII. BOE.
- Directiva 1999/37/CE del Consejo, de 29 de abril de 1999, relativa a los documentos de matriculación de los vehículos. DOUE (vía BOE).
- Ley 38/1992, de 28 de diciembre, de Impuestos Especiales (texto consolidado), artículo 70. BOE.
- Harmonisierung der Zulassungsdokumente (extracto del informe anual). Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (autoridad federal alemana de vehículos de motor).
- Manual de procedimiento de inspección de las estaciones ITV, versión 7.9 (en vigor desde el 1-ene-2026). Ministerio de Industria y Turismo.
- Matriculación de vehículos nuevos y vehículos provenientes del extranjero. DGT (sede electrónica).
Frequently asked questions
What is the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II?
It is part II of the German registration certificate of the European model, which replaced the old “Fahrzeugbrief”. It records, among other data, the registration number, the date of first registration and the vehicle identification number.
Can I register a German car in Spain without part II of the document?
It can be registered only if you first obtain confirmation, in writing or electronically, from the authorities of the state that issued the document that you are entitled to register it again. As a general rule, the DGT requires part I and part II to be handed over if it was issued.
Does the ITV ask me for part II of the German document?
According to the procedure manual of the ITV stations, the original registration certificate or equivalent document from the country of origin is presented, and part II is not essential. The DGT, however, does ask for it to register.
Will I get the German document back after registering the car in Spain?
Do not count on it: the Traffic Office (Jefatura de Tráfico) keeps the parts handed over for at least six months and informs the authorities of the country that issued them of the handover, and sends them to those authorities if they request them within that period.