As of: February 6, 2024, 6:00 a.m
By: Sebastian Oppenheimer
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Every now and then you spot green license plates in traffic.
But which vehicles are they allocated – and what’s behind it?
We clarify.
Many drivers want to give their car an individual expression with a so-called custom license plate.
However, not all combinations of letters and numbers are possible, as some of them are prohibited on license plates.
Of course, it can also happen that the desired variant - for example your own initials and year of birth - has already been taken.
However, license plates in Germany differ not only in number and letter combinations.
There are also different colors.
Among other things, green license plates are also in circulation.
But: In which case do you get this assigned?
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Which vehicles can get a green license plate in Germany
In Germany there are vehicles that are exempt from vehicle tax - and in this country they receive a green license plate.
This is regulated in Section 3 of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act (KraftStG).
However, the exemption is only possible for very specific vehicles.
These include, among other things:
Vehicles from aid organizations
Showmen's vehicles
Vehicles for forestry and agriculture, such as tractors
“Strictly dedicated” vehicles such as construction machinery, forklifts or clearing vehicles
Trailer for transporting dogs, horses or sports equipment with a specific purpose
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Exceptions: Which vehicles do not receive a green license plate, even with a vehicle tax exemption
However, not every vehicle that is exempt from vehicle tax gets a green license plate.
According to Section 10 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (FZV), the following are excluded:
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Government vehicles
Vehicles of the staff of diplomatic and consular missions
Buses and passenger cars with eight or nine seats, including the driver's seat, as well as trailers that are carried behind these vehicles if the vehicle is used primarily in regular service,
Light motorcycles and mopeds
Vehicles of severely disabled people within the meaning of Section 3a Paragraphs 1 and 2 KraftStG
Particularly low-emission motor vehicles within the meaning of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act
Vehicles with a changeable license plate
If a vehicle in Germany has a green license plate, it is exempt from vehicle tax.
(Symbolic image) © Stefan Puchner/dpa
Green license plate: Vehicles with tax exemption are tied to a specific purpose
Please note: A tax-exempt vehicle is always tied to the intended purpose.
Caravans or tractors, for example, which have been exempted from vehicle tax due to their use in the show business, may only really be used in the above-mentioned commercial context.
Even a horse trailer with a green license plate may not simply be used for a move, for example.
In such cases, this could be punished as tax evasion.
By the way, there are also different colored license plates on the road: you can occasionally see red license plates (which are used by dealers, among others) or yellow license plates, which are also known as short-term license plates.
Compulsory insurance also applies to tax-exempt vehicles
Even if a vehicle is assigned a green license plate, the insurance requirement still applies - in order to register it, you need valid vehicle insurance.
An exception are trailers which, according to Section 2 of the Compulsory Insurance Act, are not subject to the regulations regarding the registration procedure.
The green license plate – like the “normal” black license plate – is issued by the responsible registration office.
However, the prerequisite for this is proof of tax exemption - this must be applied for at the responsible main customs office.
The exemption also specifies the specific purpose of the vehicle.
Proof of the main and emissions inspection is also a prerequisite.