Vehicle registration documents go digital. Today, Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder and Federal Minister for Digital Transformation Dr Karsten Wildberger launched the new i-Kfz app with Richard Damm, President of the Federal Motor Transport Authority.

Effective immediately, citizens can upload their vehicle registration documents to their smartphones using the app and access them there at any time. Thanks to this innovation, users no longer have to carry paper registration documents with them when driving motor vehicles. This innovation makes people’s everyday lives easier and modernizes the administration of vehicle registration documents. The Federal Motor Transport Authority and Bundesdruckerei GmbH (the Federal Printing Office) developed the app on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transport.

Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder:

From now on, your smartphone is your vehicle registration document whenever you need it – you no longer have to rack your brains to remember where you last saw it. Citizens can now access, and even share, these documents easily at any time using the i-Kfz app. This new app makes the often time-consuming search for your vehicle registration documents a thing of the past. With this digital solution, we are making people’s lives easier and modernizing vehicle registration document administration. I am delighted that we have been able to develop this innovative solution with the Federal Motor Transport Authority and Bundesdruckerei GmbH.

Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation Dr Karsten Wildberger welcomes this initiative of the Federal Ministry of Transport and highlights the benefits of the development for citizens:

We want our country to be more digital, efficient and citizen-focused. The i-Kfz app is a good example of how we can use digital solutions to simplify people’s lives and modernize administration. I welcome the Transport Minister’s initiative and am certain that this development will make an important contribution to our country’s digital future. In the i-Kfz app, the Federal Government is implementing one of the key projects from the Modernisation Agenda.

Digital vehicle registration documents in the i-Kfz app give citizens a range of advantages. They can manage their registration documents easily and safely without having to worry about where to keep their paper documents. It is easy to digitally share vehicle registration documents with third parties, such as workshops. Users also automatically receive updates, such as reminders of upcoming main inspections, so they do not have to worry about remembering dates themselves,

explains the President of the Federal Motor Transport Authority.

The i-Kfz app will also be available to legal entities such as fleet operators from early 2026. The digital vehicle registration document is the digital version of Part I of the registration certificate (registration document). Accessing the vehicle registration document in the app fulfils the legal requirement to have the registration certificate available on board.

The Federal Ministry of Transport is actively pursuing the digitization of driver- and vehicle-specific documents. Work is underway on digital driving licences. Digital driving licences, also in an app-based form, are expected to be available by the end of 2026. Both documents (vehicle registration document and driving licence) are to be available in a single app in the future.

Centralizing the registration process is another of the Federal Ministry of Transport’s digital projects. To this end, a central portal is to be developed at the Federal Motor Transport Authority in this parliamentary term. It is expected to pool the activities of over 400 registration offices, with a total of 20 million processes annually.

Supplement to the press release: Frequently Asked Questions

(Most recently updated on 6 November 2025)

General information on digital vehicle registration documents

What are the benefits of digital vehicle registration documents (DVRD)?

The i-Kfz app gives you easy and secure access to your registration documents at all times on your smartphone. Digital vehicle registration documents can be used whenever paper documents are used. Digital vehicle registration documents are much easier to manage and use. You have your vehicle registration documents with you at all times – for workshop visits, police controls or regular main inspections. Sharing documents is also far easier: if someone borrows your vehicle, you can simply share a copy of the registration document online in the i-Kfz app.

Which vehicle categories are covered by digital vehicle registration documents?

Digital vehicle registration documents can be issued for all vehicle categories.

What happens if I have to present my vehicle registration document at a police control?

During police controls, you show the digital vehicle registration document on your smartphone. You do not have to hand over your phone to do so. However, to prove that the digital vehicle registration documents presented are not forged (e.g. screenshots or images generated by the driver), you should interact with the app by tapping various tiles and showing the data (e.g. vehicle and keeper data) stored there. If there are doubts as to the validity of your digital vehicle registration document, the police can verify it via the Central Vehicle Register (ZEVIS).

Can I use the digital vehicle registration documents in other countries, too?

No, digital vehicle registration documents can only be used in Germany for the time being. When driving internationally, you must continue to carry paper vehicle registration documents at present.

Will the paper version continue to exist?

Yes, at first. There are currently no plans to do away with vehicle registration documents in paper form. This would also require coordination at EU level.

Will digital vehicle registration documents become mandatory?

No, you can use digital or paper registration documents. The main thing to remember is that there is still a general obligation to carry a vehicle registration document – either digitally or as a paper document.

Functions, requirements and use of the i-Kfz app

Where can I download the i-Kfz app?

You can download the i-Kfz app in the Play Store or App Store.

Do I have to pay for the app?

No, the i-Kfz app and generating digital vehicle registration documents are free of charge.

Do I need the eID function to use the app?

Yes, in the first stage of development you can only use the app with the eID function on your ID document. You can find full information on the eID in the ID card portal.

How do I add my digital vehicle registration document?

To add a digital vehicle registration document to the i-Kfz app, go to ‘Fahrzeugschein hinzufügen’ (‘Add vehicle registration document’) on the app’s start page. You will then be guided through the process.
If the vehicle is registered to you, all you need in addition to your vehicle registration number are your ID card (with the online ID function activated) and your personal PIN. After entering your registration number, you have to enter your 6-digit ID PIN and scan your ID card. You can then individualize your digital vehicle registration document (assign a name, symbol and colour).

Can I use the digital vehicle registration documents offline?

In offline mode, vehicle registration documents can be displayed but not downloaded, shared or deleted.

Is the app available in multiple languages?

Yes, the app is available in German and English.

Is there a central point of contact for technical problems or support inquiries?

You can contact our support cooperation partner, Bundesdruckerei GmbH (bdr), at +49 (0)30 2598 4450 from Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm or at any time by e-mail at i-Kfz@support.bdr.de.

How can I share a digital vehicle registration document?

You can share a copy of the digital vehicle registration document in the app. Go to the digital vehicle registration document and select ‘Fahrzeugschein teilen’ (‘Share vehicle registration document’). The app guides you through the process.
Practical: You can define a time limit and choose between two sharing methods: For local sharing, the app generates a QR code, which the recipient must scan with their app to be able to download the copy of the registration document. For online sharing, the app generates a link that you can send to the other person.
In both sharing methods, only a copy is generated. To share the registration document with another person, you must restart the process each time.

How do digital vehicle registration documents work when using car sharing services?

This will not be available until the second stage of development (for legal entities). Rental companies can decide to integrate the i-Kfz app in their service or not.

What happens when a car is sold?

The digital vehicle registration document is deactivated in the app when the vehicle is deregistered or reregistered. Simply selling the car has no impact on the digital vehicle registration document. Only the user can delete it. The new vehicle keeper can upload the digital vehicle registration document to the i-Kfz app if they want. If the previous vehicle keeper does not delete the digital vehicle registration document in their app, the original keeper’s digital vehicle registration document is shown as invalid after the new keeper is registered.

How can I delete digital vehicle registration documents in the app?

To delete a digital vehicle registration document in the app, tap the ‘Mein Auto’ (‘My vehicle’) button. All of the details on your car are displayed. Click ‘Bearbeiten’ (‘Edit’) at the top right to delete the vehicle registration document. After you answer some security questions, your digital vehicle registration document is deleted. Any digital vehicle registration document can be deleted in this way, no matter whether you issued it yourself or it was shared with you. Please note: If you have shared copies of this digital vehicle registration document, they become invalid when the original is deleted.

Is my data in the i-Kfz app secure?

Yes, comprehensive data protection strategies were employed. Authentication using the eID and PIN, as well as the device lock, prevent unauthorized third parties accessing digital vehicle registration documents. The app and the underlying overall system are protected by multiple layers of IT security.

Background information

Who was commissioned to implement the i-Kfz app?

Bundesdruckerei GmbH (the Federal Printing Office) was commissioned to develop the i-Kfz app. Bundesdruckerei GmbH is already responsible for printing Part I of the registration certificate (registration document). Development of the digital vehicle registration document was based on this data structure. Bundesdruckerei GmbH serves as a federal technology company and was commissioned to develop the i-Kfz app by the Federal Motor Transport Authority.

What is the status of the i-Kfz app with regard to EU efforts to introduce digital vehicle documents?

Efforts are underway at EU level to advance the development and piloting of digital ID documents via the large-scale project. Besides providing a digital driving licence, digital vehicle registration documents are also to be integrated in the developments. To this end, Germany is trialling the national provision of the corresponding digital vehicle documents. This makes it a pioneer in the EU and will enable it to contribute its practical experience to planning activities at EU level.

When is the digital driving licence coming?

Work is underway on digital driving licences. Both documents (vehicle registration document and driving licence) are to be available in a single app in the future.