eVB number in Germany: the electronic insurance confirmation explained

No eVB number, no number plates. Before a German registration office (Zulassungsstelle) will register a car, re-register it or transfer it to a new keeper, you have to prove that the car has liability insurance. That proof is the elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung, or eVB for short. You get it from the insurer you choose for the car – free of charge and usually within a short time.

This guide explains how the eVB number works, when you need it and what to watch out for, especially if you are registering a car in Germany for the first time.

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What is an eVB number?

The eVB number is a seven-character code made up of letters and digits. The first two characters identify the insurer; the other five are generated at random. Behind the code, details about the vehicle and the policyholder are stored, and registration offices can retrieve them electronically via the Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt).

The eVB was introduced with Germany's vehicle registration regulation and replaced the old paper insurance card.

When do you need an eVB number?

According to the ADAC, you need an eVB number for:

  • registering a car for the first time
  • re-registering a car that was taken off the road
  • transferring a car to a new keeper, for example after buying a used car
  • applying for short-term plates for test drives or transfer journeys
  • moving to a different registration district

You also need it if you register your car online.

How to get your eVB number

  1. Compare quotes: the eVB is issued by the insurer you take out liability cover with, so comparison comes first.
  2. Apply for the policy: for a quote you will need details such as the car, expected annual mileage, the drivers and – if you have one – your SF (no-claims) class.
  3. Receive the eVB: the insurer sends the number by email, text message or post. Online, this is often very quick.
  4. Use it at registration: give the number at the registration office or enter it when registering online.

For what drives your premium, see car insurance cost in Germany. If you have a claim-free history from abroad, our guide to car insurance for expats explains how to present it.

What does an eVB number cost?

Nothing. The eVB number is free, even if you end up not using it. You only pay for the insurance itself: once you register a car with it, you pay the premium for the period you are covered.

How long is an eVB number valid?

Each insurer sets its own validity period. According to the ADAC, three to six months is common, and the maximum is two years (730 days). If the number is not used within that time, it expires. An eVB number requested by a private individual can also only be used once.

When does your cover start?

The eVB gives you provisional cover (vorläufiger Versicherungsschutz) for liability. Under the German insurance association's model terms (GDV, AKB section B.2), it starts at the agreed time and at the latest when the car is registered using the eVB. Provisional cover for Teilkasko or Vollkasko only applies if the insurer has expressly agreed to it.

Pay your first premium on time. If you do not, provisional cover can, under certain conditions, lapse retroactively. Your insurer's terms are what count.

Why a registration office may reject an eVB

The clerk enters the number and sees the details from your insurance application. According to the insurer BavariaDirekt, the usual reasons for a rejection are:

  • the number has expired
  • the number was given incorrectly
  • the keeper's name or address in the application does not match the ID document
  • the type of registration does not match the type of cover – an eVB for short-term plates, for example, cannot be used for a regular registration

If that happens, contact your insurer straight away to correct the details or issue a new number.

Checklist: documents for registering a car

The registration office responsible is the one for your main place of residence. Besides the eVB number, the ADAC lists the following as usually required:

  • ID card or passport
  • registration certificate part II (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II), plus part I for a used car
  • proof of the last roadworthiness test (Hauptuntersuchung)
  • a direct debit mandate for vehicle tax (Kfz-Steuer)
  • for new cars, usually the certificate of conformity (CoC)

Check your local registration office's website before you go – some ask for extra documents, such as proof of address (Meldebescheinigung) if you show a passport. Our overview of car insurance in Germany covers the wider process.

Do you need a new eVB when switching insurer?

If you are only changing the insurer for a car that is already registered, you usually do not need to visit the registration office. The new insurer notifies the authorities electronically. What matters is that the new cover starts seamlessly when the old one ends. Our guide to switching car insurance in Germany explains the steps.

Frequently asked questions about the eVB number

How much does an eVB number cost?

Nothing. The eVB number is free, even if you do not use it. You only pay the premium for the cover you actually have.

How long is an eVB number valid?

The insurer decides. Three to six months is common, and the maximum is two years (730 days). Once used, it expires.

Can I use an eVB number more than once?

No. An eVB number requested by a private individual is only valid for one registration.

Can I drive the car once I have the eVB number?

No – you need number plates. According to the ADAC, if the car has no valid roadworthiness test you may drive it to the registration office with plates already allocated but not yet stamped; a merely reserved personalised plate is not enough.

Does the eVB also cover Teilkasko and Vollkasko?

The provisional cover linked to the eVB applies to liability. Provisional comprehensive cover only applies if the insurer has expressly agreed to it.

Next step

Compare quotes first, choose your insurer and then request your eVB number.

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