Essen · Kfz-Zulassung
Checklist last verified 2026-06-12
Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Essen
Before you can drive a car you've bought in Essen, you register it at the Zulassungsstelle (or online via i-Kfz). You'll need car insurance first — the insurer gives you an eVB number that the registration requires.
Fee ~€30–60 plus number plates (~€30). Online i-Kfz registrations are often valid immediately.
Before you can drive a car you've bought, register it at the Zulassungsstelle — but get car insurance first, because the insurer gives you the eVB number the registration requires. Many cities now let you do it fully online via i-Kfz with a BundID and your online ID card. Bring both parts of the Zulassungsbescheinigung, a valid HU/TÜV report and a SEPA mandate for the annual vehicle tax.
What you need to bring
- Passport or IDRequired
📋 Bring the original, not a copy
How to get it: Issued by your home country. Renew at your country's embassy or consulate in Germany — appointments can take weeks, so check the expiry early.
- eVB number from your car insurerRequired
- Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I & IIRequired
📋 Bring the original, not a copy
How to get it: Issued at the vehicle registration office (Kfz-Zulassungsstelle) when registering a car — you need an eVB number from your car insurer first.
- Valid HU report (TÜV)Required
- SEPA mandate for vehicle taxRequired
Can you do it online?
Most registrations can now be done fully online via i-Kfz (the portal below + a BundID / online ID card and your insurer's eVB number). For your city we open its registration page where it has its own.
Open the official portal ↗Good to know
- Get car insurance first and note the eVB number — registration won't proceed without it.
- Most registrations can now be done fully online through i-Kfz using a BundID and your online ID card; plates can be ordered to your door.
- Bring (or upload) Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I & II, a valid HU/TÜV report, and a SEPA mandate for the annual vehicle tax.
- Buying used? Make sure the seller hands over both parts of the Zulassungsbescheinigung and the TÜV is still valid.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for Kfz-Zulassung in Essen?
You'll need 5 key documents: Passport or ID, eVB number from your car insurer, Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I & II, Valid HU report (TÜV), SEPA mandate for vehicle tax. Essen is part of the Ruhr region; many services run on the same NRW state portals, and the cost of living is lower than in the big western cities.
Can I do Kfz-Zulassung online in Essen?
Most registrations can now be done fully online via i-Kfz (the portal below + a BundID / online ID card and your insurer's eVB number). For your city we open its registration page where it has its own.
Which office handles Kfz-Zulassung in Essen?
Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Essen is handled at the local level in North Rhine-Westphalia. The exact office and any forms are linked from the official source on this page, and once you're on the portal, the free TiG Pilot extension explains each field in plain English.
Checklist last verified 2026-06-12. Rules vary by office and change over time — always confirm with the official source linked above.