Apply for a vehicle tax concession for severely disabled persons

    If you are the owner of a motor vehicle as a person with a severe disability, you may have to pay less or no vehicle tax under certain conditions. To do this, apply for a vehicle tax concession.

    Description

    If a motor vehicle (motor vehicle) has been registered for you as a private individual, you generally have to pay tax on this vehicle from the day of registration. If you are severely disabled and the owner of a motor vehicle registered in your name, you can, under certain conditions, receive a motor vehicle tax concession in the form of a full tax exemption or a tax reduction.

    The type of tax concession depends on which characteristics are contained in your severely disabled person's pass.

    If you are exempt from tax, you do not have to pay any vehicle tax. You will receive full tax exemption if your severely disabled person's pass contains at least one of the following characteristics:

    • H = helplessness in the performance of daily activities
    • Bl = blindness or severe visual impairment
    • aG = exceptional walking disability

    If, as a person with a severe disability, you were already exempt from motor vehicle tax on May 31, 1979, you can also receive a tax exemption if your severely disabled person's pass contains the following characteristics:

    • War-disabled (severely war-disabled person according to the Federal Pension Act)
    • VB = entitlement to benefits (severely disabled former soldiers of the German Armed Forces, those doing civilian service or political prisoners of the former GDR)
    • EB = Entitlement to compensation (victims of National Socialist persecution)

    In the case of a tax reduction, you must pay half of the normal vehicle tax. You will receive a tax reduction of 50 percent if

    • Your severely disabled person's pass has an orange area printed on it and contains at least one of the following characteristics:
      • G = walking disability
      • Gl = deafness
    • you have waived your right to free transportation on public transport. Your supplementary sheet to the severely disabled person's pass must therefore not contain a corresponding token.

    If you are still a minor and have a severe disability, the vehicle must be registered for you.

    If you are severely disabled and do not drive your vehicle yourself, the journeys must be for the purpose of transportation or household management.

    If you use your motor vehicle temporarily or permanently for other purposes, you must notify the relevant main customs office immediately of this so-called non-purpose use.

    The tax concession does not apply for the duration of the improper use, but for at least 1 month.

    Use for a purpose other than that for which it was intended is deemed to have occurred, for example, if a tax-privileged motor vehicle is used

    • for the transportation of goods, with the exception of hand luggage,
    • for the transportation of persons for a fee, with the exception of occasional co-carriage, or
    • is used by other persons for journeys that are not related to the transportation of the severely disabled person or their household.

    Online service

    Online motor vehicle tax service on the customs portal

    ID: B100019_103404589

    Description

    The application provides you with an overview of the vehicles registered to you and allows you to manage your bank details and tax concessions. You can receive tax assessments for vehicle tax online.

    Use this service online

    Trust level

    You need an Elster certificate with password to use this online service (trust level: substantial).

    further information on the level of trust for online services

    Identification

    • electronic identification using national eID means - identity card
    • electronic identification using national eID means – software certificate

    Language

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Englisch

    Sprache: en

    Sprachbezeichnung nativ:

    English

    Contact person

    Generalzolldirektion (GZD), Zentrale Auskunft Kraftfahrzeugsteuer

    Internet

    Version

    Technisch geändert on 12.11.2025

    Language version

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Englisch

    Sprache: en

    Sprachbezeichnung nativ:

    English

    Örtlich zuständiges Hauptzollamt für die Kfz-Steuer

    Internet

    Version

    Technisch geändert on 04.11.2024

    Language version

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Englisch

    Sprache: en

    Sprachbezeichnung nativ:

    English

    Required documents

    • Copy of the front and back of your valid severely disabled person's ID card,
    • When applying in writing, use application form 3809 "Application for tax relief for severely disabled persons in accordance with Section 3a of the German Motor Vehicle Tax Act".

    For an additional 50 percent tax reduction:

    • Copy of the supplementary sheet to your severely disabled person's ID card without a token

    If another person represents you, this person requires a valid power of attorney from you.

    Prerequisites

    Requirements for full tax exemption:

    • Your severely disabled person's pass must contain at least one of the following characteristics:
      • H = helplessness in the performance of daily activities
      • Bl = blindness or severe visual impairment
      • aG = exceptional walking disability
    • You were already exempted from motor vehicle tax on or before 31.05.1971 and one of the following characteristics appears on your severely disabled person's pass:
      • War-disabled (severely war-disabled person according to the Federal Pension Act)
      • VB = entitlement to benefits (severely disabled former soldiers of the German Armed Forces, those doing civilian service or political prisoners of the former GDR)
      • EB = Entitlement to compensation (victims of National Socialist persecution).

    Prerequisite for a 50 percent tax reduction:

    • Your severely disabled person's pass must contain at least one of the following characteristics:
      • G = walking disability
      • Gl = deafness
    • You waive your right to free transportation on public transport
    • Your supplementary sheet to the severely disabled person's pass does not contain a corresponding token
    • Objection: You will find detailed information on how to lodge an objection in your tax assessment notice.
    • You can also lodge an objection online in the customs portal.
    • Legal action before the tax court, usually after the objection procedure.

    Procedure

    You can apply for a tax reduction or tax exemption online via the customs portal or in writing in paper form.

    Applying for a motor vehicle tax reduction online

    • Go to the website www.zollportal.de
    • You must register before using the customs portal for the first time.
      • As a private individual, you create a citizen account with your ELSTER account, ID card or BundID.
      • As a company, you create a business customer account with your ELSTER account or add a user account to an existing business customer account in the customs portal.
    • If you have already created an account in the customs portal, log in with ELSTER, your ID card, BundID or Zoll-Ident.
    • Select the "Vehicle tax" service
    • Go to "Manage tax relief".
    • Select "Apply for tax relief".
    • Fill in the required fields.
    • Upload the supporting documents.
    • You can agree to receive the response to your application digitally via the customs portal.
    • You can retrieve the decision on your application electronically once it has been processed.

    Submit your application for vehicle tax relief in writing:

    • You can submit the application for vehicle tax relief for people with severe disabilities directly when registering the motor vehicle or at a later date to the responsible main customs office or the nearest contact point (vehicle tax).

    Written application to the registration authority:

    • You can download the application form 3809 "Application for tax relief for severely disabled persons in accordance with Section 3a of the German Motor Vehicle Tax Act (Kraftfahrzeugsteuergesetz - KraftStG)" from the customs website at www.zoll.de and submit it to the registration office already printed out and signed.
    • Alternatively, you can ask the registration office to give you the form when you register your vehicle, fill it out on site and sign it.
    • If you are represented by a third party, this person always requires a valid power of attorney.
    • You can submit the form together with the required proof directly to the registration office for forwarding to the responsible main customs office.
    • The main customs office will then check your application and you will receive feedback.

    Written application to the main customs office:

    • You can download the application form 3809 "Application for tax relief for severely disabled persons in accordance with Section 3a of the German Motor Vehicle Tax Act (Kraftfahrzeugsteuergesetz - KraftStG)" from the customs website at www.zoll.de online, print it out and sign it.
    • If you are represented by a third person, an effective power of attorney must always be submitted
    • Send your application together with the required documents (as a copy) by post or fax to your local main customs office or hand in the documents at one of the contact points (motor vehicle tax) in your area.
    • The main customs office will check your application and you will receive feedback.

    Deadlines

    The tax concession applies until the conditions for it cease to apply or you deregister your vehicle.

    You must notify your competent main customs office immediately online in the customs portal or informally in writing if

    • the conditions for your tax concession cease to apply,
    • your tax-privileged motor vehicle is temporarily used for purposes that are not tax-privileged.

    Processing time

    2 to 4 weeks

    Costs

    There are no costs.: Fee free of charge

    Notes (specifics)

    There are no indications or special features.

    Further Information

    Area of validity

    Germany-wide

    Official approval

    Officially approved by Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) on 31.10.2024

    Version

    Technisch geändert on 01.12.2025

    Keywords

    Motor vehicle

    Language version

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Englisch

    Sprache: en

    Sprachbezeichnung nativ:

    English