Applying for a license plate for electrically powered vehicles (e-license plate)

    To register an electrically powered vehicle, you must apply for an e-license plate at your local vehicle registration office.

    Description

    You can apply for the e-license plate for vehicles that have an alternative drive system.

    This includes

    • Pure battery electric vehicles,
    • Vehicles that are charged externally via a charging cable, for example plug-in hybrid vehicles, and
    • hydrogen-powered vehicles, for example fuel cell cars.

    You can recognize an e-license plate by the letter "E" after the general vehicle license plate. If you want to enter environmental zones, you still need an environmental badge.

    Advantages for vehicles with an E license plate in road traffic are, for example

    • free parking,
    • Use of specially designated parking spaces,
    • use of the bus lane.

    These advantages vary from municipality to municipality. Please ask your local traffic authority what applies to your place of residence. Please note that there are different types of license plates for different purposes. The following cannot be combined with the e-license plate:

    • Short-term license plates,
    • export license plates and
    • red license plates (so-called dealer license plates).

    Note: You can save up to EUR 2,000 when purchasing and registering an electric vehicle for the first time if you apply for an environmental bonus.

    Online services

    Alternatively, please enter a location or postcode in the City / Location input field to see the responsible online service in this section

    Contact person

    Please enter a location or postcode in the City / Location input field to see the responsible contact person

    Required documents

    • Proof that it is a vehicle within the meaning of the Electric Mobility Act, for example by means of the registration certificate Part I (also known as the vehicle registration document), the certificate of conformity or the data confirmation (COC)
    • Registration certificate part I
    • Previous license plates, if applicable
    • For used vehicles: main inspection report
    • Electronic insurance confirmation

    Forms

    Forms: Please ask your local vehicle registration authority for the necessary forms

    Online procedure possible: no

    Written form required: yes

    Personal appearance required: yes

    Prerequisites

    Your vehicle must have an alternative drive or an alternative energy source.

    Procedure

    You can apply for the e-license plate in person at your local registration authority:

    • Make an appointment with your local registration authority by telephone or online if possible.
    • Bring all the necessary documents and the payment of EUR 27.00 to your appointment.
    • Your documents will be checked directly on site.
    • If the check is positive, you will receive your personal e-license plate during the appointment.

    Deadlines

    none

    Processing time

    Generally none

    Costs

    Registration including stamping of the license plates: EUR 27.00

    Further Information

    Area of validity

    Hesse

    Official approval

    Officially approved by Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure on 08.07.2019

    Version

    Technisch erstellt on 03.03.2021

    Technisch geändert on 06.02.2026

    Keywords

    electro, E-license plate, electric, Road traffic office, Plug-in hybrid vehicles, Environmental bonus, Electromobility, Electric license plate, Vehicle registration, Electric Mobility Act (EmoG)

    Language version

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Technisch erstellt on 07.06.2017

    Technisch geändert on 14.05.2025

    Englisch

    Sprache: en

    Sprachbezeichnung nativ:

    English

    Technisch erstellt on 07.07.2021

    Technisch geändert on 26.11.2019