Exemption permit for vehicles and vehicle combinations Issued for forklift trucks, excavators, graders and shovel loaders

Individual exemptions are required for motor vehicles and their combinations that deviate from the regulations of the StVZO in terms of their dimensions (length, height, width), weights (axle loads, total masses), equipment or in any other way.

Excavators, shovel loaders and grading machines are considered self-propelled work machines. (Forklift) trucks are treated in the same way as self-propelled work machines under licensing law. These vehicles are exempt from the regulations on the approval procedure. If the maximum design speed is more than 6 km/h and a self-propelled work machine or forklift truck is to be operated on public roads, the vehicle must correspond to an approved type or have an individual approval (operating permit). Vehicles with a maximum design speed of up to 20 km/h do not receive an official license plate. Forklift trucks, as well as self-propelled work machines with a maximum design speed of more than 20 km/h, may only be operated on public roads if they have an official license plate (license plate with green lettering on a white background). They are subject to regular main inspections and, if they have a total mass of more than 7,500 kg, also to safety inspection regulations.

An individual approval (operating permit) can only be issued if the vehicle fully complies with the provisions of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) and the FZV or if an exemption has been granted for any deviations.

Regional Council

Please contact the responsible regional council.

• Details of the owner
• Fornew applications, an expert opinion (not older than 18 months) for obtaining an exemption permit in accordance with § 70 StVZO from an officially recognized expert for motor vehicle traffic or an authorized signatory of a technical service designated in accordance with § 30 of the EC Vehicle Approval Regulation (EG-FGV) for testing complete vehicles of the respective vehicle class
  • Toextend an existing exemption permit: Copy of the old §70 STVZO exemption permit, an expert opinion may have to be submitted subsequently
  • Tosupplement or amend an existing exemption: Supplementary report not older than 18 months (If towing vehicles or trailers other than those listed in the exemption permit, stating the vehicle identification number, are to be used in vehicle combinations such as trains or articulated vehicles, a supplement to the exemption permit is required)
  • Totransfer an existing exemption permit: Existing exemption permit with the corresponding expert opinion and the registration certificates
• Registration certificate or operating license of the vehicle combination
• Old exemption permit, if applicable
• Insurance certificate, if applicable
• Authorization if the application is made on behalf of a third party

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance necessary: No

As a general rule, exemptions may only be approved if all reasonable options for complying with the provisions of the StVZO and the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (FZV) have been fully exhausted.

Appeal (appeal may be excluded depending on national law), administrative court action

You can apply for the exemption in writing or online.

The competent authority will check your application and, if it is positive, will grant you the exemption.

None

If the documents are complete, your application will be processed promptly.

The fee notices are based on the scale of fees for road traffic measures (GebOSt). A framework fee of €10.20 to €511.00 is set there for each decision on an exemption from a provision of the StVZO per exemption and per vehicle/person; a reduced fee may be set if several identical vehicles are present at the time of application. The exact amount of the fee depends on the processing effort and economic advantage for the applicant in each individual case; the determination is at the discretion of the authority.

The amount of the fee also depends, among other things, on the period of validity. When submitting your application, you must therefore state the desired period of validity.

The local jurisdiction generally depends on your place of residence or the registered office of your company.