Homologating a non-EU car in Germany
Einzelgenehmigung (§21 StVZO)
A car imported from outside the EU almost never has EU type approval, so Germany requires an Einzelgenehmigung: an individual approval under §21 of the StVZO. A full technical report (Vollgutachten) is prepared by a recognized technical service (TÜV or DEKRA), checking the vehicle against German/EU technical requirements. Where full compliance isn't realistically achievable, which is common on US- or Gulf-spec vehicles, the local registration authority can issue an Ausnahmegenehmigung (exemption) for specific points.
The process, step by step
- 1Documentation review
Vehicle's foreign registration papers, manufacturer data, and any existing test reports are reviewed to see what's already provable and what needs physical testing.
- 2Technical inspection (Vollgutachten)
TÜV or DEKRA inspects the vehicle in person against StVZO/EU requirements, covering lighting, emissions, brakes, structural points, and more.
- 3Modifications, where required
Common fixes: headlight beam pattern/aim, rear fog light, speedometer units, emissions equipment. We scope this before committing so there are no surprises mid-process.
- 4Einzelgenehmigung issued
Once compliant, the technical service issues the individual approval used for registration.
- 5Registration (Zulassung)
With the Einzelgenehmigung, customs clearance, and proof of insurance, the vehicle is registered at the local Zulassungsstelle and plated.
Typically 4-10 weeks for a straightforward case, longer if modifications or an exemption request are needed.
Cost depends on the vehicle and how much modification is needed. A well-documented, largely-compliant vehicle costs meaningfully less than one needing an exemption request or major modification. We quote after reviewing your specific vehicle.
Frequently asked
Almost always, yes, if the vehicle has no EU type approval. That covers the large majority of vehicles built for the US, Chinese domestic, Middle East/Gulf, or other non-EU markets. A small number of cases can use a simplified route if a very close EU-spec sibling model already exists, but that's the exception, not the rule.
Most passenger cars can be brought into compliance, sometimes with an exemption for points that can't reasonably be modified (this is common for structural or safety-system differences on US-spec vehicles). We assess this before you commit to the full process, not after.
HomologateMyCar handles what happens once the car is in Europe. If you haven't sourced it yet, our sister company DriveSino exports vehicles from China to Germany and has a dedicated import guide for it.
DriveSino's Germany import guide