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First: What are red dealer plates (Rote Nummern / 06-Kennzeichen)?
Feature – Explanation
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Appearance / number range:
They start with 06 (e.g. FL-060123) and are printed in red. -
Purpose:
Used for test drives (Probefahrt), vehicle transfers (Überführungsfahrt) and demonstration drives (Vorführfahrt). -
Legal users:
May only be used by licensed car dealers, workshops (garages) or manufacturers. -
Validity period:
Usually issued for a long period (often 1 year) and may be used multiple times for different vehicles.
Second: Fahrtennachweisbuch (log book) – mandatory!
Under § 16 (2) FZV (German vehicle registration regulation), anyone using a red 06 plate is obliged to:
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document every single use of the plate in a written and accurate log – either handwritten or by means of a reliable digital system.
What must this log book contain?
Every entry / page must include at least:
Field – Explanation
-
Date:
The calendar day of the trip. -
Time:
Start and end time of the trip. -
Vehicle data:
Chassis number / VIN (Fahrgestellnummer) and vehicle type / model. -
Purpose of the trip:
For example: Probefahrt (test drive), Überführung (transfer), Werkstattprüfung (workshop check), demonstration for a customer, etc. -
Name of the driver:
Full name of the person driving plus signature. -
Route:
From where to where the trip was made (start and destination).
Legally permitted types of journeys (examples)
Purpose – Permitted? – Notes
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Trip to TÜV / technical inspection:
Yes – permitted, especially if the vehicle is not yet registered. -
Test drive with a customer:
Yes – permitted, provided that a member of staff accompanies the drive or the drive is carried out with the dealer’s consent. -
Private commute to work:
No – not permitted.
The private use of red dealer plates is strictly prohibited.
Third: What are the consequences if you do not keep proper records?
Violation – Consequence
-
No Fahrtennachweis (log) at all:
Considered an administrative offence (Ordnungswidrigkeit) and may result in a fine. -
Incomplete or incorrect log book entries:
Fine of up to 5,000 € possible, and the authority may withdraw the red plates. -
Using the plates for private or other unauthorised purposes:
In severe cases, this can lead to withdrawal of your trade licence / business authorisation.
Can the log book be kept in digital form?
Yes, provided that:
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a reliable electronic system is used (e.g. a document management system – DMS with logging / audit trail),
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the log can be made available to the police or the vehicle registration authority (Kfz-Zulassungsstelle) immediately upon request,
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the digital log contains the same mandatory fields as the paper version (date, time, vehicle data, purpose, driver, route, and a legally valid form of confirmation/signature).
Editorial note
The authors and editorial team of this website aim to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors may still occur or certain details may be incomplete or not legally exhaustive. Therefore, please treat the information in this article as an initial guide and always contact the competent authorities or professional advisers for binding, up-to-date legal information.
