Overview
- The government’s i‑Kfz app is now available and lets drivers store and show a digital vehicle registration that is accepted within Germany, though the paper document remains necessary for foreign travel and may still be requested by some police units.
- Users onboard via electronic ID on NFC‑capable phones or a QR code from registration, can manage multiple vehicles, share the digital document temporarily with other drivers, use it offline, and receive automatic updates such as the next inspection date.
- The cabinet approved a draft law to enable a national digital driving licence targeted for availability by the end of 2026, with the physical card remaining valid as a complement.
- The proposal authorizes digital parking management with licence‑plate checks and scan vehicles; Hamburg is moving to phase out paper permits pending city approval, and Baden‑Württemberg pilots include Heidelberg and Mannheim, where a four‑week test issues fines for safety‑relevant violations and scan cars can check up to about 1,000 vehicles per hour.
- The draft also opens KBA data access for vehicle‑specific technical and recall information via VIN, plans centralized online registration at the KBA, and imposes an explicit ban on commercial points trading with fines up to €30,000.