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Vehicle specifications for an ABE in Germany!

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Recently updated on November 9, 2022 at 01:52 am

Vehicle specifications for an ABE in Germany!

Road safety has top priority in Germany. Therefore, parts of a vehicle and the vehicle itself must comply with various specifications. If you intend to buy a new car from a dealer or from a private sale, these requirements are usually already met. However, if you intend to modify your vehicle with tuning or to make other changes, it is important certain specifications to note. Otherwise you risk losing the general operating permit for your car or motorcycle. Become aware of driving such a vehicle without ABE caught, face heavy fines. In order to prevent this and to give you the best possible overview, we will provide you with all the information related to the ABE below. We also inform you why the ABE was created and the connection between the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) and the general operating permit.

What is a general operating permit?

  • The general operating permit, or ABE for short, is a permit for driving various motor vehicles or motorcycles on German roads. A detailed list of all vehicles that require an ABE can be found in the StVO or StVZO.

Are sanctions imposed if the ABE is missing?

  • If a vehicle is driven on German roads without a general operating permit, there is a risk of being penalized Fine of 50 euros. If a hazard to others is assumed, this can change fine of 90 euros increase and 1 point in Flensburg threatens.

What should be done if the ABE is lost or stolen?

  • In exceptional cases, the KBA (Federal Motor Transport Authority) grants a new operating permit. An application must be submitted for this.

Requirements for a vehicle to be approved for use on public roads!

Vehicle specifications for an ABE in Germany!

Some vehicles may not be moved on German roads, for example if they do not meet the requirements of the StVO. One is mandatory for driving a motor vehicle on public roads Registration certificate. The issuing of the approval is based on the following regulations:

  • the Road Traffic Act (StVO)
  • the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO)
  • Exceptions according to paragraph 16 of the StVZO for some vehicles due to special permit procedures

All vehicles that, due to their design, require approval faster than six kilometers per hour can drive, but also Trailers. For a regular registration certificate, an official number plate and, if necessary, a permit from the company are required. NOTICE: Even non-registration-free vehicles must have a permit.

Examples of vehicles without registration:

  • mopeds
  • Self-propelled work machines with a maximum speed of 20 km/h
  • Trailers that are towed at a maximum of 25 km/h

Examples of all certificates that are valid as approval for vehicles without registration:

  • Approval for the commissioning of individual vehicles according to Section 21 StVZO
  • Report issued by an authorized test center (according to the EC Vehicle Approval Regulation)
  • ABE (General Operating Permit)
  • EU type approval: Certificate of Conformity - one EC certificate of conformity

Importance of the general operating permit (ABE)

Any requirements that a vehicle has to meet to be allowed to drive on public roads are noted and specified in the road traffic regulations. The general operating permit (ABE) must not be combined with the EBE (Individual operating permit) to be confused. The ABE (general operating permit) is a confirmation obtained through testing for series-produced vehicles. It allows these vehicles to move on public roads. Any costs incurred for this test must be borne by the owner of the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle owner is obliged to meet the requirements of the ABE.

Vehicle specifications for an ABE in Germany!

If the vehicle was produced abroad, an ABE can be issued under the following conditions:

  1. Production of the vehicle was carried out in a country that signed the treaty establishing the “European Economic Community”.
  2. The manufacturer of the vehicle can prove that he is allowed to manufacture and sell vehicles within the scope of the StVZO

In order to obtain an ABE, the manufacturer must have its registered office in a country to which the agreement of the European Economic Area applies. The Federal Motor Transport Authority must be consulted for the final issue of an ABE. It is usually issued after an application has been submitted. The required documents must be enclosed with the application. Furthermore, an inspection is carried out by an expert or a comparable authorized person. The manufacturer is obliged to registration document to be completed for each vehicle produced that requires registration.

The vehicle registration document can be purchased unfilled from the Federal Motor Transport Authority.

Vehicle specifications for an ABE in Germany!

If various vehicle parts are to be installed or removed after the approval has been granted, this can be requested and approved from the authority responsible for the general operating permit. In this case, the applicant is obliged to note this in advance in the application. If there are subsequent changes to the technical modifications in the application, a new permission be obtained from the KBA. If the KBA has no objections, no new approval needs to be obtained. A general operating permit is only granted for a specific period of time. After this period has expired, a new ABE must be applied for. The ABE also loses its validity if it is revoked by the KBA or if the vehicle is modified or tuned, unless permission has been obtained. After the approval has been issued, the StVZO reserves the right to check the manufacturer's compliance with the specifications at any time. If a breach of the specifications is determined, the manufacturer must bear the costs of the inspection.

What is an operating license for individual vehicles?

An alternative to the ABE is one approval. It is issued for vehicles that are not on the list of approved vehicle types. Such an operating license is usually issued by the registration office of the respective German federal state in which the owner of the vehicle has his main residence. In order to obtain such an operating permit, an expert must prepare an expert opinion in advance, which is enclosed with the application. The technical characteristics of the vehicle are described in the report.

Examples of this:

  • type of vehicle
  • capacity and performance
  • Total weight
  • dimensions of the vehicle
  • Vehicle identification number
  • and much more m.

A document detailing the technical specifications must be enclosed with the application for an expert opinion. After these technical details have been checked by the expert, the competent authority (registration body) enters them into the Registration Certificate Part I, possibly also in part II, a. According to the StVZO, the vehicle may only be inspected again after the permit has expired. It is recommended to keep the test protocols of the report up to 10 years to keep. During this period, the approval or supervisory authority can request access to the logs. The inspection of the papers is usually carried out by the Technical Inspection Association, TÜV for short. According to legal regulations, a vehicle must be re-examined every year. This applies to the following vehicles:

  • Vehicles that have been on roads for 7 years or more. The owner can no longer produce an EC certificate of conformity, individual approval certificate or data confirmation for this vehicle.
  • Imported vehicles from countries that are not part of the European Economic Area - example Russia.

In exceptional cases, the TÜV also grants permission if the tested vehicle does not fully meet the requirements of the EEC or STVZO. This exceptional case exists when so much time and money would have to be invested in conversions that exceed the residual value of the vehicle. However, the competent authority must be consulted for the issuance of such an exemption.

Can an operating license be issued for individual vehicle parts?

Vehicle specifications for an ABE in Germany!

In Germany, an operating permit can be issued not only for series-produced vehicles, but also for car parts to be issued. The prerequisite for this is that the parts are a technical unit. A well-known example of this is alloy wheels. If a vehicle is tuned or modified, attention must be paid to which components can be used. Failure to comply with the requirements may result in the general operating license becoming void. The operating license usually sets restrictions that determine which parts may be installed or removed in which vehicles. Under special circumstances, the modification must be approved by an expert, such as the TÜV itself. Whether the TÜV this modification acceptance must be carried out can be found in the test certificate. Before installation, the certificate that accompanies the purchased vehicle part should be studied carefully. The certificate usually corresponds to the provisions of the StVZO. There are usually two different types of these certificates:

  1. A type approval for vehicle parts that comply with paragraph 22 of the StVZO.
  2. A general operating permit for vehicle parts (ABE), also according to paragraph 22 of the StVZO.
  3. In exceptional cases, a vehicle part that complies with EC or ECE specifications and has been approved can also be installed.

Every vehicle part that is imported into Germany from EU countries must have a EEC type approval show. With this seal of approval, the manufacturers prove that all the specifications applicable in Germany are complied with. The official E-mark is enclosed with these vehicle parts and marks them as compliant with the German road traffic regulations. If you have purchased such a vehicle part, the operating license must be obtained while driving not be carried along. An operating license for a moped or a moped is granted if the visible E-mark of the installed vehicle parts according to:

  • ECE directive
  • EU guidelines

was awarded. The EU directive confirms that the type approval was taken into account during the production of the vehicle part. The ECE guideline is a confirmation of the EC type approval.

According to the catalog of fines, which penalties are related to the operating permit?

Vehicle specifications for an ABE in Germany!

The operating permit is an important document that must be carried with the vehicle documents. If you don't have the operating permit at hand, threaten it penalties and warnings. Depending on the violation, the sums can be high, and points are also threatened in Flensburg.

Possible violations:

  • If the operating permit cannot be presented during an inspection, the penalty is 10 euros.
  • If the vehicle is put into operation even though the operating license has expired, the penalty is 50 euros.
  • If a trailer is towed with a vehicle whose operating license has expired and road safety is endangered, the fine is 90 euros. In addition, a point is entered in Flensburg.
  • If a truck or bus is operated on public roads without an operating permit, a fine of 180 euros will be due.

If you ask another person to operate a vehicle without an operating license, the amount of the fines increases many times over. Below are two examples:

  • If a truck or bus without a valid operating license is operated by another person and road safety is endangered by this, a fine of 270 euros must be paid. You also get a point in Flensburg.
  • If a vehicle is operated by another person without a valid operating license and road safety is endangered by this vehicle, a fine of 135 euros must be paid. A point in Flensburg is also entered here.

To avoid these fines and penalties, you (or a friend/acquaintance) should not drive an unlicensed vehicle on public roads.

What should be done if the operating license is lost or stolen?

An exception are vehicles manufactured in the GDR, such as mopeds or scooters (Simson, Schwalbe, Star, etc.). Sellers of such vehicles often cannot produce a registration certificate. If no registration certificate is available, an operating permit can be applied for at the KBA. There it is confirmed that a general operating license for these vehicles already exists.

This exceptional case is limited to the following vehicle types:

  • Small motorcycles - mopeds, mokicks etc.
  • Bicycles with integrated auxiliary motor
  • Light motorcycles (applies only to those who in put into operation for the first time on March 01.03.1992st, XNUMX)
  • Wheelchairs with an integrated motor (applies only to those that were first used before March 01.03.1991st, XNUMX)

In the event of loss or theft of the general operating permit for your motor vehicle or trailer, you can get one Clearance certificate request. For the application for this certificate, however, the Purchase contract needed. This confirms that you are the owner of the vehicle or trailer. The application is submitted to the manufacturer of the vehicle, and you will then receive a duplicate of the general operating permit. As an alternative, you can also contact the TÜV. If you choose this option, you will have to apply for a new operating license from the registration authority, which will be accompanied by the TÜV certificate. When submitting an application to the KBA, the following information must be provided:

  • First and last name of the applicant
  • Applicant's address
  • Valid phone number
  • vehicle type
  • Vehicle identification number
  • year of manufacture of the vehicle
  • manufacturer of the vehicle
  • Total weight of the vehicle (in kg)
  • number of axles of the vehicle

The costs for proof from the KBA amount to at least approx. €13,00 per vehicle.

Of course, that wasn't the end of it.

tuningblog.eu has a lot of other articles on the subject of auto & tuning in stock. Do you want to see them all? Just click HERE and look around. But also planned changes in the law, violations in road traffic, current regulations in the field of STVO or on the subject inspection we would like to inform you regularly. Everything you can find in the category "Test sites, laws, offenses, information". Click on one of the following posts!

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About Thomas Wachsmuth

Thomas Wachsmuth - He has been an integral part of tuningblog.eu since 2013. His passion for cars is so intense that he invests every available penny in them. While he dreams of a BMW E31 850CSI and a Hennessey 6x6 Ford F-150, he currently drives a rather inconspicuous BMW 540i (G31/LCI). His collection of books, magazines and brochures on the subject of car tuning has now reached such proportions that he himself has become a walking reference work for the tuning scene.  More about Thomas

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