License plate for bike carriers: when is it necessary?

Reading time 5 Min.

Recently updated on January 30, 2021 at 09:17 am

Some of the many available on the market bike rack require a license plate to be legally used in traffic. The license plate must then be attached directly to the carrier as another license plate. If you want to transport a bicycle with your car, or transport it on your vacation trip or to a training route, a special bracket is required. You can attach a bike rack to your car, for example on the Trailer hitch attach and thus allow the transport of the bike.

Bicycle rack with license plate

When do you need a license plate for your bike rack? The registration regulation (FZV) is defined as follows: In the law in § 10 paragraph 9 sentence 1 FZV it says: The license plate is required if the number plate on the back of the car is partially or completely covered by a bike rack or a load. The license plate of the bike rack must look like your original license plate, but does not have to have a stamp / seal. This rule only applies to bike racks that cover the rear of the license plate due to the design. That is why the type of bike rack is important.

What does the number plate on the bike rack cost?

The individual license plate costs between 10 and 50 euros depending on the provider. It depends on whether you choose a simple metal sign or whether it is one 3D license plate, maybe even in Carbon look, should be. If the additional license plate is missing, a fine of at least 60 euros is due. If the license plate of the vehicle is covered with a film, with glass or in some other way, usually even 65 euros are due. And if the license plate does not have the number of the license plate on the car, it can be regarded as license plate misuse. According to Section 22 Paragraph 1 of the Road Traffic Act (StVG), such an offense is punished with a fine or imprisoned, which can be up to one year. The license plate for the bike rack must look like this: According to § 10 paragraph 9 FZV, the number plate must be attached to the load carrier. The license plate for the bike rack must have the same number and meet the same requirements as the label on the car. Exception is, however: According to the FZV, a subsequent license plate does not have to be officially stamped on the bike rack. That means you don't need a stamp from the approval authority.

Which requirements must the license plate meet?

The lettering on the sign must be in black. Therefore it is done on a white background and has a black border. No additional cover such as foil may be attached over the license plate. The film, like that of the license plates on the vehicle, must be reflective. License plates must all comply with "DIN 74069". The design of the license plates was specified in "Appendix 4 FZV". After that, the labels must have the following dimensions: Width: 520 mm and height: 110 mm! In addition, the font height and font are also specified. Only the specified font samples of the "Font for vehicle identification", which is specified by the "Federal Highway Research Institute", are allowed. These fonts make forgery difficult. The specifications mentioned also apply to the license plates of the bike racks.

A lighting device is required by law for the rear license plates. According to Section 10, Paragraph 9 of the FZV, the vehicle's license plate may now and then be mounted on the light carrier. However, this depends on whether the light carrier is approved for the vehicle. All vehicles are listed in "Section 49a (9) of the StVZO". And finally ... A bike rack only has to have a license plate if it hides the rear license plate. If this is the case, the license plate, apart from the official seals, must correspond to the vehicle license plate. The regulations also apply to motorcycle carrier and any kind of tailgate carriers. At least if they hide the license plate on the vehicle.

summarizing the most important information:

• If the bike rack completely or partially covers the license plate of the car, the license plate for the bike rack must be installed as a third license plate
• The label on the bike rack must correspond to that on the vehicle (without seal)
• Costs between 10 and 50 euros
• no costs for a visit to the authorities, this does not apply
• if the additional license plate is missing, a fine of 60 euros can be imposed
• The label must be black on a white background with a black border
• Foil must be reflective according to DIN 74069
• Width (largest dimension): 520 millimeters / Height (largest dimension): 110 millimeters
• Font height / font must be applied in accordance with the "Font for vehicle identification" of the Federal Highway Research Institute
• Lighting equipment is mandatory. In some cases, the vehicle sign can be installed on the light carrier (depending on the approval capability on the vehicle)
• the rear license plate must usually remain attached to the car (whether with or without a bike rack)
• other rules and laws apply abroad
• Tip: This is how the bike rack is attached to the car!

Of course that had not been the case.

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". Following an excerpt of the last information:

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