First registration date: where to find it and what it means
The first registration date is in field B of registration certificate part I, the German Fahrzeugschein. Field I next to it only gives the date the car was registered to the current keeper, which is regularly confused with it. Without papers, the registration authority or the manufacturer can help using the vehicle identification number.
As of: August 2026
Where is the first registration date in the registration certificate?
In field B of registration certificate part I. The fields are coded uniformly across the EU, which is why B stands for the date of first registration in every German certificate. Field I, by contrast, gives the date of registration to the current keeper and is almost always more recent on a used car.
| Registration certificate part I | Field B | Date of the vehicle's first registration |
| Registration certificate part I | Field I | Date of registration to the current keeper |
| Registration certificate part II | Field B | Date of first registration, same EU coding |
| Registration certificate part I | Field E | Vehicle identification number for follow-up queries |
How do I find the first registration date without the papers?
Through the vehicle identification number. It sits in the engine bay, on the door pillar or under the windscreen. With it, the registration authority, an authorised dealer workshop or the last inspection report can confirm the date. A query against the vehicle register, though, requires a legitimate interest.
- Read the vehicle identification number off the car, usually engine bay, door pillar or under the windscreen
- Look for the last roadworthiness inspection report, it documents vehicle data and inspection dates
- Ask an authorised workshop of the manufacturer, many will give first delivery and first registration
- Contact the registration authority, a register query requires proof of a legitimate interest
- Apply for replacement papers if the certificate has genuinely been lost
Can I read the first registration date off the inspection sticker?
No. The sticker only shows the month and year of the next roadworthiness inspection. On a brand new car the first inspection falls due after 36 months and every 24 months after that, per annex VIII of the German road traffic licensing regulation. Working backwards gives an estimate at best, never a hard date.
First registration or year of manufacture: what is the difference?
The year of manufacture is when the car was built, the first registration is the day it was first allowed on the road. Weeks often lie between the two, and with pre-registered or stored cars it can be more than a year. Valuation, tax and inspections all follow the first registration.
Why does the first registration date matter so much when buying used?
It is the reference point for nearly everything: residual value, inspection intervals, emissions class and the question of when a car counts as a classic. Under section 2 number 22 of the German vehicle registration regulation a classic needs a first registration at least 30 years ago. Two otherwise identical cars can differ by four figures.
Where do I find the first registration date in an online listing?
In the technical data, usually abbreviated with month and year right next to mileage and power. On Wiveda it sits in the vehicle data of every listing, and the search can be narrowed down by first registration. If the figure is missing entirely, that is a reason to ask, not a detail to overlook.
General information without guarantee, no legal advice for individual cases. Fees and procedures vary by registration office and insurer.