You are the new owner of a licensed vehicle. What do you have to do?

In Germany, when you become the new owner of a licensed vehicle, it is important to follow specific procedures to ensure that the vehicle is legally registered in your name. The two actions you correctly identified, notifying the licensing authority of the change in ownership and presenting proof of liability insurance, are essential steps in this process.

1. Notifying the licensing authority of the change in ownership is necessary to update the vehicle's registration records. This ensures that the new owner is recognized and that all legal responsibilities associated with the vehicle are correctly assigned.

2. Presenting proof of liability insurance is crucial because all vehicles in Germany are required to have valid liability insurance, which covers damages to third parties in case of an accident. Without this proof, the licensing authority cannot complete the transfer of ownership.

The third option, arranging for a vehicle roadworthiness test, is generally not required upon a change of ownership if the vehicle was already roadworthy at the time of sale. However, it may be mandated when the vehicle is transferred to ensure that it meets safety standards, but it is not a universal requirement at every ownership change.

Therefore, it’s important to understand the combination of correct actions that need to be taken when changing ownership to comply with German traffic laws.