May 29, 2025, 2:46 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Whether during police checks or visits to government offices–the vehicle registration certificate often needs to be readily available. A digital solution is set to provide more convenience in this regard. A new pilot project is bringing the familiar document to smartphones.
In official jargon, the document is called the “registration certificate, Part I.” Most people know it as the vehicle registration certificate. This paper is soon to be digitized. An initial test phase of the so-called i-Kfz app has just started. TECHBOOK inquired at the Federal Ministry of Transport about the next steps and when every vehicle owner can use the new service.
Federal Ministry of Transport Tests New App
Since the end of April 2025, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), together with the Federal Motor Transport Authority and the Federal Printing Office, has been testing a new app. This allows the vehicle registration certificate to be directly accessed on a smartphone.
“The days of frantically rummaging through the glove compartment when the police wave you over should soon be over,” a ministry spokesperson vividly highlights the main advantage. “With the new i-Kfz app, the vehicle registration certificate is always readily available,” he continues.
What the i-Kfz App Can Do
The i-Kfz app will allow vehicle owners to digitally store and share multiple vehicle registration certificates in the future. This can be useful if, for example, family members share the car. The sharing function can also be time-limited in the settings.
“We were looking for a solution to make everyday life easier,” explains the ministry spokesperson. “Especially when multiple people use a vehicle, such as within a family or for car sharing, sharing will become easier,” the ministry states.
How to Digitize the Vehicle Registration Certificate
After the test phase is completed, the i-Kfz app will be available for free download in the Google and Apple app stores. To use the digital vehicle registration certificate, a smartphone with NFC functionality and an electronic ID card (eID) with a PIN are required. After downloading the app, identification is done directly via the mobile phone.
The i-Kfz app is already available to those who registered for the ongoing test phase.
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App Still in the Test Phase
For this, 2,500 participants were sought to test how reliably the i-Kfz app functions in everyday life over the coming months. Although the digital vehicle registration certificate is already considered an official document, the Federal Ministry of Transport recommends also carrying the original paper form. The new digital proof is not yet widely known.
“In theory, the app is already legally equivalent. However, from experience, it takes a while in practice until every police station, rental car company, or foreign entity is aware of it,” emphasizes a ministry spokesperson.
Available for Everyone in the Second Half of the Year
Once all technical hurdles are overcome and potential security gaps identified during the test phase are closed, the i-Kfz app will be rolled out nationwide in the second half of 2025.
In the long term, the Federal Ministry of Transport plans to expand the i-Kfz app into a central hub for most vehicle-related government services. For example, those who want to register or deregister a car online will be able to do so via the app. There are also plans to digitize driver’s licenses and environmental badges.