There is no general obligation to exchange the old vehicle registration certificate for the registration certificate part II (ZB II). An automatic exchange takes place if a new registration certificate part II has to be issued anyway (for example, because it has been lost or if a new ZB I (vehicle registration document) has to be issued), regardless of whether the old vehicle registration document is still available.
The vehicle registration certificate is canceled and replaced by the registration certificate part II (note: the vehicle registration certificate is destroyed and replaced by the registration certificate part I).
If the registration certificate part II (vehicle registration document) is lost, a replacement document can be issued. At the request of the licensing authority, an affidavit must be made as to the whereabouts of the original documents. The replacement document may only be issued once the lost registration certificate Part II has been published by the Federal Motor Transport Authority in the Verkehrsblatt and the 14-day deadline set for this has expired. If there is reason to do so, it is advisable to report the loss to the police.
