If components are to be converted or fitted to a vehicle, the vehicle may only be used on public roads if a valid operating permit has been issued for these vehicle parts. This applies, for example, to rims, special wheels, parking heaters, trailer couplings and many other extras. A number of requirements must be observed to ensure that the vehicle's operating license does not expire.

Conversions that affect the type of vehicle, modifications that worsen the exhaust performance or increase the noise level or modifications that could endanger other road users regularly lead to the vehicle's operating license expiring.

If the parts form a technical unit that can be dealt with independently in the approval procedure, the requirement for an operating license can be checked. The type approval may be restricted if the parts can only be used on vehicles<

The competent licensing authority

The licensing authority can issue an individual type approval to the authorized person for vehicle parts that are not subject to mandatory type approval in accordance with Section 22a of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations, for which an officially recognized expert or inspector for motor vehicle traffic or an officially recognized monitoring organization has approved the installation or attachment and whose use does not contravene any traffic regulations.

Owners or other authorized persons are entitled to apply.

• Proof of the right of disposal
• Documents showing the technical description of the vehicle part
• Sample of the vehicle part, if applicable
• Registration certificate part I
• Trailer list, if applicable
• If applicable, certificate from an officially recognized expert from a testing organization in accordance with § 21 StVZO or acceptance certificate from a test engineer from an approved testing organization

• If the vehicle part intended for use does not belong to an approved type, an application for individual approval can be submitted to the competent licensing authority on presentation of the report of an officially recognized expert for motor vehicle traffic or of the above-mentioned test centre.
• If the examination is positive, the approval authority will issue the individual approval by noting the following on the report of the officially recognized expert for motor vehicle traffic or the inspection body, stating the place and date: "Operating approval granted".
• Any restrictions or exemptions from the provisions of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations must be included in the note.
• If the vehicle part is used on a motor vehicle or motor vehicle trailer, the individual approval must be entered in the registration certificates and marked in any trailer registers issued.

• § Section 22 (1) of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO)
• § Section 19 (4) sentence 1 StVZO

Action before the administrative court