The buyer does not deregister the car - can I simply cancel the car insurance?

You have sold your car, but the buyer simply won't deregister or reregister it? This can quickly become a big problem, because as long as the car is still registered to you, you are responsible for taxes, insurance and possible fines. But what can you do if the buyer doesn't re-register the car? In this article, you will find out whether and how you can cancel your insurance to protect yourself from further costs.

Why the buyer absolutely must re-register the car

If you have sold your car, the responsibility is usually transferred to the buyer - at least in theory. However, as long as the vehicle has not been re-registered to the new owner, you remain the legal owner of the vehicle. This means that you are still liable for vehicle tax, insurance and any traffic violations as long as the car is officially in your name.

What happens if the buyer does not re-register the car?

1. Vehicle tax and insurance: As long as the buyer does not re-register the car to himself, you are still the owner and have to pay the vehicle tax and insurance premiums. Even if the car is no longer in your possession, these costs will continue to be debited from your account.
2. Fines and accidents: It gets even worse if the buyer causes an accident with the vehicle or commits traffic violations. As the car is still registered to you, you will receive the parking tickets, fines or even be held liable if an accident occurs.

What can you do if the buyer does not re-register?

Here are our steps you should take if the buyer does not re-register the car:

1. Contact the buyer: The first step is, of course, to kindly contact the buyer and remind them to de- or re-register the car. It is often only a misunderstanding or lack of time that the buyer has not yet completed the re-registration.
2. Deregister yourself: If the buyer does not respond or continues to delay the de-registration, you can also try to deregister the car yourself. To do this, you will need some of the vehicle documents that you may still have, such as the license plates and the vehicle registration document (Teil I). Our team will be happy to help you with this or find out more about online deregistration here. Also, you might have created a handover protocol and sales contract before the sale, which will help you to deregister the vehicle on site at a registration office; we will also be happy to advise you here free of charge.
3. Inform your insurance company: Another option you have is to inform your insurance company and ask them to cancel the contract. Many insurers offer the option of terminating the policy as soon as you can prove that the vehicle has been sold. The sales contract or proof of payment can help as proof. If you cancel the insurance, the buyer will no longer have insurance cover, which could also force them to re-register. However, be sure to seek advice from your insurance company in advance.
4. Contact the registration office and the police: If you cannot reach the buyer, and he does not re-register the vehicle even after several requests, you should first inform the responsible registration office and ask for information and help. If necessary, you can also contact the police, ideally based on the advice you got from the registration office. The registration office can also help you take steps to officially deregister the vehicle. This is particularly important to protect you from possible legal problems.

Summary

If the buyer of your car does not re-register it, you are still responsible for taxes, insurance and possible fines. The first step should always be to kindly ask the buyer to re-register the vehicle. If this does not work, you should try to deregister the vehicle yourself. You should also consult your insurance company about canceling the registration to avoid further costs. Remember: the sooner you act, the fewer problems and costs you will have!

All data and information are subject to regularly changing laws and are therefore without guarantee