What happens if I register late?

Anyone who does not register, or does not register in time, commits an administrative offence; the fine can be up to €1,000 (§ 54 BMG). How high it is in an individual case is decided by the registration authority. Do not count on leniency – register as quickly as possible if the deadline is getting tight.

Which documents do I need to register?

You need a valid ID card or passport and the landlord confirmation from your landlord; the tenancy agreement does not replace it. If you are registering family members too, bring their ID documents and, if necessary, powers of attorney. If you have several homes, a declaration of your main residence is added.

Do I have to re-register when moving within the same city?

Yes, the obligation to register with the same two-week deadline from moving in also applies to a move within the same city. It is a completely normal registration of the new home with ID and landlord confirmation; the old home is deregistered automatically. You do not need a separate deregistration.

Where do I register my new address?

With the registration authority at your new place of residence – in Berlin, at any registration office. In many municipalities you need an appointment, which you book online. Where the municipality offers it, you can also register online with the online ID function – more on this in the article Registering your address online .

Do I also have to update my driving licence?

No. Today's card driving licence does not show an address, so it does not have to be changed after a move. The ID card is different: there the new address is updated when you register your residence , directly on site or via the chip with online registration.

What about the car – do I have to re-register it?

Yes. You must notify the vehicle registration authority of the change of address without delay (§ 15 FZV) so that the vehicle registration certificate is correct. You may keep your existing number plate even when moving to another registration district. Everything else is in the article on re-registering a vehicle .

Do I need an appointment at the registration office?

In most cities, yes – appointments are scarce, especially in large cities. So book it as soon as your moving date is fixed, and choose a day within the two weeks after moving in. If your municipality offers online registration, you do not need an appointment – in Berlin, for example, with BundID, the online ID function and a card reader or smartphone.

What is the landlord confirmation?

The landlord confirmation is your landlord's or housing provider's confirmation that you have moved in (§ 19 BMG). They give it to you in writing or report it electronically to the registration authority and give you a reference code for it. A tenancy agreement does not replace it – ask your landlord for it early.

Does the deadline also apply to a long-distance move abroad?

Anyone moving abroad and not keeping a home in Germany deregisters: no earlier than one week before and no later than two weeks after moving out (§ 17 (2) BMG). You often need the deregistration certificate for banks, insurers and the broadcasting licence fee. For moves abroad, see international move .

Do I also have to notify the tax office?

The registration authority passes your new address on to the Federal Central Tax Office (§ 139b AO). It is still worth stating the new address in your next tax return; self-employed people and business owners inform their tax office directly and also re-register a business with the trade office.

What do I do if I have missed the deadline?

Catch up on registering as quickly as possible and explain the delay. Whether a fine is imposed, and how high, is decided by the registration authority – the law allows up to €1,000. Waiting does not make it better, because without registration you also lack the registration certificate for your bank, employer or nursery; more on this in the article on missed registration.

STRESS-FREE MOVING

Registering your new address after a move: deadlines

Which deadlines apply to registering your address after a move, which documents you need and what you risk if you are late.

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FROM BERLIN-MOABIT

Changing your registration

Registering after a move: two weeks from moving in

Deadlines at a glance

Unsere Firma is based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and schedules the moving date so that there is time left for your appointment at the registration office (Bürgeramt).

Anyone who moves into a flat must register with the registration authority within two weeks of moving in – this is laid down in § 17 of the Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz, BMG). The deadline starts with the actual move-in, not with the start of the tenancy or the key handover. It applies to a move within the same city just as much as to a long-distance move. For a move within Germany you do not need to deregister at your old address; registering at the new address takes care of that.

To register, you need an ID document and the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) from your landlord – the tenancy agreement does not replace it. In Berlin and many other municipalities, registration is now also possible online, with the online ID function and BundID. We take care of the transport and schedule moving day so that the two weeks are enough for the trip to the authorities. How we move is described under private move.

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Fix the moving date, plan the registration office at the same time

Fixed price after a survey, date with a buffer

Call us on 01625978461 and fix the moving date early – then you can book your registration office appointment for the days after straight away. After a survey we quote a fixed price. That way the two-week deadline for registering stays relaxed.

Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.

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MAXIMUM CARE

Who does what: the move and registration

Transport by us, the authorities by you

We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and take care of the move itself: packing on request, carrying, transport and assembly, and for long distances also as a long-distance move. You have to complete the registration in person or online – no moving company can do that for you. During the survey we tell you which deadlines run from the day you move in, and we plan the move so that you have time for it.

Registration

Within two weeks of moving in, at the registration authority – in person at the registration office or, where offered, online with the online ID function.

Landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)

The landlord confirms the move-in in writing or electronically; without this confirmation the registration is not complete.

Re-register your car

You report the new address to the vehicle registration authority without delay; you may keep your number plate in the new district too.

Moving abroad

Anyone who does not move into a new home in Germany deregisters – no earlier than one week before and no later than two weeks after moving out.

DEADLINES IN VIEW

Six deadlines around moving in

Registration is not the only deadline after a move. You should have these six points in your calendar – each with its legal basis, so you know what is really compulsory.

Two-week registration deadline

Register within two weeks of moving in with the registration authority at your new place of residence (§ 17 (1) BMG) – even when moving within the same city.

Confirmation from the landlord

The landlord must confirm the move-in within the same period (§ 19 BMG) – request the confirmation early.

Fine of up to €1,000

Anyone who does not register, or does not register in time, commits an administrative offence; the fine can be up to €1,000 (§ 54 BMG).

Car without delay

Have the new address in your vehicle registration certificate changed without delay (§ 15 FZV); there is no fixed number of days.

Mail forwarding

A mail forwarding order runs for a maximum of six months – by then, banks, health insurers and contracts should have the new address.

Deregistering when leaving

Only those moving abroad or giving up a home without replacing it deregister: no earlier than one week before and no later than two weeks after moving out.

FOR SMALL LOADS

Few belongings? Consider a shared load

Save on smaller loads

For a few pieces of furniture over a long distance, a shared load can be cheaper: your household goods travel with other consignments. Keep an eye on the time window – the registration deadline runs from the day you actually move in, not from delivery.

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AFTER MOVING IN

Registration,
car, post: what is due after moving in

The most important dealings with the authorities

Besides registering your address after the move, other changes are due: vehicle registration certificate, mail forwarding, broadcasting licence fee, bank and insurance. This guide explains the deadlines that are actually set by law and shows where there is only a recommendation behind them. What happens if the deadline passes after all, you can read in the article Forgot to register: fines. Everything about the transport itself can be found under private move.

Book the appointment before the move

In many cities, registration office appointments are scarce. Book the appointment as soon as the moving date is fixed, or register online if your municipality offers it – then the two-week deadline is no stress.

Prepare documents

An ID card or passport and the landlord confirmation are usually enough; if you have several homes, a declaration of your main residence is added. The address on your ID card is updated at registration straight away.

Car, post, contracts

Have the vehicle registration certificate changed without delay; the number plate can stay. Mail forwarding bridges a maximum of six months; by then, your bank, health insurer, employer and insurers should know the new address. For the broadcasting licence fee, report the move without delay.

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FAQ

Questions about registering after a move

Deadline, fine, documents, appointment, car, moving abroad and the tax office – answered briefly.

Under the Federal Registration Act, you must register within two weeks of moving into the new home (§ 17 (1) BMG). The deadline applies nationwide and regardless of the distance of the move. It starts with the actual move-in. So plan your registration office appointment together with the moving date.

The registration deadline: two weeks from moving in

Under § 17 of the Federal Registration Act, you must register with the competent registration authority within two weeks of moving in. This applies regardless of whether you are moving within the same city or coming from another federal state. The fine can be up to €1,000 (§ 54 BMG). The authority sets the specific amount case by case.

So that the deadline does not get tight, book your registration office appointment as soon as the moving date is fixed. In Berlin, German and EU citizens aged 18 and over moving within Germany can also register online – with BundID and the online ID function; it is free of charge.

Registration process and documents

To register your address after the move, you need an ID card or passport and the landlord confirmation from your landlord. The landlord must confirm the move-in within the registration period, in writing or electronically to the registration authority (§ 19 BMG); a tenancy agreement is not sufficient for this. If you have several homes, you also state which is your main residence.

At registration, the new address on your ID card is updated – directly on site, or with online registration via the chip and a sticker sent by post. The registration authority also passes the change of address on to the Federal Central Tax Office. You do not have to have your driving licence changed: the card driving licence does not show an address.

What does a move cost? All prices in detail

Before you plan your move, you should know the approximate costs. Our guide prices: 1-room flat from €349, 2-room flat from €609, 3-room flat from €879 and 4-room flat from €1,344. Larger properties such as a house or villa are calculated individually. For a long-distance move we charge from €3.80/km. For an exact quote we recommend a free survey on site.

How your moving price is composed

The level of moving costs depends largely on the distance (from €3.80/km) and the volume of household goods. If there is no lift, the effort per floor increases noticeably, and a parking restriction zone often has to be planned in too. If you would also like to use our furniture assembly or a shared load, this also affects the price.

Service overview for your move

Everything you need for a successful move you find here.

Move with assembly	Your furniture is professionally disassembled and assembled.
Part load	Cheap and flexible for smaller quantities.
Clearance	We clear up – fast and reliably.
Home move	Your new home is waiting; we bring you there safely.
Furniture transport	Safe transport for individual pieces of furniture.
Company move	Your company move without business interruption.

Registering after a move to another city

After a long-distance move too, you register at your new place of residence – deregistering in Berlin is not necessary. We plan the transport from Berlin (Stromstraße 21); destinations with their own pages can be found in the locations overview, routes under long-distance moves.

Authorities & Address Registration

Beste Umzug Redaktion

August 30, 2026

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