Lifting a vehicle in Germany: what to consider

What this is about

Lifting a vehicle is legal in Germany, but the change has to be entered in the vehicle documents. Driving without that entry puts the operating licence at risk, and with it the insurance cover – that is the expensive part, not the fine.

Two routes

Parts certificate under § 19 (3) StVZO. If a certificate exists for the part, a workshop fits it according to its conditions, an inspector signs it off and the change is entered. This is the fast, cheap route. The certificate states exactly what is permitted, including tyre sizes.

Individual approval under § 21 StVZO. Without a certificate, an expert assesses the vehicle case by case. It takes longer, costs more and the outcome is open. For US vehicles it is not unusual.

How it goes in practice

1. Clarify before buying which route applies to your vehicle.
2. Fit the parts to the stated conditions.
3. Inspection, with certificate and fitting confirmation.
4. Entry at the registration office.

What we can and cannot claim

Whether a certificate exists for a given kit is stated on that product page. It does not apply across the board: Rough Country is a US manufacturer and not every part in the US range has German paperwork. So we do not claim it in general – we check it for your vehicle before you buy.

Who fits it

We run our own workshop in Lüneburg, Hamburger Str. 3, and work with partner workshops across Germany. Questions up front: +49 4131 242526 or the contact form.

This text explains the usual procedure and is not legal advice. The inspector who performs the approval is always the authority.