Germany

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Trade Registration Required

Yes

Yes — Every commercial mover must complete a Gewerbeanmeldung (trade registration) with the local trade office (Gewerbeamt), regardless of vehicle size. Fees are modest (typically €10–60) and vary by municipality.

Goods-Transport Licence Required

Yes

Yes — Commercial goods transport — moving included — requires a Güterkraftverkehrserlaubnis (domestic-only) or a Gemeinschaftslizenz (EU Community Licence, covering Germany, the EU/EEA, and Switzerland); the EU Community Licence is generally the right choice for a full-service mover, since it also covers cross-border work.

Three Qualifying Conditions

Required for the licence — Good repute (Zuverlässigkeit), financial standing (finanzielle Leistungsfähigkeit), and professional competence (fachliche Eignung), matching the EU Regulation 1071/2009 framework used across the EU/EEA.

Financial Standing Threshold

Yes

Yes — Equity and reserves of at least €9,000 for the first qualifying vehicle, plus €5,000 for each additional vehicle, maintained and evidenced on an ongoing basis (not just at application).

Professional Competence Exam

Yes, via the IHK — Demonstrated through a Fachkundeprüfung (professional competence exam) before the locally competent Chamber of Industry and Commerce, held by the business owner or an appointed Verkehrsleiter (transport manager). The exam covers commercial/financial management, market access rules, technical standards, and road safety, in two written sections plus an oral component. Equivalent qualifications or verified prior senior experience in the industry can substitute for the exam in some cases.

Licence Duration

Up to 10 years — Issued by the transport authority covering the company’s registered office (Betriebssitz).

Moving-Specific Liability Framework

Yes

Yes — §§ 451–451h of the Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB) govern the “Umzugsvertrag” (moving contract) specifically, rather than leaving movers to general consumer protection law alone. This includes a liability cap of €620 per cubic metre of load space required for the move (§ 451e HGB), specific grounds where that cap doesn’t apply (§ 451g HGB), and a limitation period of generally 1 year (up to 3 years in certain cases, § 439 HGB).

Industry Association

AMÖ (Bundesverband Möbelspedition und Logistik e.V.) — Germany’s national umbrella association for the moving and logistics industry, with 18 regional member associations and roughly 1,100 member companies. AMÖ publishes standard contract and liability-disclosure templates that are widely used even by non-member movers.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Germany does not license movers state-by-state — the underlying legal framework is uniform nationally (and largely EU-wide), though administration is regional. Any commercial mover needs a basic trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) and a goods-transport licence from the transport authority covering its registered office, which in turn requires proving good repute, financial standing, and professional competence — the same three-part test used across the EU under Regulation 1071/2009. Separately, and distinctively, Germany has a dedicated statutory framework for moving contracts specifically: §§ 451 through 451h HGB, which set out the mover’s liability, exclusions, and limitation periods in primary legislation rather than leaving this to general consumer protection law. AMÖ, the national industry association, plays a significant role in standardizing contract and liability-disclosure language across the industry, including for companies that aren’t members.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers must:

1. Complete a Gewerbeanmeldung with the local Gewerbeamt before starting operations.
2. Apply for a Güterkraftverkehrserlaubnis or Gemeinschaftslizenz through the transport authority (Verkehrsbehörde) covering the company’s registered office; the EU Community Licence is generally recommended over the domestic-only permit since it also covers EU/EEA and Swiss transport.
3. Demonstrate good repute, financial standing, and professional competence as part of the application — financial standing requires equity and reserves of at least €9,000 for the first qualifying vehicle plus €5,000 for each additional one.
4. Pass the IHK Fachkundeprüfung (or provide an equivalent qualification or verified senior industry experience) for the owner or an appointed Verkehrsleiter, at the IHK covering the applicant’s place of residence.
5. Maintain financial standing on an ongoing basis, retaining annual financial statements at the registered office for inspection.
6. Understand and apply the § 451 HGB moving-contract framework in contracts and liability disclosures, including the €620-per-cubic-metre liability cap and its exceptions.
7. Consider AMÖ membership or adoption of its standard contract templates, since these are widely recognized industry-standard liability disclosures even for non-members.
8. Retain trade registration, transport licence, financial records, and contract/liability documentation as required for renewal and regulatory review.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

• Gewerbeanmeldung completedRequired
• Goods-transport licence held (Güterkraftverkehrserlaubnis or Gemeinschaftslizenz)Required
• Good repute, financial standing, and professional competence demonstratedRequired
• Financial standing threshold met and maintained (€9,000 + €5,000/additional vehicle)Required
• Fachkundeprüfung passed (or equivalent) for owner/VerkehrsleiterRequired
• § 451 HGB liability disclosures included in moving contractsRequired
• AMÖ membership or standard contract templates consideredRecommended
• Trade registration, licence, financial, and contract records retainedRequired