Freedom of form under § 167 BGB and when a notary is needed
Under German law, an authorization (§ 167 BGB) is basically free of form requirements, it can even be granted verbally. In practice, however, authorities, post offices and vehicle registration offices in Germany almost always require the written form, because it lets them verify the authorization and the principal's signature. Notarial certification or public authentication is mandatory only in a few cases, for example for real estate transactions, disclaiming an inheritance, transferring shares in a GmbH, or for a durable power of attorney meant to be recognized by banks and guardianship courts. For pickup, official errands, vehicle registration and travel authorizations, the simple written form is entirely sufficient.
Revocation and validity period under § 168 BGB
An authorization that has been granted can be revoked at any time, this is governed by § 168 BGB under German law. Revocation requires no particular form, an informal statement to the authorized person is enough, in practice you should have the original of the authorization returned to you at the same time. If you choose a limited validity, the authorization ends automatically on the stated date, without any additional revocation being necessary. For one-time occasions, the authorization expires by itself once the matter is settled.
Pickup authorization in practice: mail and packages
A pickup authorization allows another person to collect registered mail, packages or cash-on-delivery shipments on your behalf at a post office or parcel shop in Germany. It's important to describe precisely what may be picked up, and ideally to name the branch. The person picking up the item must present their own ID when showing the authorization, many branches also require a copy of your ID to compare it with the signature on the authorization.
Vehicle registration by authorization: documents you need
For registering, re-registering or deregistering a vehicle at the German vehicle registration office, a written authorization stating the license plate or VIN of the vehicle is sufficient. In addition, the authorized person usually needs: the owner's ID card or passport (copy), vehicle registration certificate parts I and II, the insurance's eVB number, and, for vehicles due for inspection, the current roadworthiness certificate. Some registration offices additionally require a SEPA direct debit mandate for the vehicle tax, it's worth checking this in advance on the website of the responsible authority.
Travel consent for minors: what matters
When a child travels without both parents, for example with a grandparent, other relatives or a group, airlines and border authorities often require written consent. The safest option is for both legal guardians to sign, together with copies of their ID documents. For trips outside their home country, it's also advisable to have an English version, since not every border authority accepts documents in the local language. For medical emergencies, the consent should explicitly authorize the accompanying person to take necessary immediate action.
Privacy: everything stays in your browser
The generator creates the authorization letter entirely locally in your browser using JavaScript. Names, dates of birth, addresses and ID numbers are never transmitted to or stored on a server. If you enable saving your data, it is stored only in your browser's local storage, and you can delete it at any time. The tool works without registration and without an account.
