Vehicle Owner

The three roles rarely coincide. The owner is the party that legally owns the vehicle, which is the leasing company in a lease. The vehicle owner (Halter) uses it and decides how it is used, which is the company. The driver is the person behind the wheel.

Each role comes with its own duties. The driver is liable for their conduct on the road; the vehicle owner (Halter) is responsible for the vehicle’s condition and use.

Not solely from the registration certificate, although its entry is an indication. The actual circumstances matter: who bears the ongoing costs, and who decides how and when the vehicle is used? A company therefore remains the vehicle owner (Halter) even when a vehicle is assigned permanently to an employee.

The company, represented by management, bears the vehicle owner’s duties. These include checking driving licenses, ensuring vehicle roadworthiness, and instructing drivers. Companies that consolidate these tasks with the fleet manager should document the Delegation of Vehicle Owner Duties in writing. In practice, vehicle owner status becomes particularly relevant when vehicles outside the normal fleet are also used: rental cars, vehicles belonging to subsidiaries, or privately owned vehicles used for business.