Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt Launches Mileage Survey 2026

Around 200,000 car and motorcycle owners in Germany will receive mail from the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) in the coming days. The authority is conducting the 2026 mileage survey to collect reliable data for transport policy questions. This information is crucial for the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) to make targeted investments in traffic infrastructure. The mileage survey will be conducted in six consecutive waves of questioning until 2027. Vehicle owners will be randomly selected from the Central Vehicle Register and asked to report the odometer reading of their vehicles at two different points in time.

These details are necessary to determine the annual mileage in kilometers. The KBA emphasizes that participation in the survey is voluntary. Owners are not legally obligated to report their odometer readings, but they can do so both by mail and online. The average response time is about five minutes. Another aspect of the survey is the collection of the purpose of vehicle use.

This information aims to help create a more comprehensive picture of mobility in Germany. The last mileage survey took place in 2014, highlighting the need for current data. Regarding data protection, the KBA states that all collected information will be fully anonymized after the survey phase is completed. The personal connection to the used register data and the survey data will be removed, making it impossible to identify the owners. In addition to the mileage survey, a traffic count will be conducted.

This will be done using sensor-based cameras that automatically count both domestic and foreign vehicles. The combination of these two methods allows for conclusions to be drawn about the totality of all relevant motor vehicles and their journeys. The evaluation and extrapolation of the results of the mileage survey are expected to be completed by mid-2028. The publication of the results is anticipated for the end of 2028. This data will serve as an important basis for future transport policy decisions.

The KBA has already announced that the first letters to vehicle owners will be sent out in the coming days. The authority hopes to obtain more precise data through the survey to better understand and manage mobility in Germany. The 2026 mileage survey is part of a comprehensive modular system of mobility surveys conducted by the BMV and its subordinate authorities. These surveys are essential for sustainably planning and improving traffic infrastructure in Germany. The first letters are expected to be sent out starting in July 2026, and vehicle owners will have until the end of 2027 to submit their data.