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Car Insurance in Germany 2026: Compare with an English Guide
Compare car insurance in Germany with an English guide: the calculator itself is in German, our explanations are not. Whether you call it motor insurance, auto insurance, or KFZ-Versicherung, it is mandatory for every car here. Compare Haftpflicht, Teilkasko, and Vollkasko rates and find the right policy.
Key Takeaways
Last updated: September 17, 2026- Liability insurance (Haftpflicht) is required by law for every registered car in Germany. You cannot register without it.
- Switching insurers saves up to 50% for the same coverage, according to Finanztip. The regular deadline is November 30.
- According to the Verivox Kfz-Versicherungsindex (October 2025), new contracts in the cheapest price segment are rising about 5% for liability, 6% for Teilkasko, and 8% for Vollkasko.
- Any nationality can get insured. Your insurer sends the EVB number for car registration shortly after your application, by email, SMS, or post.
Compare Car Insurance in Germany
Enter a few details below. The comparison is free and shows you offers from partner insurers. Need financing for your car purchase? We can help with that too.
The 3 Types of Car Insurance in Germany
Every car in Germany needs at least third-party liability (Haftpflicht). Teilkasko adds partial coverage, Vollkasko gives you fully comprehensive insurance. Here is how they compare.
Haftpflicht
Liability - MANDATORY
Covers damage you cause to other people, vehicles, and property. Required by law for every registered car.
- Third-party damage covered
- Personal injury to others
- Required for EVB number
Teilkasko
Partial Coverage - Optional
Adds protection for your own car against theft, fire, weather, glass damage, and animal collisions.
- Theft and break-in
- Storm, hail, flooding
- Often a better fit for older or mid-value cars
Vollkasko
Comprehensive - Optional
Everything from Teilkasko plus self-caused accidents, vandalism, and hit-and-run damage.
- All Teilkasko benefits included
- Self-caused accident damage
- Best for new or leased cars
What Does Car Insurance Cost in Germany in 2026?
Market averages from the insurers' association GDV, as cited by Finanztip: about 256 EUR a year for third-party liability (Haftpflicht) alone, about 340 EUR for liability plus partial coverage (Teilkasko), and about 590 EUR for liability plus comprehensive cover (Vollkasko). These are averages, not quotes. Your own price depends on your SF class, the car model's Typklasse, where you park it, and your annual mileage.
| Coverage level | Average per year (GDV) | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Haftpflicht (liability) | about 256 EUR (liability only, GDV average) | Everyone (required by law) |
| Teilkasko (partial) | about 340 EUR (with liability, GDV average) | Cars older than five years or worth under about 8,000 EUR (Finanztip rule of thumb) |
| Vollkasko (comprehensive) | about 590 EUR (with liability, GDV average) | New, financed, or leased cars |
Same car, double the price
The spread between insurers is bigger than most people expect. In Finanztip's Kfz-Versicherungstest 2025, quotes for a VW Golf with Teilkasko in Göttingen ranged from 250 EUR at HUK24 to 500 EUR at Alte Leipziger, with the cheapest offer on the comparison portals around 275 EUR: same car, same cover, twice the price. For a Skoda Enyaq with Vollkasko in Munich, Check24 and Inshared quoted 536 EUR, HUK24 617 EUR, and Verivox and EuropaGo 642 EUR. That gap is exactly why comparing beats renewing.
Car Insurance for Foreigners and Expats in Germany
Good news: your nationality does not matter. Anyone registering a car in Germany can get insured. The tricky part is the SF class (Schadenfreiheitsklasse), Germany's no-claims bonus system. The GDV model conditions (AKB 2015, version of 30 April 2025) set the starting point most insurers use: a contract without a transferred claims history starts in SF 0 (section I.2.1); a car contract starts in SF 1/2 instead if you have held a car or motorcycle licence for at least three years and that licence was issued by an EEA state or is treated as equivalent because German rules let you exchange it without a further test (sections I.2.2.1 and I.2.5). Each claim-free calendar year then moves you up one class.
No German No-Claims History?
- Switching insurers: the AKB let a claims history be taken over when you come from another insurer (section I.6.1.4).
- Gaps in cover: up to six months, the history counts as uninterrupted; six to twelve months, it counts as it stood before the gap; beyond that, each further started calendar year costs one claim-free year, and after more than seven years it is not taken over (section I.6.3.1).
- History from a non-German insurer: the AKB do not spell this case out, so each insurer decides how it credits it. Ask for your previous insurer's confirmation of claim-free years and get the credit confirmed in writing before you cancel.
Documents You Need
- ID or passport
- Fahrzeugschein (vehicle registration)
- A SEPA bank account (IBAN) for the direct debit
- Driving licence (EU licences stay valid, non-EU licences run out after six months: see our foreign licence guide)
Not every German insurer offers English support, so ask before you sign if English service matters to you. The comparison form above comes from our partner Tarifcheck and is in German; this guide explains the steps in English. Which portals offer English at all is covered in our comparison portals guide. If you want your SF class transferred, get the acceptance confirmed in writing before you cancel any policy back home.
Looking to get a loan without German credit history? Or need a free credit card for everyday payments? We have comparison tools for those too.
New to Germany? Health insurance in English is another essential step when you first arrive. Driving an EV? Check our electric car insurance guide for battery coverage, special rates, and what makes insuring an EV different.
What Affects Your Car Insurance Price
SF Class
Most important factor. Claim-free years lower your rate.
Where You Live
Rural areas are cheaper. Cities have more accidents and theft.
Car Type
Each model has a Typklasse. See the 2026 type class changes.
Annual Mileage
Fewer km per year = lower risk = lower premium.
Deductible
Higher Selbstbeteiligung = lower premium. Common: 150-500 EUR.
Driver Circle
Restricting who drives the car lowers the price.
Garage Parking
Cars in a garage or carport get lower rates.
Payment Frequency
Monthly costs about 8% more than annual, per Finanztip. Quarterly and half-yearly cost less extra.
SF Class Discount Overview
| SF Class | Claim-Free Years | You Pay (% of Base) |
|---|---|---|
| SF 1 | 1 | ~58% |
| SF 3 | 3 | ~48% |
| SF 5 | 5 | ~44% |
| SF 10 | 10 | ~37% |
| SF 20 | 20 | ~29% |
| SF 35 | 35+ | ~20% |
The EVB Number: Your Insurance Proof
The EVB number (elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung) is a 7-character code that proves you have car insurance. Without it, the Zulassungsstelle will not register your car.
What Is It?
A digital insurance confirmation. Replaces the old paper cards. Sent by SMS, email, or post shortly after signup.
How to Get It?
Compare above, sign up for liability at minimum, get your EVB instantly.
How Long Valid?
Typically 3-6 months. If it expires before registration, request a new one for free.
Need your EVB number fast? Get your EVB number quickly.
Get Insured Today: Instant EVB Number
Need to register your car right away? Car insurance in Germany moves fast online. Compare offers above, pick a provider, and your insurer sends the EVB number shortly after your application, by email, SMS, or post. The EVB replaced the old paper insurance cards back in 2008, so the whole process runs through the GDV's digital system, no forms to mail.
The real bottleneck is rarely the insurance itself, it is getting a Zulassungsstelle appointment. In big cities like Berlin, Munich, or Hamburg, book your slot as early as you can. For a full walkthrough of what to bring and how long your EVB stays valid, see our quick EVB number guide.
How to Switch Your Car Insurance
Key deadline: November 30. Most car insurance contracts run January to December. Your cancellation must reach your current insurer by November 30 at the latest.
Compare by November
Use our comparison tool to find a better rate. Start in October or early November.
Cancel by Nov 30
Send written cancellation to your old insurer. Many new insurers handle this for you. Full walkthrough: how to cancel car insurance in Germany.
New Policy Starts Jan 1
Your new coverage starts January 1. The new insurer requests your no-claims history from the old insurer, but you need to state it in your application and check that it was applied.
Special cancellation rights: If your insurer raises your premium under an adjustment clause without extending your cover, § 40 VVG lets you cancel within one month of receiving the notice. After a claim, either side can cancel within one month once the claim negotiations are concluded (§ 92 VVG). If you sell your car, the policy passes to the buyer (§ 95 VVG), who can cancel within one month of the purchase (§ 96 VVG). For a detailed walkthrough, see our step-by-step switching guide.
8 Tips to Save on Car Insurance
Compare every year
Rates change annually. A 5-minute comparison can save you hundreds.
Transfer your bonus
Bring proof from abroad, or take over a family member's SF class.
Pay annually
Monthly installments cost about 8% extra, quarterly about 7%, half-yearly about 4% (Finanztip). Yearly is cheapest.
Higher deductible
Choosing 300-500 EUR deductible can lower your premium noticeably.
Restrict driver circle
Only register the people who actually drive the car.
Declare your garage
Garage or carport parking lowers your risk class and premium.
Accurate mileage
Report your real annual km. Under 10,000 km/year gets better rates.
Werkstattbindung
Agreeing to use insurer-approved workshops saves about 11% of the premium (Finanztip). Some insurers advertise 20%, but that only covers the Kasko share, for example HUK24.
Wondering which car models are the cheapest cars to insure in Germany? That guide ranks specific models by insurance cost. Car insurance is just one piece of the puzzle. Check out our complete insurance guide for Germany to see which other policies you actually need and which ones you can skip. Also compare life insurance for family protection.
Why Car Insurance Premiums Keep Rising
Car insurance in Germany keeps getting more expensive. According to the Verivox Kfz-Versicherungsindex (October 2025), new contracts in the cheapest price segment rose about 5% for Haftpflicht, 6% for Teilkasko, and 8% for Vollkasko.
Repair costs are the main driver. According to the German insurers' association GDV, workshop hourly rates have passed 200 EUR for the first time (about 202 EUR for mechanical work and 220 EUR for paint work). According to a separate GDV report, spare-part prices have climbed more than 80% since 2015, far outpacing general inflation.
For you, this means one thing: the gap between the cheapest and most expensive insurer for the same car and driver is often several hundred euros a year, so comparing pays off. Where you live matters too: see how car insurance costs by city vary across Germany in 2026.
Also Riding a Motorcycle?
The same three coverage levels apply to motorcycles: Haftpflicht is mandatory, Teilkasko and Vollkasko are optional. If you only ride from spring to fall, a seasonal registration (Saisonkennzeichen) means you only pay for the months you actually ride. Compare motorcycle-specific rates on our motorcycle insurance comparison.
Car Insurance Germany: Common Questions
Compare car insurance and save
Prices went up in 2025. If you have not compared recently, you might be paying more than you need to. Our comparison is free and shows you offers from partner insurers in Germany. The form is in German; this guide explains it in English.