Type Classes 2026 in Germany
The GDV recalculated type classes for 2026. About 5.9 million cars now pay more in liability, 4.5 million pay less. Here is what changed and what you can do about it.
Key Takeaways
- The GDV re-rates about 33,000 car models every year. The 2026 type classes were published on 9 September 2025 and apply since 1 January 2026.
- 5.9 million cars moved up in liability, 4.5 million moved down. Around 75 percent stayed the same.
- You can look up your own type class for free at typklasse.de using your HSN and TSN.
- If your premium rises because of a higher type class, Section 40 VVG gives you one month to cancel.
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The type class is only one factor. How much you actually pay also depends on your insurer.
What Are Type Classes?
In short: the type class (German: Typklasse) tells you how expensive your car model is for insurers. The GDV looks at how often a model is involved in accidents and what repairs cost. The data comes from damage records over the last three years (2022 to 2024).
For your car insurance this means: the higher the type class, the more you pay. There are three separate ratings:
Type Class Changes 2026: Who Pays More, Who Pays Less
These numbers come directly from the GDV and ADAC. Plus means more expensive compared to 2025, minus means cheaper.
Models that got more expensive
| Model | HP class | HP +/- | TK +/- | VK +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renault Austral 1.3 | 21 | +3 | +2 | - |
| Ford Focus 1.0 | 16 | +2 | - | - |
| VW Touareg 3.0 TDI | 22 | +2 | +1 | - |
| Mercedes GLA 250 e | 17 | +2 | +1 | +1 |
| Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid 1.5 | 16 | +1 | +2 | +2 |
Models that got cheaper
| Model | HP class | HP +/- | TK +/- | VK +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renault Clio 1.3 | 18 | -2 | - | - |
| VW ID.4 Pure 125 | 14 | -2 | - | -1 |
| BMW iX1 xDrive 30 | 14 | -2 | - | -2 |
| Ford Focus ST 2.3 | 16 | -2 | - | -1 |
| Mercedes SLK 200 | 12 | -1 | -2 | -1 |
| Fiat 500 Abarth 1.4 | 11 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
Data sources: GDV press release (09.09.2025), ADAC, Allianz. HP = liability, TK = partial coverage, VK = comprehensive.
Type Classes of Popular Cars in Germany
Wondering where your car stands? Here are the 2026 type classes for models from the official change lists, sorted from cheap to expensive in liability.
| Model | Liability | Partial | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 Abarth 1.4 | 11 | 24 | 17 |
| Mercedes SLK 200 | 12 | 17 | 16 |
| VW ID.4 Pure 125 | 14 | 21 | 20 |
| BMW iX1 xDrive 30 | 14 | - | 21 |
| Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid 1.5 | 16 | 24 | 20 |
| Renault Clio 1.3 | 18 | 21 | 20 |
| Renault Austral 1.3 | 21 | 24 | 21 |
| VW Touareg 3.0 TDI | 22 | 27 | 26 |
Source: ADAC overview of the GDV type classes 2026. Values apply to the listed engine variant and may differ for other versions. For the exact type class, look up your HSN/TSN at typklasse.de.
How to Find Your Car's Type Class
You need two numbers from your vehicle registration document (German: Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I):
HSN (field 2.1)
The manufacturer code. Four digits that identify who made your car.
TSN (field 2.2)
The type code. Three characters that identify the exact model and engine variant.
With your HSN and TSN you can look up the type class for free at typklasse.de (GDV). The database covers about 33,000 models. The official 2026 figures are in the GDV press release.
Do not have your registration document handy? You can also search by make and model on Autoampel.de.
Electric Cars and Type Classes 2026
There is no simple answer to whether EVs are cheaper or more expensive to insure. It depends entirely on the model.
The VW ID.4 Pure dropped 2 liability classes (from 16 to 14). Good news for ID.4 owners. On the other hand, the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid went up 2 classes in both partial and comprehensive coverage.
Why the big differences? For electric cars, comprehensive repairs tend to be expensive because battery and electronics work costs a lot. If the battery gets damaged in an accident, the bill climbs fast. Models with a good claims record, like the ID.4, still earn low classes.
If you drive an EV or plan to buy one: check the type class first. Then definitely compare insurers, because the price differences for electric cars are particularly large. Some insurers have special tariffs for EVs.
Type Class vs Regional Class: How Both Affect Your Premium
Your insurance premium is made up of several building blocks. The type class is one, the regional class (German: Regionalklasse) is another. While the type class depends on your car model, the regional class depends on where you register your car.
In practice this means: if you drive a car with a high type class but live in a cheap region, the two can partly balance each other out. And the other way around. Someone in Berlin typically pays more than someone in rural Schleswig-Holstein, even if both drive the same car.
For a full breakdown of all the factors, see our guide to insurance classes in Germany.
What to Do If Your Type Class Went Up
Your type class increased and your premium is going up? Annoying, but not the end of the world. The type class is just one of many factors. Here are four things that actually help:
Compare Insurers
Not every insurer weights type classes the same way. A car insurance comparison shows you in two minutes who is cheap despite a high type class.
Use Your No-Claims Bonus
Driven for years without an accident? Your no-claims class (German: Schadenfreiheitsklasse) can partly offset a higher type class. Often it has a bigger impact on your premium than the type class itself.
Raise Your Deductible
Choosing a higher deductible in partial or comprehensive coverage noticeably lowers the annual premium. Before you raise it, make sure you could comfortably pay smaller repairs out of pocket.
Use Your Cancellation Right
If your premium goes up because of a new type class, German law (Section 40 VVG) gives you a special cancellation right. You have one month after receiving the new premium notice to switch. For most contracts, the regular deadline is 30 November.
Check the type class before buying a car
The type class makes a real difference when buying a car. Finanztip compared the cheapest suitable policies for two five-year-old cars with identical driver details: around 490 euros per year for a Fiat 500 versus about 1,616 euros for an Audi Q7 (source: Finanztip, September 2025).
Tip: look up the type class at typklasse.de before you buy. You just need the HSN (field 2.1) and TSN (field 2.2) from the vehicle documents.
Frequently Asked Questions About Type Classes
Everything you need to know about car insurance type classes in Germany
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