Once you’ve set yourself to buying a new ride, it is time to think about your car insurance in Germany. That step is really important because you can’t even register your car without a valid policy number. There are a few things to consider and the rules might be different from what you know from back home. I recently bought my first car (a Peugeot 308 if you must know, go ze french! 🙂 ), so i thought i would share my experience here in the form of a mini-guide.

Table of contents
A little guide to your car insurance in Germany
You will find that German car insurance policies (also known as Kfz Versicherungen) are split between 3 types. Here is a quick overview:
What is covered | Haftpflicht | Teilkasko | Vollkasko |
---|---|---|---|
Damage made to other people and vehicles. | yes | yes | yes |
Theft or theft attempts | yes | yes | |
Fire, flood or other weather related damages. Collision with animals. | yes | yes | |
Broken glass | yes | yes | |
Damage made to your own vehicle in an accident. | yes | ||
Vandalism | yes | ||
Gross negligence | depends on contract | depends on contract |
Haftpflicht – Liability or third-party coverage
This type of car insurance is minimum legal requirement to be able to register your car. It covers all the damages you and your car might do to other people, other cars or things in case of an accident. It also covers their medical bills too for example. It does not cover damages made to your car if it was your responsibility.
Teilkasko – Partial coverage
This includes Haftpflicht & covers all sort of other random risks that life can sometimes throw at you such as damages from theft-attempts or theft attempts themselves, fire, glass damages, thunderstorms, things like that. Vandalism is not covered.
Vollkasko – Comprehensive coverage
This type of insurance has all the guarantees of the Teilkasko & Haftpflicht policies, and adds on top a coverage for all damages made on your own car or yourself in the case of an accident. Your insurance company gives money to the person’s car you wrecked AND it gives you money to fix/replace on your own car as well, even if the accident was your fault.
As you might suspect, since there are more liabilities, the policy will be more expensive. Some policies also cover permanent disability you might experience after a crash, or even the death of a passenger. If you buy a car with the help of a financing service from the dealership or from a bank, it might be required to sign-up for a Vollkasko to cover the risks.
In general, when you are looking for a car insurance in Germany for a newly-bought car, it is advised to go for a full coverage as you have put a lot of money to buy the car in the first place. You should try to protect its value. People who buy second-hand cars usually go with Teilkasko.

Other things to know before signing up for a policy
Factors impacting the costs
Now the criteria that will decide how much you will pay for your car insurance in Germany don’t differ much from what you might know:
- Driving experience / Age
- City vs country-side
- Previous insurance record
- Number of drivers
- Postal code: some areas are more vulnerable to crime/accidents/theft
- Value/model/size/power of the car: the bigger the car is, the more expensive it gets
- Driving distance: the more you drive in a year, the more it will cost you
Using your existing driving record to lower the costs
One of the first questions i had when looking for a car insurance in Germany was: “It is possible to transfer my good driving history to a german contract?“. I had been driving a few years prior without any accident, so it would have been a shame if i couldn’t enjoy a nice discount on the price i’d pay in Germany too. The answer is more often that not “Yes”. Simply ask your prospective insurance provider what documents they’d need to prove your good record. This helped me to access a cheaper car insurance in Germany, only available to experienced drivers. It can save you hundred of euros a year. This tip mostly works for providers from other EU countries. This may not be possible otherwise. Still worth a try.
The longer you drive without an accident, the higher the discount on your contract. Here is a table for guidance:
Driving experience without accidents | Corresponding Schadenfreiheitsklasse | Expected discount on contract |
---|---|---|
2 years | SF2 | 15% |
3 years | SF3 | 30% |
4 years | SF4 | 40% |
5 to 8 years | SF5 – SF8 | 45 – 50% |
9 to 15 years | SF9 – SF15 | 55 – 60% |
16 to 25 years | SF16 – SF25 | 65 – 70% |
26 years or more | SF26 and above | 75 – 80% |
Now that you know the basics, you can go ahead and book a contract with a German car insurance provider.
Practical steps to sign up for a German car insurance contract online:
In order to register your car, you need to obtain the eVB number (elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung – electronic insurance confirmation). You receive this number from your insurance provider after you have signed a contract with them.
How to compare offers
You can compare the most competitive offers on platforms like Preisvergleich.de or Verivox.de to get the cheapest rates available. Those platforms are in German though. If you want an English solution, you may jump to this paragraph.
On those platforms, you will be asked several details about your car, your driving profile and yourself. Here are some items you might need explanations for during that process:
- HSN & TSN Nummer: Those are a series of digits & letters unique to the car model. They are used to precisely identify the configuration of the vehicle. You can find these numbers on the last Zulassungsbescheinigung (national car license) of the car (precise location here), or in the sales contract.
- Erstzulassung: When was this car first registered.
- Saisonkennzeichen (usually, choose no): this is meant for people that only want to have a valid license plate for only part of the year like for a sea-side vehicle for example, resulting in a cheaper car insurance in Germany. Kennzeichen means licence plate
- Fahrzeugnutzung: state here if you plan to use it for private or professional reasons.
- Nächtlicher/Üblicher Stellplatz: state here where the car will usually be parked. A enclosed private garage will result in a cheaper rate.
- Teilnahme am Begleiteten Fahren: In some countries, you can learn to drive with accompanied practice, which usually leads to safer drivers. State here if you did do that.
- Fahrzeugkategorie – Kombi/Limousine/Cabrio: German names for station wagon/sedan/convertible.
- Punkte in Flensburg: the local equivalent of the point system managed by the Kraftfahrt Bundesamt, where you can lose points when driving recklessly on the road.
- Selbstbeteiligung: German name for the deductible, the small amount that comes out of your pocket when there is a claim. The higher the amount, the cheaper the rate will be.
(Let me know if there are other items you feel unsure about)
Fill in your information to receive offers via email. You can then accept the one you found best to receive your EVB.
How can I sign up for car insurance in Germany in English?
Scanning and comparing car insurance offers in Germany would be rather difficult in your mother tongue already. Reading fine prints in German is definitely not a pleasant experience. If a fast digital sign-up & English service is your priority, you can turn to providers like Getsafe. Getsafe’s policies have gained positive reviews from the specialized press, with lower prices and the following benefits:
- Everything is there, right from the app.
- You can cancel the contract daily, and definitely if you leave the country.
- You can cover up to 5 drivers with the same policy, without additional fees.
- Your premium stays the same after an accident (the policy price doesn’t increase), unless you have many accidents in a short period of time.
- Cancellation-transfer service: switch providers easily.
1 negative point however: you can only go to a selection of garages when fixing your car, in order to have the repairs covered.
The whole process thereafter can be very quick and it can take less than 24 hours to receive your eVB number by email.
With this in your hand, you can finally register your car (full guide on that here). A few weeks after that, you will be driving off in your brand new ride to the tune of James Brown’s own “Papa’s got a brand new bag“.

Car Insurance Germany – FAQ
I had an accident with my car , what now?
Here are some broad guidelines provided by ADAC:
- Remain calm and agree on the next steps to take with the other party.
- Secure your surroundings with the red triangle, and wear a yellow vest if necessary.
- Make pictures of the accident: overview of the accident, details of vehicles involved, details of damages.
- Draw a sketch of how the events unfolded.
- Pay attention to skid marks & fluid leaks.
- Take note of license plate numbers, name and address of other drivers, insurance companies.
- If witnesses are readily available, take their contact details too.
When should I call the police in case of traffic accident in Germany?
There is no legal requirement to call the police and smaller damages can be dealt with if both parties agree to do so on their own. If a misunderstanding occurs or if one party wishes to call the police, it’s a right to do so. You should call the police in case there are has been injuries on persons, or more serious (=costly) damages. It’s also probably a good idea if the other driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, if they become violent, of if they have tried to flea the scene.
If the other party is not present (car was parked and owner is still not on the scene), then you should also call the police.
I had an accident and I need to find out in which insurance company covers the other car? How can i do that?
You can reach the Zentralruf, a publicly recognized institution which offers a 24/7 hotline to address such cases. You only need a few details: license plate numbers, accident date, country where it took place. They speak English as well.
How can I cancel a car insurance contract in Germany?
As a rule, your contract is renewed every year for an additional year, on January 1st. Send a cancellation notice to your current provider before November 30th to avoid that. Note that you can end the contract immediately when you sell the insured vehicle, or when the premium increases, or after any damage claim.
Tip : Don’t forget that you can deduct some of the costs of your car insurance in Germany in taxes, when doing your tax return. Be sure to include it your Steuererklärung.
I hope this little guide helped you to get an overview. Feel free to ask questions in the comments.
Hi everyone,
I moved in Germany at the end of March and took my car from France. I now want to register and insure the car in Germany but Germans insurances ask for a proof of the end of my previous insurance to accept insuring the car. The problem is that my French insurance requests a proof that I subscribed a new insurance… Catch-22 situation, isn’t it? Does anyone know what to do in this particular case? My contract runs until October and in theory, as a newly German resident, I am only fully insured for up to 3 months by the French insurance when living abroad.
Hey Cedric. Typical situation yes. I don’t have a solution, only suggestions. Either you wait for your contract to run out or you go to another Germany company that don’t have this prerequisite. Good luck.
Hi Cedrid, Facing exactly the same issue currently. Have you found a solution?
Hi Bastien, I am working in Germany on a temporary contract. I have my UK car which is fully comp insurance in the UK. A young German driver hit me in the rear. He admits it was his fault. The police came, we swapped details. I called my insurance company and they said my insurance is only 3rd party cover in Europe. I’m still legal, it was his fault, I can claim against his insurance but my insurance company won’t do this for me (because I’m only 3rd party in Europe). Do you know how I claim against the Germans drivers insurance on my own please? Regards, Lin
Hey Lin. I can’t really help you. I guess it’s something you have to figure out on your own. It’s unclear to me what it’s still to resolve. Should not his insurance not contact you, if then not your insurance?
Hello
I’m living in thailand
I’m thinking about buying a car in Germany to use mostly in Denmark can I get a insurance
great article. thanks for all this info. i will buy a vehicle in germany this summer but will be driving all around europe. do you know if most Haftpflicht or Teilkasko policies will cover my vehicle for driving in other European countries, most spain and portugal… ??
Hey Dec. Depends on the contract. Make sure you have a clause to be covered outside Germany too.
Hey, thanks for the info – does this apply to motorcycles as well?
hello I am going to buy a car in Germany now on June and I’m going to export it from Germany.
so how much ore is it possible to insure the car for about 2 month and how much it costs.ore what is the cheapest way to go???
Hello Bastien,
I drove my car here when i moved from the UK and I would like to insure and drive it here. How do i go about this?
The online Portals have trouble dealing with a foreign registration number. Should i call them?
Cheers.
Josh
Hey Josh. If you are now a German resident, then you’d need to register the car here too, and then get a local license plate.
Hello,
I have a question about your tip : including the insurance for tax returns,
My Tax consultant tells me that the insurance I pay for the Car cannot be considered for tax returns.
Could you please help me on how to approach this situation ?
Hey Gautami. I would trust your Steuerberater in that case. I can#t possibly replace his advice.
Hi, do you know of any short term insurance companies in Germany? I’m looking to purchase a German vehicle and need to drive it to the UK, so just looking for around 7 days insurance to get it back here, as it will then be re-registered here and insured via a UK company.
Hey Roo. Nope, but you could probably search for “Kurzzeitkennzeichen Versicherung”. That’s your keyword.
Me too! @Roo, did you find any?
Hey, can I re-register my car into my wife’s name to get away from our insurance company that is charging us way too much?
Hey Tony. I don’t know. Sorry.
I am looking to buy a used car. But would like to know what car has the cheapest insurance. Would you be able to tell me?
Hey Fefe, excellent question. I don’t have good sources on this. All i could find is this.
Hi!
What if Im not german, live in a foreign country in EU and want to buy a german car and get an insurance from a german company even though I only plan on driving in my country?
I’m asking this because I’d save a ton of money by not getting a plate in my country.
Hey Johnny. I think you will find that you need to register your car wherever you are a resident, i don’t think your plan would work in my opinion.
Fair enough. Thanks for answering.
Hello!
I have a few questions regarding the car insurance. I bought a car a month ago, and I was waiting to receive the document (driving history) from my previous car insurance company (in Spain). I have just received it, and I was going to get insurance (I tried using verivox) but they don’t let me say I have a good driving history in a insurance company that is not German in the form (and it is very expensive otherwise as you can figure…). I am wondering which insurance companies are going to take my Spanish driving history (which is perfect), because I contacted a few via email but they just reply standard answers in German, and my German is not good enough to call yet. I would be very very grateful if you could help me out with this. It’s been a month already!
Kind regards
Hey Nuria. Unfortunately, i cannot help you with this. I never owned a car before living in Germany! It’s maybe best to have a German-speaking friend try for you?
Hi Nuria, I have a similar experience now. I am looking for insurance company now in Germany who will consider previous no-claims history from my home country. Have you found one? Thanks.
Hey Nuria, I am facing a similar situation at the moment. Did you find a solution? Which insurance company did you chose?
Hello,
does it exist any website where I can find name of insurance company by using plate number or VIN number? I had an accident and I need to find out in what insurance company the car of responsible driver is insured.
Thank you for reply in advance!
Jacob
Hey Jacob. I don’t know of such website in Germany. That might be against privacy laws. Is your car insurance not taking of this anyway?
This is not against privacy laws. Just go to the website of the German car insurers’ central inquiry office: https://www.zentralruf.de/en/ or call them
Hi,
I have a question on my car insurance renewal. Please assist me on this one. The story is that my car insurance expires on December 31st. I am out of Germany between December 25th till March 1st 2019, car will bot be used and will be parked in the private underground parking. Now my question is : is it important to renew the insurnace on january 1st or from March 1st to save me a couple of months of fees ?
Thanks,
Hey Domenico. I suppose only you can answer this question as you know what risks comes with parking this vehicle on this spot. I’m not sure what guidance you are looking for here… But yes, in theory, you could do that.
Hi, would it be acceptable if I provide insurance recored from outside Germany, like Dubai for example! Thanks
Hey Ajjan. You can try but it’s not always accepted or regarded as valid.
Hello Bastien, any suggestions on which insurance companies may recognize driving experience from the US? I have a letter but so far no one has accepted it…
Hey Antoine. I don’t know. Maybe to search which companies provide policies to US army personnel stationed in Germany?
Hi Antoine,
I’m looking for same answer. Did you found insurance who will accept overseas experience? Your answer would be very helpful for me.
Kind Regards,
Raja