Car Insurance in Germany 2026: The Complete Comparison Guide
Car insurance in Germany can cost anywhere from 200 to over 1,000 euros per year — for the same vehicle, depending on the insurer. In my own comparison for an Audi A3 (2003), prices ranged from 372 to 747 euros for the same coverage level. A quick comparison often saves hundreds of euros.
It pays to compare. Prices in Germany vary significantly between providers. You need your vehicle registration document, your driving licence and ideally your last insurance invoice. Check24 is a good starting point, but HUK24 and Allianz are not listed there — always compare them separately.
What's in this article
1. Documents you need
To compare car insurance policies in Germany, have these ready:
- Vehicle registration document (Fahrzeugschein / Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I): Provides vehicle type, model and year of first registration
- Driving licence (Führerschein): The comparison will ask for the date you first obtained your licence
- Last insurance invoice: Useful for entering your current premium and calculating potential savings
The more precise the information you enter, the more accurate the comparison result.
2. What influences the price
Start date
Setting the start date to 1 January gives you the most competitive prices. Most insurers lower their premiums during this period because competition is at its highest.
Annual mileage
Many insurers use mileage classes: 0–6,000 km, 6,001–9,000 km, 9,001–12,000 km and so on. If you are close to a limit, it may be worth adjusting your estimate slightly — but only if you actually drive that amount. You can always notify your insurer later if you drive more.
Driver group
The number of people authorised to drive the vehicle is one of the most important factors:
- Single driver: Cheapest option
- Policyholder and partner: More expensive, but often a discount for shared households
- Fixed driver group: All drivers named by name — more favourable than an open age group
- Age-linked driver group: One age range allowed to drive (e.g. 25–65 years)
- Free driver selection: Most expensive option
The younger the drivers on the policy, the higher the premium. Only add young drivers if necessary.
No-claims class (Schadenfreiheitsklasse)
The longer you have been driving without a claim, the higher your no-claims class (SF-Klasse) and the lower your premium. Starting drivers begin at SF 0. After each claim-free year, the class increases by one.
3. Third-party, partial or fully comprehensive?
| Type | What it covers | For which vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party (Haftpflicht) | Damage you cause to others | Older vehicles, low replacement value |
| Partial comprehensive (Teilkasko) | Theft, glass breakage, wildlife collisions, fire, storm | Vehicles at risk of theft, intermediate age |
| Fully comprehensive (Vollkasko) | Everything from partial, plus own-fault accidents and vandalism | New vehicles, leased or financed cars |
Third-party insurance is the legal minimum. If your vehicle is older and you could replace it out of your own pocket, third-party is often sufficient.
Additional options worth considering:
- Breakdown cover: From around 12 euros per year. ADAC is popular but many insurers offer similar coverage at lower cost.
- Driver protection (Fahrerschutz): Covers your own medical costs if you are at fault in an accident. Useful if you do not have private accident insurance.
- No-claims protection (Rabattschutz): Prevents downgrading after one claim at your current insurer. Note: this protection does not transfer if you switch insurers.
4. Step-by-step guide with Check24
- Go to Check24 and select car insurance
- Enter your vehicle data: type, model, year of first registration
- Enter risk data: mileage, driver group, no-claims class
- Enter your current insurer and premium to see exact savings
- Select your desired coverage type: third-party, partial or fully comprehensive
- Set your deductible (150 to 1,000 euros for partial and fully comprehensive)
- Review the results and filter by deductible, additional services and workshop commitment
- Select a suitable offer and complete the switch directly online
Check24 handles the entire switching process including cancellation of your existing policy.
5. Insurers not listed on Check24
Not all German car insurers are on comparison portals. Among the most relevant that you will need to check directly:
- HUK24 — consistently one of the most competitive rates in Germany. Available directly at huk24.de only.
- Allianz — no comparison portals, direct or through a broker only
- HUK Coburg — the parent company of HUK24, direct only
- R+V Versicherung — primarily through Volksbanken and direct sales
- Feuersozietät — Berlin-based insurer, not on portals
- VHV — direct insurer, not on Check24
- Volkswagen Insurance — for VW group vehicles
- Zurich — direct and broker only
For a complete market picture: run the portal comparison, then get a direct quote from HUK24. That covers the most relevant part of the market.
6. My personal comparison
I compared insurance for my Audi A3, built in 2003. Third-party only, cheapest tariff features, no additional coverage. I set the deductible to 150 euros for partial and 300 euros for fully comprehensive, just to get all three options in the results.
| Insurer | Third-party | Partial | Fully comprehensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| HUK24 | 372 € | 415 € | 501 € |
| Check24 cheapest | 447 € | 511 € | 501 € |
My winner this year was HUK24. But for a different vehicle profile, age or region, the result could look completely different. VHV was the most expensive option for me — it might offer you the best price.
The comparison takes 10 minutes. At these price differences, it is worth doing every year.
Frequently asked questions
When is the deadline to switch car insurance in Germany?
The cancellation deadline is 30 November for contracts that run to 31 December. Your new policy starts 1 January. If you miss this date, you are locked in for another year — unless you have a special right to cancel (e.g. after a premium increase or an accident).
Can I switch mid-year?
Only if you have a special right to cancel: after a premium increase, after a claim, or when you sell your vehicle. Otherwise you wait until November.
What is an eVB number?
The eVB number (elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung) is an electronic confirmation of your insurance. You need it when registering a vehicle at the registration office. You receive it immediately after signing a new insurance contract.
Does my German no-claims class count if I switch?
Yes. Your SF-Klasse moves with you, and the transfer runs automatically. During the application you only enter a few details about your old policy: the insurer, your policy number and the vehicle. Your new insurer then requests the no-claims record directly from the previous one, so you do not have to send any documents yourself. The confirmation is issued as soon as the old contract ends.
Is car insurance in Germany expensive compared to other countries?
Compared to the UK or France, German car insurance premiums are often lower for equivalent coverage. The mandatory third-party coverage has a legal minimum (7.5 million euros for personal injury) that is higher than in many other countries.
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