The Three Coverage Types: Haftpflicht, Teilkasko, Vollkasko
When someone in Germany talks about car insurance, they usually mean a combination of up to three parts. One is compulsory, two are optional. You choose how much protection you want, and that choice is what drives the price difference.
- Haftpflicht (liability, mandatory): Pays for damage you cause to other people: personal injury, vehicle repairs, property and financial losses. Without it you cannot register your car.
- Teilkasko (partial coverage, optional): Covers your own vehicle against theft, glass breakage, wildlife collisions, fire, storms and hail. Self-caused accidents are not covered.
- Vollkasko (comprehensive, optional): Includes everything in Teilkasko and adds self-caused accidents and vandalism.
Teilkasko and Vollkasko build on each other. Each level covers more but also costs more. Which one fits your situation depends mainly on the age and value of your car.
| Coverage level |
|---|
| Haftpflicht |
| Teilkasko |
| Vollkasko |
Liability: what the law requires and what it pays
Haftpflicht is the core. It is required by law (§ 1 PflVG) because it protects other people, not you. When you cause an accident, your insurer pays the other party for medical costs, vehicle repairs and any consequential financial losses. That is why you cannot register your car without it.
The coverage limit matters. The statutory minimum for personal injury is 7.5 million euros per claim (§ 4 PflVG, Anlage). That sounds like a lot, but a serious accident with permanent injuries can exceed it. Many insurers therefore offer 100 million euros as their standard market figure, often at no meaningful extra cost. If you have the choice, take the higher amount.
What determines your premium
Two people can pay very different amounts for the same car model. Insurers assess your personal risk using several factors. The most powerful one takes time to build, but once you have it, it is worth a lot.
| Factor | Influence |
|---|---|
| SF-Klasse (no-claims) | Very high |
| Regionalklasse (postcode) | High |
| Driver age | High |
| Typklasse (vehicle model) | Medium |
| Mileage, parking, deductible | Medium |
For rough orientation: the GDV published average premiums of around 256 euros per year for liability (2023), about 321 euros for comprehensive (2022) and roughly 82 euros for partial coverage (2023). Your own figure can be substantially higher or lower. For a full breakdown of what affects the number and how to lower it, see our dedicated guide on car insurance premiums 2026.
New in Germany? Three things most guides miss
If you just arrived, there are three points that standard German guides often skip, but which can save you real money and time.
1. Your foreign SF-Klasse
If you are moving from an EU or EEA country, your German insurer must recognise your claim-free years when you provide a written confirmation in the EU standard format (§ 5c PflVG together with EU Directive 2021/2118). This can lower your premium noticeably. From countries like Turkey, the US or the UK there is no legal obligation to recognise it. Some insurers still credit the years partly or fully. Ask directly before signing, and get a written confirmation from your old insurer in English or German.
2. The eVB number for registration
The eVB number (elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung) is a seven-character code confirming you have valid liability cover. The Zulassungsstelle will not register your car without it. Online insurers usually send it by email within minutes after you accept the policy. Get your eVB number quickly.
3. Insurance comes before registration
The order is fixed: you choose your insurer first, receive the eVB code, and then book your Zulassungsstelle appointment. Plan the insurance step before your registration date, not on the same day.
Tip: running a comparison shows you which tariffs accept international addresses and non-EU licences upfront. Some insurers do not cover first-time international residents at all; a comparison tool filters those out so you do not waste time on quotes that fall through.
Compare tariffs directly
Once you understand the three coverage types, a free comparison shows you in roughly two minutes what a tariff costs for your specific car. Enter your vehicle, SF-Klasse and postcode to get started.
Disclosure: The comparison is provided by our partner Tarifcheck (cpref 197902). If you sign up through it, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The offers shown are not affected.
Cancellation and switching: the deadlines
You are not locked in to your current tariff. The regular cancellation deadline is one month before the end of the insurance year (§ 11 VVG). Because most contracts run from 1 January to 31 December, the key date is usually 30 November.
When you can also cancel outside the regular window
- After a premium increase: within one month of receiving the notification (§ 40 VVG).
- After a claim: both you and the insurer may cancel (§ 92 VVG).
- When you sell your vehicle: the contract initially passes to the buyer; notify your insurer of the sale.
For a step-by-step walkthrough of how to switch, see our guide on changing car insurance in Germany. The key rule: make sure your new policy starts before the old one ends so you are never uninsured.
How to save: where it actually makes a difference
Saving on car insurance rarely means tricks. It means knowing which levers to pull. Stiftung Warentest finds a regular comparison often saves several hundred euros a year. A garage restriction (Werkstattbindung) reduces the premium by about 11 percent on average (Finanztip), but you give up the freedom to choose your own repair shop. A higher deductible and an accurate annual mileage figure also help.
For a complete breakdown of every saving lever, see our guide Car Insurance Benefits: 6 Money-Saving Tips. We go through each one individually there.