Driving Insurance in Germany 2026
In Germany, what you call driving insurance is the motor policy called KFZ-Versicherung. Liability cover is mandatory, and if you drove insured in another EEA country you can usually transfer your no-claims record into a German policy and pay less.
Key Takeaways
- "Driving insurance" in Germany means KFZ-Versicherung. Third-party liability (Haftpflicht) is required by law.
- You need an eVB number (electronic insurance confirmation) before you can register a car at all.
- An EEA no-claims record transfers into a German policy under § 5c PflVG, with no surcharge for your nationality.
- Ask your old insurer for a Schadenverlaufsbescheinigung (EU-standard claims-history certificate) before you cancel.
- The standard cancellation deadline is 30 November; a premium rise opens a special right to cancel.
meinetarife24 Editorial Team
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"Driving Insurance" Decoded for Newcomers
There is no separate product called "driving insurance" in Germany. The phrase simply describes the car policy you compare and buy: KFZ-Versicherung. Once you know the German words, the comparison tools and quotes make a lot more sense.
The mandatory part
Third-party liability (Haftpflicht) is required by law for every vehicle on German roads. You cannot register or drive a car without it, and you prove it with an eVB number at the registration office.
The optional parts
Partial cover (Teilkasko) adds theft, glass, storm and animal damage. Full cover (Vollkasko) also covers your own fault and vandalism. You choose the level when you compare, with the deductible.
Quick English-German glossary
Transfer Your Foreign No-Claims Record
Your accident-free years abroad are worth real money here. The no-claims class (SF-Klasse) is one of the biggest levers on a German premium, so transferring a clean record can cut your first-year cost sharply.
From the EEA: a legal right
If your last policy was in the EEA (EU plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), § 5c PflVG requires a German insurer to recognise your claims-history certificate on the same basis as a domestic one. They cannot add a surcharge because of your nationality or former address inside the EEA.
- Same treatment as a German record
- No nationality-based surcharge
- EU-standard certificate format required
From outside the EEA: case by case
Records from outside the EEA are not covered by § 5c, so there is no automatic right. Some insurers still grant a goodwill classification (Sondereinstufung) if you can document your accident-free years, but practice varies and it is at the insurer's discretion.
- No automatic entitlement
- Ask before you sign; it differs by insurer
- Translated documentation helps your case
How to transfer your record, step by step
Ask your old insurer for the certificate
Request a Schadenverlaufsbescheinigung (claims-history certificate) in the EU Commission standard format, ideally when you cancel the foreign policy. EEA insurers are obliged to issue it.
Note when the old policy ended
German insurers usually want a fairly recent record; if your last cover ended within roughly the last six months, the transfer is straightforward. After that, ask how they treat the gap.
Enter your details and the SF years
When you compare, state your accident-free years and that you have an EEA certificate. The quote then reflects the higher no-claims class.
Send the certificate to the new insurer
After you choose a policy, upload or post the certificate so the insurer can confirm your SF-Klasse. Keep a copy for your records.
Tip: request the certificate before you leave your old country or close the account. It is far easier to get while you are still a customer than to chase it from Germany months later.
What Moves the Price of a German Policy
No-claims class (SF-Klasse)
More accident-free years means a deeper discount, often the single biggest factor.
Type class (Typklasse)
Each model carries a risk rating set by the GDV from its claims history.
Region (Regionalklasse)
Your registration postcode reflects local accident and theft statistics.
Annual mileage
The fewer kilometres you declare, the lower the assumed risk.
Cover level and deductible
Haftpflicht, Teilkasko or Vollkasko, plus the Selbstbeteiligung you accept.
Driver profile
Your age, licence age and any additional drivers all feed into the quote.
For a full breakdown of every factor, see our cost guide and the SF-Klasse explainer.
Compare Driving Insurance in Germany
Enter your car details, including your no-claims years, for quotes from German insurers side by side.
Driving Insurance Comparison
All cover types, free to use, eVB included
KFZ-Versicherungsvergleich wird geladen...
Data Source & Transparency
The tariff data on this page is provided by CHECK24 and Tarifcheck. We do not alter prices, rankings, or how results are displayed.
Our role:
We provide editorial explanations and decision-making guidance. The actual tariff calculation and mediation is done by our partners.
What we do not cover:
Not all providers in the market are included in this comparison. Regional providers or specialized tariffs may be missing.
Common Questions
What is "driving insurance" called in Germany?
In Germany "driving insurance" or "car insurance" is the motor vehicle policy known as KFZ-Versicherung. The mandatory part is third-party liability (Haftpflicht); partial cover (Teilkasko) and full cover (Vollkasko) are optional add-ons you can compare and choose.
Can I transfer my no-claims record from another country to Germany?
If your previous policy was in the EEA (the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), yes. Under § 5c of the German Pflichtversicherungsgesetz, a German insurer must recognise an EEA claims-history certificate (Schadenverlaufsbescheinigung) on the same basis as a domestic one, with no surcharge for your nationality. Records from outside the EEA are not covered by this rule, though some insurers grant a goodwill classification.
Do I need insurance before I can drive in Germany?
Yes. You must have at least third-party liability cover (Haftpflicht) before you drive, and you need an electronic insurance confirmation (eVB number) to register a vehicle at all. Driving without valid liability insurance is a criminal offence in Germany.
What document proves my foreign no-claims years?
You need a claims-history certificate (Schadenverlaufsbescheinigung) from your previous insurer, issued in the EU Commission standard format under Directive 2009/103/EC. It states how long you were insured and whether any liability claims were paid. Request it when you cancel the old policy; insurers in the EEA must provide it.
When is the deadline to switch driving insurance in Germany?
Most policies run for a calendar year and renew automatically. The standard cancellation deadline is 30 November for a change effective 1 January. A special right to cancel (Sonderkuendigungsrecht) also applies for about one month after a premium increase, even mid-year.
What affects how much I pay for driving insurance?
The main factors are your no-claims class (SF-Klasse), the car's type class (Typklasse), where you live (Regionalklasse via postcode), your annual mileage, where the car is parked, your age and any extra drivers. Transferring a clean foreign record can lift your SF-Klasse and lower the premium considerably.
Sources & Methodology
We explain German driving insurance in plain English for newcomers and cross-check every legal point against official sources. We do not quote guaranteed prices; the insurer always calculates the actual premium individually from your data.
- § 5c PflVG (Pflichtversicherungsgesetz, gesetze-im-internet.de): recognition of an EEA claims-history certificate.
- Directive 2009/103/EC: the EU-standard format for the claims-history certificate.
- ADAC: the no-claims (SF-Klasse) system, cancellation deadline and special right to cancel.
- GDV (Gesamtverband der Versicherer): the Typklasse and Regionalklasse rating system.
- Live tariff data from our partners CHECK24 and Tarifcheck. We do not influence prices or rankings.
Related Guides
Car Insurance Germany Hub
The full KFZ-Versicherung overview for newcomers.
SF-Klasse Explained
How the German no-claims system moves your price.
How to Compare & Switch
The factors to weigh and the cancellation deadline.
Coverage Types Explained
Haftpflicht, Teilkasko and Vollkasko in detail.
Quick eVB Number
Get the confirmation you need to register a car.
Liability Insurance Basics
The mandatory Haftpflicht cover, in plain English.
Bring Your Record, Then Compare
Add your no-claims years and compare German driving insurance side by side. Free and no obligation.
Compare Driving Insurance