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Motorcycle Insurance in Germany 2026: Liability, Kasko and Seasonal Plates

Every registered motorcycle in Germany needs liability cover (Haftpflicht). This guide shows you which policy fits your riding style, how to lower the premium and what to bring to the Zulassungsstelle.

Liability + Kasko options Seasonal plate explained Made for newcomers in Germany

Key Takeaways

  • Liability cover (Haftpflicht) is required by law for every registered motorcycle in Germany (§1 PflVG).
  • Older bikes usually pair well with Teilkasko; new or financed bikes are better off with Vollkasko.
  • A Saisonkennzeichen (2 to 11 months) means you only pay for the months you ride.
  • Before registration you need an eVB number from your insurer.
Author: meinetarife24 Editorial TeamLast updated: 22 May 2026

Do I need motorcycle insurance in Germany?

Yes. As soon as your motorcycle gets a plate, you need liability cover (Haftpflicht). This is set out in §1 Pflichtversicherungsgesetz (PflVG). Without it no Zulassungsstelle (registration office) will issue a plate, because you cannot obtain an eVB number.

Liability covers the damage you cause to others. Damage to your own bike is only paid out if you also hold Kasko cover. That is why riders of new or higher-value motorcycles usually combine mandatory liability with Teilkasko or Vollkasko.

Which policy is right depends on the bike\'s value, annual mileage, where it is parked and your personal risk appetite. The sections below explain the differences in plain English, without insurance jargon.

Haftpflicht, Teilkasko and Vollkasko at a glance

Three cover types, three protection levels. This overview helps you decide which combination fits your bike.

Haftpflicht (Liability)

Mandatory by §1 Pflichtversicherungsgesetz (PflVG).

What it covers

Bodily injury, property damage and financial loss you cause to third parties while riding.

Minimum cover / Deductible

Minimum legal cover: EUR 7.5 million for bodily injury, EUR 1.3 million for property damage, EUR 50,000 for pure financial loss (PflVG Anlage zu §4 Abs. 2).

Who it suits

Required for every registered motorcycle in Germany. Without liability cover, no eVB number.

Teilkasko (Partial)

Optional, governed by contract.

What it covers

Theft, fire, storms above Beaufort 8, hail, collision with game animals, glass damage and marten bite.

Minimum cover / Deductible

Deductible freely chosen, often EUR 150 or 300.

Who it suits

Recommended for motorcycles with a market value above roughly EUR 2,000 and in regions with higher theft rates.

Vollkasko (Full)

Optional, includes Teilkasko.

What it covers

Everything in Teilkasko plus self-caused accidents, vandalism and damage by unidentified third parties.

Minimum cover / Deductible

Deductible typically between EUR 300 and EUR 1,000.

Who it suits

Advisable in the early years of ownership and for financed or new motorcycles.

Saisonkennzeichen: Pay only for the months you ride

If you only ride in the warmer months, a seasonal plate (Saisonkennzeichen) cuts both insurance and motor tax. §10 Abs. 3 FZV sets the operating period at 2 to 11 months. You pay only for that window.

When does a seasonal plate make sense?

  • • Annual mileage below 3,000 km
  • • Indoor parking on private property in winter
  • • A clearly defined riding season (for example, April to October)

What to keep in mind

  • • Outside the season the bike must not stand on public roads.
  • • On private property you are usually covered free of charge (Ruheversicherung).
  • • A test ride or workshop trip outside the season is not allowed.

No-claims discount (SF-Klasse) on a motorcycle

The Schadenfreiheitsklasse (SF-Klasse) is a discount ladder. Each claim-free year moves you one step higher and lowers your premium. A reported claim moves you back down. Motorcycles use their own SF-Klasse track, separate from the one for your car.

Insurer change: Your SF-Klasse transfers when you switch insurers. The new insurer pulls the data directly from your previous provider.

Foreign cover: Years of claim-free riding from non-EU countries are not automatically recognised. Some German insurers credit part of the history; others start you at a fixed entry class.

Family transfer: Parents may pass on their SF-Klasse within the family (for example, to a child or spouse). Specific conditions vary by insurer.

New to Germany? Here is your 5-step path

  1. Check your licence. EU and EEA licences are usually valid in Germany without exchange. Licences from third countries normally need to be converted (Umschreibung) within six months.
  2. Register at the Bürgeramt. Without a German address you cannot get an eVB number, and therefore no plate.
  3. Compare insurers. Compare at least liability and Teilkasko. If your German is still limited, choose providers that offer English-speaking service.
  4. Request your eVB number. Your insurer sends the seven-character code, usually by email.
  5. Apply for registration. Bring the eVB, your passport or residence permit, the Fahrzeugbrief and the Fahrzeugschein to the Zulassungsstelle.

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Useful German terms around motorcycle insurance

These words appear on contracts, forms and at the Zulassungsstelle. A short translation saves time later.

Motorradversicherung

Umbrella term: liability, partial cover and full cover for your motorcycle.

Haftpflicht (mandatory)

Pays for damage you cause to others while riding. Without it, no registration.

Teilkasko

Protects your bike against theft, fire, storm, hail, wild-animal collision and glass damage.

Vollkasko

Teilkasko plus self-inflicted crashes and vandalism.

Schadenfreiheitsklasse (SF)

No-claims discount class. Each claim-free year lowers your premium.

Saisonkennzeichen

Seasonal registration for 2 to 11 months a year. Cheaper for fair-weather riders.

Regionalklasse

Regional statistics for your registration district. Affects your premium.

eVB-Nummer

Seven-character insurance confirmation from your insurer. Required at the Zulassungsstelle.

Four practical ways to lower the premium

Choose a higher deductible

A Teilkasko deductible from EUR 300 noticeably reduces the premium.

Consider a Saisonkennzeichen

If you only ride half the year, the seasonal plate often pays off.

Compare every year

About two months before renewal is a good time for a fresh comparison.

Mention your garage

A garage or underground parking lowers Kasko premiums.

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Related topics

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Frequently asked questions: motorcycle insurance

Short answers to the most common questions on liability, cost, seasonal plates and no-claims discount.

Yes. Under §1 Pflichtversicherungsgesetz (PflVG), every motorcycle registered in Germany must hold liability cover (Haftpflicht). Without it your insurer cannot issue an eVB number, and the Zulassungsstelle cannot register your bike. Teilkasko and Vollkasko remain optional.

The annex to §4 Abs. 2 PflVG sets minimum cover at EUR 7.5 million for bodily injury, EUR 1.3 million for property damage and EUR 50,000 for pure financial loss. Most insurers offer higher limits by default without a noticeable premium difference.

The premium depends on engine size, annual mileage, registration district, no-claims class, rider age and the chosen cover level. A small naked bike with liability only can stay in the lower three-digit range per year; full cover for a powerful tourer sits well above that. A free comparison for your concrete profile shows the realistic range.

Yes, if you only ride in the warmer months. Under §10 Abs. 3 FZV (Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung), the operating period must be between 2 and 11 months. You pay premium, motor tax and insurance only for those months. During the off-season the bike is usually covered by free Ruheversicherung (resting cover), provided it stays on private property.

Motorcycles use their own SF-Klasse scale, separate from cars. Each claim-free year moves you up one step and reduces your premium. When switching insurers, your SF-Klasse transfers automatically. Foreign no-claims years are not always recognised; some insurers credit prior coverage in part.

The elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung (eVB) is a seven-character code your insurer issues. You need it at the Zulassungsstelle so your motorcycle can receive a plate. The eVB usually arrives digitally, often by email, as soon as the contract is in place.

Most motorcycle policies run for one year and then renew automatically; under §11 Abs. 1 VVG each automatic extension is limited to one year. The notice period is set in your contract, usually one month before the end of the insurance year (up to three months, §11 Abs. 3 VVG). If your insurer raises the premium under an adjustment clause without improving cover, or cuts cover without cutting the premium, you may cancel within one month (§40 VVG). After the insurer has settled or rejected a claim, both sides may cancel within one month of that decision (§92, §111 VVG). When the motorcycle changes owner, the policy passes to the buyer (§95 VVG); the buyer and the insurer may then cancel it (§96 VVG).

Liability is mandatory. For a used motorcycle on a tight budget, liability plus Teilkasko usually fits. New or financed bikes are typically better off with full Vollkasko. If your licence is from a non-EU country, ask your insurer whether your previous claim-free years can be recognised.

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