Buying car insurance online in Germany 2026

Independent guideUpdated: 14 July 2026checkeverything.de Redaktion

Buy Car Insurance Online in Germany 2026

You can buy car insurance in Germany entirely online, in about 10 to 15 minutes. Once your application is accepted, the insurer emails you an eVB number, the electronic proof of cover the registration office (Zulassungsstelle) checks under § 49 FZV before it issues plates. With that number you can register the car and drive the same day. Only third-party liability (Kfz-Haftpflicht) is required by law (§ 1 PflVG); Teilkasko and Vollkasko are optional and best chosen by the value of your car.

The most important facts at a glance

•Speed: the online application takes roughly 10–15 minutes; the eVB number follows within minutes
•eVB number: a seven-character code (letters and digits) the Zulassungsstelle verifies before registration (§ 49 FZV)
•Mandatory cover: only Kfz-Haftpflicht (§ 1 PflVG), with statutory minimums of €7.5m for personal injury and €1.3m for property damage
•Same price as offline: speed comes from automated underwriting, not a surcharge
•14-day withdrawal: § 8 VVG lets you withdraw within 14 days of receiving the policy documents

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From application to driving: how the timeline works

Most people who search for instant car insurance have just bought a car and want it on the road this week, not next month. Here is where the speed actually sits, and where a short wait can still occur.

Step	Typical time	What happens
Compare and choose a tariff online	10–15 min	Enter vehicle and personal data, pick liability, Teilkasko or Vollkasko
Application accepted, eVB issued	A few minutes	Seven-character confirmation of cover sent by email
Register at the Zulassungsstelle	Same day	Present the eVB number with your other documents
Cover starts and you can drive	On your chosen start date	Usually the registration date you selected

Where a wait can still happen

The eVB number sometimes takes a short while to appear in the central database the registration office checks. Imported cars, unusual no-claims histories or missing documents can also slow an insurer's decision. The simple fix is to arrange cover a day or two before your registration appointment rather than on the morning itself. For the document side of this, see our dedicated guide to the eVB number and how to get it.

What you need before you start

Almost every stalled application comes down to a missing number. Five minutes of preparation saves you from hunting through paperwork mid-form.

Vehicle data

VIN, make, model and date of first registration. All of it is on the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (or Teil II for an unregistered car).

Your driving licence

Issue date and country. A foreign licence works for the application; the licence rules below explain how long it stays valid for driving.

No-claims proof (if you have one)

Your current SF class, or a written confirmation from a previous insurer at home or abroad.

German bank account

Insurers collect by SEPA direct debit. An IBAN from any EU bank is normally accepted.

Personal details

Address in Germany, date of birth, and the annual mileage you expect. An estimate is fine; you can correct it later.

What to insure when you do it quickly

Buying fast does not mean skipping the decision about cover. The choice between the three German cover levels comes down to the value of the car, and you make it inside the same online flow that produces your eVB number.

Liability (Kfz-Haftpflicht) – required by law

Who needs it: every registered vehicle (§ 1 PflVG)
Statutory minimum: €7.5m personal injury, €1.3m property damage, €50,000 pure financial loss (Anlage to the PflVG)
What it covers: injury and damage you cause to other people
Without it: no registration and a criminal penalty (§ 6 PflVG)

Optional cover (Kasko)

Teilkasko: theft, fire, storm, hail, glass breakage and animal collisions
Vollkasko: everything above plus self-inflicted accidents and vandalism
New or leased car: Vollkasko is usually the right choice
Older, low-value car: liability only is often the most economical

New in Germany? Your licence and your no-claims record

Two questions decide most of a newcomer's premium and paperwork: is your licence accepted, and does your claim-free history count? Both have clearer answers than most forum threads suggest.

Driving licences

An EU or EEA licence is valid in Germany without a time limit (§ 28 FeV). A licence from outside the EU/EEA is valid for six months after you establish residence here (§ 29 FeV); the licensing authority can extend that in limited cases. After the window closes you need a German licence to keep driving.

For the insurance application itself, a foreign licence is not a blocker. You state the issue date, and the insurer prices your experience accordingly.

Foreign no-claims years

Many German insurers can recognise claim-free years earned abroad. What they want is a written confirmation from your previous insurer listing the insured periods and any claims. Ask for it before you move if you can, and have it translated into German.

How much discount that record earns differs from insurer to insurer, so it pays to compare with your confirmation letter already in hand rather than accepting the first classification you are offered.

Why the SF class is worth the paperwork

German premiums follow the Schadenfreiheitsklasse (SF class): the more claim-free years you can prove, the lower the percentage of the base premium you pay. Losing a decade of driving history to a missing letter is expensive, and the letter itself usually costs nothing. If your old insurer can issue the confirmation quickly, it is worth a short delay before you buy.

Getting insured online without slowing yourself down

Prepare the documents first

Keep the VIN, vehicle data, your licence details and a no-claims confirmation ready. Most delays come from hunting for a number mid-application.

Set the correct start date

Choose the day you plan to register as the start date. A future date is a common reason an eVB is refused at the office.

Apply a day or two early

This gives the eVB time to reach the central database and leaves room to fix any data mismatch before your appointment.

Still compare before you commit

Comparing a handful of tariffs for your exact profile takes minutes and is the biggest lever on price. Speed does not require taking the first offer.

Check the type and regional class

Every car model carries a Typklasse and every district a Regionalklasse, and both move your premium. The GDV runs free official lookups for type classes and regional classes.

Keep the 14-day window in mind

If plans change before cover starts, § 8 VVG lets you withdraw from an online policy within 14 days at no cost.

Compare car insurance and start your online application

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Car insurance online in Germany: FAQ

How quickly can I actually get car insurance in Germany?

For a standard car and driver, the online application itself takes about 10 to 15 minutes. As soon as it is accepted, the insurer issues an eVB number (the electronic confirmation of cover) within a few minutes, usually by email. With that number you can register the car at the Zulassungsstelle and drive the same day. Complex cases, for example imported vehicles or unusual no-claims histories, can take longer because the insurer may ask for documents first.

What does buying car insurance online actually involve?

Two separate things that people often mix up. First, you receive an eVB number quickly so you are allowed to register and drive. Second, the actual insurance contract usually begins on the start date you choose during the application, which is typically the registration date. So the eVB confirms cover exists; the contract defines exactly when it runs from. Always check that the start date matches the day you plan to register.

Can I get cover online if I just moved to Germany?

Yes. You can take out cover before you have a German driving record. Newcomers can apply with a foreign licence and, if you have one, a written confirmation of your claim-free years from a previous insurer abroad. Many German insurers can take that record into account, which improves your no-claims class (Schadenfreiheitsklasse) and lowers the premium. Have the letter translated into German to speed things up.

Do I need an eVB number before I can register a car?

Yes. The registration office must verify valid liability cover before it issues plates: the proof-of-insurance requirement follows from § 49 FZV, and the duty to insure at all from § 1 PflVG. Without a valid eVB number in the central database, the clerk cannot complete the registration. This is exactly why arranging cover online first, then going to the Zulassungsstelle, is the normal order of steps.

Is online car insurance more expensive because it is fast?

No. Speed comes from automated underwriting, not from a price premium. A direct online policy and one arranged through an agent for the same cover are priced on the same risk factors: your no-claims class, the vehicle type and regional classes, your postcode, mileage and age. The best way to control the price is to compare several tariffs for your exact profile rather than taking the first offer.

Which cover should I choose when I take out a policy quickly?

Choose by the value of the car, not by how fast you want to be insured. Third-party liability (Kfz-Haftpflicht) is mandatory for every vehicle. New or leased cars usually warrant fully comprehensive cover (Vollkasko). For used cars of modest value, partial cover (Teilkasko) is often enough. Older, low-value cars are most economical with liability only. You can decide this in the same online flow that produces your eVB number.

What documents do I need ready before I start?

Have the vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model and date of first registration to hand, plus your address, date of birth and driving-licence date. If you are claiming a no-claims discount, you also need your current SF class or the confirmation letter from a previous insurer. A German bank account for the SEPA direct debit completes the set. The vehicle registration document (Zulassungsbescheinigung) contains most of the vehicle data.

Can I cancel if I change my mind after applying online?

Yes. Insurance contracts carry a 14-day right of withdrawal under § 8 VVG, and the clock only starts once you have received the policy documents and the withdrawal notice. If the cover has not yet started, or you have not registered the vehicle, you can withdraw at no cost and any payment is refunded. Send the cancellation in writing; email is usually sufficient. After cover has begun, normal cancellation rules apply instead.

What if my eVB number does not work at the registration office?

The most common reason is timing: the insurer has not yet uploaded the eVB to the central database, which can take a short while. Other causes are a future start date, a typo in the seven-character code, or vehicle data that does not match your documents. Call the insurer from the office; most issues are resolved in minutes. To avoid the problem entirely, arrange cover a day or two before your appointment. Our separate eVB guide explains this in detail.

How long does an eVB number stay valid?

That depends on the insurer. HUK-COBURG, for example, states that its eVB numbers stay valid for 18 months from issue, while Allianz gives a range of three to twelve months. The number is intended for one registration procedure. If yours has expired, or you switch insurers before registering, simply request a fresh one; issuing an eVB is free.

How much does car insurance cost in Germany?

There is no honest single figure, because German premiums are calculated from your no-claims class, the vehicle Typklasse, the Regionalklasse of your registration district, your annual mileage and your age. The spread between tariffs is large: Stiftung Warentest compared 161 tariffs from 66 insurers in January 2026 and found substantial price differences for identical driver profiles. Comparing offers for your exact data tells you more than any average.

Sources and official bodies

GDV – German Insurance Association BaFin ADAC guide to the eVB number Verbraucherzentrale on Kfz insurance Stiftung Warentest tariff comparison § 1 PflVG (gesetze-im-internet.de)§ 49 FZV (proof of insurance)§ 29 FeV (foreign licences)

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