A quote can look refreshingly simple: one annual number and a button to continue. The difficult part sits behind that number. Who may drive? Which damage is included? What would you pay yourself? Those are better starting questions than which logo comes first on a comparison site.

Which car insurance is required in Germany?

For a normal car based in Germany, motor liability insurance is the compulsory starting point. Section 1 of the Pflichtversicherungsgesetz sets out the holder’s duty to maintain liability insurance for injury, property damage and other financial loss caused through use of the vehicle, subject to the law’s scope and exceptions.

That is Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung. It is separate from the personal liability insurance you may have for everyday life. A familiar word on both policies does not make the cover interchangeable.

Haftpflicht, Teilkasko and Vollkasko: whose damage?

Think in terms of the loss first, then the policy name. These are broad categories; limits, deductibles and exclusions still matter.

The GDV’s consumer information explains the distinction. “Comprehensive” is an English shorthand, not a promise that every event is covered.

Simplified examples for reading the contract. They do not determine liability or guarantee a claim payment.

An eVB is proof for registration, not a summary of every benefit.

The elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung is the electronic confirmation used to demonstrate motor liability cover for registration. You request it from an insurer. ADAC explains the registration proof and how to obtain it.

Keep the eVB, the policy schedule and the cover start date as three separate checks. Before relying on own-car protection, ask the insurer to confirm whether and when the requested Kasko cover starts. A registration code is not a substitute for reading that confirmation.

Why can two car insurance quotes differ so much?

Insurers price more than the car’s purchase value. Vehicle type, where the holder lives, annual mileage, the people allowed to drive and claims history can affect the price. Kasko deductibles also change the comparison. The GDV’s explanation of pricing factors is a useful overview.

For a fair comparison, build one set of assumptions and reuse it. If one quote includes a younger additional driver and another does not, the lower number does not answer the same question. Put annual cost, cover, deductible and restrictions side by side before deciding what the price means.

Bring your foreign claims history into the conversation early.

Schadenfreiheitsklasse, often shortened to SF-Klasse, is the claims-history classification used in motor liability and Vollkasko pricing. The classifications are separate and insurer details differ. Teilkasko does not use the same SF-class system. ADAC explains how SF classes work.

If you were insured abroad, ask what claims-history statement is needed, which period it must cover and how it will be reflected in the quote. Ask about translations before paying for one. Keep the insurer’s answer with the offer rather than assuming that years holding a licence equal the accepted claims-free years.

As a concrete provider example, ADAC’s product FAQ describes its treatment of EEA claims-history statements and says other countries can be considered on request. That describes its own conditions; it is not an insurer recommendation or a guarantee of your classification.

Your car-insurance comparison checklist

Tick each point when you have a written answer. This is a preparation list, not a policy score or a recommendation. Nothing is submitted or saved by this checklist.

Before changing insurer, line up the dates.

Do not assume that every policy can be cancelled on the same November deadline. The Verbraucherzentrale advises checking the actual policy, because contract periods and notice dates can differ. Keep replacement cover continuous if the car is still being used.

For your comparison notes, write down the current end date, the notice requirement and the replacement start date. Ask the insurers to resolve any uncertainty before you rely on the switch. A cheaper quote is not useful if it covers a different period or the acceptance is still conditional.

The terms worth keeping beside the quote

Fahrerkreis

The drivers described in the contract. Check that it reflects who will actually drive.

Fahrleistung

The mileage assumption in the quote. Keep the annual figure consistent across offers.

Selbstbeteiligung

The deductible you agree to bear for an applicable claim. Record the amount for each Kasko part.

Werkstattbindung

A repair-network condition. Ask which workshop arrangements apply and what happens if you choose elsewhere.

Schadenverlauf

Your insurance claims history. Ask for the evidence the new insurer needs.

Questions international drivers often ask

Sources and the scope of this guide

Checked on 26 October 2026. This is an explanation for private car users, not a personalised cover assessment. It does not quote premiums, test claims handling or rank providers. German-language sources are identified below so you can check the original wording.

• § 1 PflichtversicherungsgesetzLegal basis for the motor liability obligation, read within the full law.
• Verbraucherzentrale: motor insuranceConsumer information on cover, contract checks and cancellation.
• GDV: how motor premiums are composedIndustry-association explanation of pricing factors.
• GDV consumer portal: eVB and cover categoriesIndustry consumer information; policy conditions remain decisive.
• ADAC: electronic insurance confirmationRegistration proof and the eVB process.
• ADAC: claims-free classesExplanation of the SF-class system.
• ADAC product FAQ: foreign claims historyA provider-specific example, not an endorsement or market-wide comparison.