Car Insurance in Germany (2026): Compare the Best for Expats
Owning a car in Germany makes daily life and exploring the country much easier – but Germany is strict about insurance. Before you can register a vehicle, you must have at least third-party liability cover (Kfz-Haftpflicht), which pays for injury or damage you cause to other people, cars or property. This guide compares the best car insurers in Germany for expats and explains the cover types and how premiums work.
How we picked the best car insurers in Germany
- ✓ English-speaking customer service where available
- ✓ Good cover-to-price ratio
- ✓ Clear contracts with no hidden costs
- ✓ Flexible, tailorable cover
Best car insurers in Germany
Here is how the main car insurers compare. Premiums depend on your car, driving history and cover level, so always get a personal quote.
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Best overall for expats. AXA is a large insurer offering competitive premiums, flexible cover you can tailor and manage online, 24/7 customer service and English-speaking support, plus branch locations if you prefer in-person advice. |
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Best for a strong no-claims discount. CosmosDirekt is an award-winning, popular motor insurer with a good price-performance ratio and service, and discount protection for claim-free years. The website is mostly German. |
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Best for a large, established insurer. Allianz is one of Germany’s biggest insurers, with competitive rates, clear contracts and free assistance after damage at home and abroad. The website is mostly German. |
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Best for simple, low-cost cover. AdmiralDirekt is an award-winning insurer offering low-cost cover with a few easy-to-understand packages and good service. The website is mostly German. |
Our top pick: AXA
AXA is one of the best car insurers in Germany for expats, offering comprehensive cover with a lot of flexibility at competitive premiums. Advantages include:
- A mobility guarantee after an accident or breakdown
- A protection letter (Schutzbrief) option
- Online management of your policy
- A flexible product range you can tailor to your needs
- Motor liability, partial (Teilkasko) and full comprehensive (Vollkasko) cover
You can expand your AXA cover as your needs change.
How car insurance premiums work
The price of German car insurance depends on several factors, including:
- Your driving experience
- How far you drive each year
- The model of your car
- Your claim-free history (no-claims bonus, or Schadenfreiheitsklasse)
To find the best deal, compare offers with an online car insurance calculator and weigh these factors against the cover you need.
Types of car insurance in Germany
When choosing cover, you will come across these main options:
Full comprehensive (Vollkasko) – Covers third-party costs plus fire, theft, natural events (such as flood or storm) and damage you cause to your own car, even if the accident is your fault. It costs more, but you pay less out of pocket for repairs. It is usually essential if you buy a car on finance through a dealership.
Partial comprehensive (Teilkasko) – Covers third-party damage plus events such as fire and theft, but not vandalism or self-inflicted collision damage.
Third-party liability (Haftpflicht) – The legal minimum needed to register a car. It covers damage and medical costs you cause to others, but not damage to your own car.
Breakdown cover (Schutzbriefversicherung) – Covers towing and related costs after an accident or breakdown, and often a rental car while yours is repaired.
Tips for switching car insurance
- Compare policies to find the right cover for you.
- Check whether switching actually saves money versus renewing with your current insurer.
- Switch at the right time to avoid cancellation charges.
- Tell your old insurer in good time that you will not renew.
- Start the new policy the day the old one ends, so you are never uninsured.
Once you take out a policy, the insurer sends you an eVB number (Elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung), usually by email. You need this eVB number, along with the vehicle tax details and TÜV certificate, to register your car. If you are also arranging the car itself, see our guides to car leasing and buying a car in Germany, and to cover your home and belongings, our guide to liability insurance in Germany.
FAQ about car insurers in Germany
There are more than 11 car insurance companies in Germany. The most important ones and cheap car insurance are:
- Axa – You will get a simple, cheap, and flexible car insurance here. The company also provides you mobility guarantee. When you get full or partial comprehensive coverage, you will also get a free letter of protection with a mobility guarantee. This is the most recommended cheap car insurance in Germany as it also provides you the convenience of managing your car insurance online. The company also has won many awards for its best services.
What they offer:
– Mobility guarantee
– Free protection letter
– Online services for car insurance
– Expand your protection as per your requirement
- Cosmosdirekt – This company provides the best policy for anyone who is the owner of their car and loves it. You will get 40% cheaper insurance here and also get discount protection up to three damages.
What they offer:
– Motor Liability Insurance that covers the damage you cause to other person’s property on the road
– Partial coverage to cover damages caused to your vehicle
– Full comprehensive services
– Additional services as per your necessity
- Allianz – Powerful and affordable car insurance from Allianz is also one of the best policy for your car. This service regulates 99% of the claims within 5 days. The contracts contain no hidden costs.
What they offer:
– Saves your price with the best performance
– Higher customer satisfaction
– Insurance at a cheaper price
– No compromise on performance
- Hansemerkur – Get secure and flexible car insurance and enjoy the stressfree journey with HanseMerkur car insurance policies.
What they offer:
– Price compensation till a period of 36 months
– Consequential damage cover
– Partial coverage services
– Fully comprehensive services
– Optional benefits
- Tarifcheck – With Tarifcheck, you can compare more than 300 tariffs and find the cheapest one in a few minutes.
What they offer:
– Insurance for motor vehicle liability
– Comprehensive vehicle insurance
– Discount protection
When you are searching for the best car insurance, compare the insurance policies from different providers. Pay attention to how many Kms you drive and which car model you have. Also, consider your driving experience and how much time you have spent driving without any single accident.
After considering all the factors and comparing premiums of different providers, select the one that best fits your requirements. Search, talk to your friends, and then decide what type of policy you want. Whether you want only the minimum required insurance policy to fulfill the legal rules of Germany or you want an added security for uncertain events.
When you are in Germany and looking for car insurance, then you need to be present with the following documents:
- Identity proof
- Receipt or bill of car purchase
- Banks detail if you are paying direct debit