Many drivers have until November 30th to change car insurer for 2027. With cheaper offers returning, comparing policies could deliver savings – or better cover for your money.
Many drivers in Germany have just over a month to find out whether they could pay less for car insurance – or get better cover for a similar price.
That is because many policies run with the calendar year, so cancellation must generally reach the insurer by November 30th to end the contract on December 31st.
But for anyone thinking of switching, it’s important to avoid simply chasing the cheapest quote. A lower premium can come with reduced benefits, tighter conditions or a costly downgrade after a claim.
Here’s how to check whether the November 30th deadline applies to you, compare policies on a like-for-like basis and change insurer without leaving yourself short of cover.
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Does the November 30th deadline apply to you?
November 30th is not a universal switching deadline. It generally applies when the insurance year ends on December 31st and the contract has a one-month notice period.
Check your policy document for its expiry date and cancellation period (Kündigungsfrist). Some insurance years begin on the date the vehicle was registered, meaning their deadlines fall elsewhere in the year.
There may also be other opportunities to leave. According to Germany’s largest motoring organisation, the ADAC, policyholders can generally cancel within one month of notification of a premium increase.
This special right of cancellation (Sonderkündigungsrecht) may also apply after a claim has been settled. In addition, drivers buying another vehicle can normally select a different insurer.
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Why comparing could pay off this year
After three years of steep increases, competition may be returning to Germany’s car insurance market.
According to an analysis by comparison portal Verivox, new policies still cost an average of 2 percent more than a year ago across liability, partial and fully comprehensive insurance.
But in the cheaper segment of the market, average prices actually fell by almost 2 percent.
The picture varies by cover. Among cheaper insurers, liability premiums fell by 1.2 percent, partial cover by 1 percent and fully comprehensive cover by 2.3 percent.
Mid-market prices rose across all three types of cover.
That means savings are possible but not guaranteed. The figures concern new policies rather than existing contracts, and Verivox says average new-policy prices remain more than 50 percent higher than in 2022. Repair and spare-part costs are also still rising.
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Understand the cover before comparing prices
Germany has three principal types of motor cover.
Motor liability insurance (Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung) is compulsory and pays for injury, property damage and financial loss that you cause to other people.
Partial comprehensive insurance (Teilkaskoversicherung) is optional. It protects your own car against specified external risks including theft, fire, broken glass, severe weather and collisions with wildlife.
Fully comprehensive insurance (Vollkaskoversicherung) includes partial cover and also covers accidental damage you cause to your own vehicle, as well as vandalism. It can be particularly relevant for new, valuable, financed or leased cars.
When comparing policies, use identical cover and excesses (Selbstbeteiligung). The ADAC also advises checking how a tariff treats gross negligence, replacement value for a new car, foreign rental cars and downgrading after a claim.
How to shop around without being misled
Comparison portals offer a quick way to collect quotations and some can also arrange a new policy and help transmit cancellation instructions. But they don’t necessarily provide a complete or independent view of the market.
According to consumer organisation Verbraucherzentrale, portals may receive commission and include only selected insurers and tariffs. It therefore recommends trying more than one route and also approaching insurers directly.
In addition, simply asking your current insurer whether it has a cheaper tariff could produce savings without requiring a move.
Enter your details accurately when comparing offers. Mileage, authorised drivers and overnight parking can all affect the price – and a cheap tariff based on limited mileage or garage parking could prove costly if it turns out you can’t meet those conditions.
Foreign residents should also ask how an insurer treats their overseas driving record. Some providers and brokers may accept claims-free histories from certain countries. But this is provider-specific, so it’s worth double-checking which countries and documents your chosen insurer accepts or requires.
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Switch in the safest order
Don’t cancel your existing policy until your new insurer has accepted your application.
First gather details such as your present policy, renewal notice, vehicle information, annual mileage and no-claims class (Schadenfreiheitsklasse or SF-Klasse).
Then use this information to compare like-for-like quotations and study exclusions rather than relying on the headline price.
If you’ve made a claim or have discount protection (Rabattschutz), ask your current insurer to confirm in writing which no-claims class or claims history it will report. Verbraucherzentrale warns that internal discounts may not transfer, potentially wiping out an apparent saving.
Next, apply for your chosen policy and wait for confirmation it has been accepted before cancelling the old contract. While you may think you meet all the conditions – and that acceptance should be a formality – insurers could still decide to reject optional partial or fully comprehensive cover, particularly for unusual or expensive vehicles.
Send the cancellation through a method accepted by your insurer and retain proof of delivery or receipt. To be on the safe side, the ADAC recommends registered post with acknowledgement of receipt (Einschreiben mit Rückschein).
After a normal switch, the new insurer will generally notify the vehicle-registration authority, so you shouldn’t need to deregister the car.
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