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Insuring a Car in Germany as an Expat: eVB Number, Cover and Registration

From the first quote to the number plate: the eVB number, your foreign no-claims years and the six-month licence rule, in the order you will need them.

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By Eljas Thranberend, Financial Advisor · Authorised §34d & §34f GewO · 30 October 2026 · 8 min read

The short version

1. You choose an insurer before you register the car. The insurer gives you an eVB number, and the registration office needs it.
2. Only third-party liability is mandatory. Teilkasko and Vollkasko are optional unless a lease or finance contract requires them.
3. Insurers may recognise your foreign no-claims history, but rules differ. Get the agreed SF class in writing before you budget with it.
4. Most non-EU/EEA licences are valid for six months from when you establish ordinary residence, not from when you buy the car.
5. Compare the full policy, not only the price. The same driver and car can receive very different quotes.

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Buying a car in Germany means choosing insurance as well as choosing a vehicle, and the two are linked: without insurance, the registration office will not register the car. The price depends on more than the car. Your age, driving experience, claims history, address, the people who drive and the cover you select all play a part.

This guide explains the essentials, including the German no-claims system, foreign driving licences and the eVB number you need to register a car, in the order in which things actually happen. If you want the broader overview of how the German system works, read our main guide to car insurance in Germany for expats.

The five steps from quote to registration

Each step is explained in more detail below.

Gather your details

Vehicle details, a realistic annual mileage estimate, every regular driver and your licence history.

Choose your level of cover

Liability only, Teilkasko or Vollkasko. A finance or lease contract may decide this for you.

Compare insurers on matching terms

Same mileage, drivers, cover, deductibles and payment frequency. Ask each one how it treats your foreign no-claims proof.

Select the policy and request the eVB

The insurer issues the electronic confirmation you need at the registration office.

Register, then check your documents

Once the car is registered, confirm the agreed cover, deductible and SF class in your policy documents.

Which cover do you need?

German car insurance comes in three levels. Each one builds on the one before.

Mandatory

Kfz-Haftpflicht

Third-party liability

Pays for injury, property damage and related financial loss you cause to other people. It does not pay to repair your own car after an accident you caused.

Optional

Teilkasko

Partial comprehensive

Covers specified damage to your own car: typically theft, fire, broken glass, storm, hail, flooding and collisions with certain animals. Your own collision with another vehicle or object is usually not included.

Optional

Vollkasko

Fully comprehensive

Includes Teilkasko and generally adds damage to your own car from an at-fault accident and vandalism. Useful for a new or valuable car, or where a lease or finance agreement requires it. Compare the deductible and policy wording, not just the label.

In one line: liability protects other people, Teilkasko protects your car against listed external events, Vollkasko adds your own collision damage and vandalism. A higher deductible can lower the premium, but you pay more yourself when you claim.

What will the quote be based on?

Insurers assess risk using several details. Their formulas and discounts are not identical, which is why the same driver and car can receive very different quotes.

Age

Younger drivers often pay more. Some tariffs also charge differently for older drivers.

Years since your licence was issued

A newly licensed driver may be priced differently from someone with many years of experience. This is separate from your no-claims record.

No-claims class (SF class)

In liability and Vollkasko, a longer claims-free history generally means a better SF class and a lower premium. Teilkasko usually has no SF class.

The car

The model’s claims and repair costs set its type class (Typklasse). Engine, value and parts prices all matter.

Where the car is registered

The registration district sets the regional class (Regionalklasse), based on local claims experience.

How the car is used

Annual mileage, private or business use, where it is parked, and the number and ages of listed drivers.

Your chosen cover

Comprehensive cover, deductibles, repair-shop restrictions and optional benefits all affect the premium.

Give accurate information when you request quotes. List every regular driver and estimate your annual mileage realistically. Incorrect details can lead to a premium adjustment or problems with a claim.

Getting your foreign no-claims years recognised

In Germany, the SF class (Schadenfreiheitsklasse) records the recognised claims-free history of a car insurance policy. It is important, but insurers do not all translate the same class into the same premium. Their discounts, starting classes and rules for recognising previous insurance differ.

If you had car insurance outside Germany, ask each insurer whether it will recognise your foreign no-claims history. Expect to be asked for a letter from your previous insurer that shows:

the policyholder
the insured vehicle
the policy dates
the claims history

The expat-specific trap

A cheap quote based on an assumed SF class can change once the insurer checks your documents. Get the decision in writing before you rely on it.

Your years of driving and your no-claims history are related, but they are not the same thing. Tell the insurer which licence you hold and when it was first issued, too. Insurers may assess foreign driving experience differently, and inaccurate information can cause trouble later.

How long can you drive on your foreign licence?

The six-month rule applies to many licences from outside the EU/EEA, but not to every foreign licence.

EU / EEA licence

Generally recognised in Germany while it is valid, subject to the licence’s conditions and any rules for particular vehicle categories.

Licence from outside the EU / EEA

Once you establish ordinary residence in Germany, you can generally drive on a valid licence for six months. The authority may extend this by up to six months if you show that your residence in Germany will not exceed twelve months.

The six months run from establishing ordinary residence, not from buying the car. Check the rules for your issuing country, carry your valid national licence, and arrange a translation or international driving permit if required. An international permit does not replace the national licence.

If you plan to stay, start the conversion early. Whether you need to take tests depends on the country that issued your licence. Your local driving licence office (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) confirms the requirements for your case.

What is the eVB number, and what does it not confirm?

The eVB (elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung) is an electronic insurance confirmation number issued by your insurer. You need it to register a car in Germany. It confirms the required motor liability insurance for the registration process.

Choose an insurer, request the eVB and give the number to the registration office (Zulassungsstelle). Before you drive, confirm when cover starts and exactly which cover has been agreed. The registration step and the full insurance contract are connected, but the eVB alone does not tell you every detail of your final policy.

The eVB on its own is not proof that you chose Teilkasko or Vollkasko. Your policy documents are.

Compare the policy, not only the price

Premiums can differ substantially between insurers, even when the car and driver details are identical. Request several quotes using the same annual mileage, drivers, cover, deductibles and payment frequency. Then compare:

insured events and exclusions
deductible for each type of cover
repair-shop restrictions
replacement value or purchase-price protection for newer cars
treatment of animal collisions and animal bites
protection against gross negligence, where offered
the SF downgrade table and any Rabattschutz
service and claims handling

What happens to your SF class after an accident?

If your insurer pays a claim under liability or Vollkasko, your policy may move down to a less favourable SF class at renewal. How far depends on the insurer’s downgrade table and your starting class, and the higher premium can last for several years. A Teilkasko claim generally does not change the SF class.

Before you report a small at-fault loss, ask the insurer to calculate the long-term premium impact and whether you can reimburse the claim yourself after it is paid. A Rabattschutz (claim protection) can prevent a downgrade with your current insurer, but it may not transfer as the same protected class if you switch. Check the contract and the SF record the insurer will report.

Where to start

The best starting point is to compare full policies using your actual licence history and to confirm how each insurer will treat your claims-free years from abroad. The right choice balances price, protection and the risk of a higher premium after a claim.

At XpatGermany, we compare offers for you on matching terms and in English. In a free 15-minute strategy call, we look at your car, your driving history and the cover that makes sense, alongside the rest of your insurance in Germany.

Want an English-speaking advisor to handle this for you?

We specialise in expats in Germany. Book your free 15-minute strategy call and we compare car insurance offers on matching terms, including your foreign no-claims history.

Book a free call

Frequently asked questions: insuring and registering a car in Germany

Is car insurance mandatory in Germany?

Yes. Motor third-party liability (Kfz-Haftpflicht) is required to register and use a car on public roads. Teilkasko and Vollkasko are optional unless a finance or lease agreement requires additional cover.

Does my foreign driving experience count toward a lower premium?

Possibly. Insurers may consider your licence history or a foreign no-claims record, but acceptance and documentation requirements vary. Ask before purchasing and get the agreed SF class confirmed in writing.

Is an eVB number the same as a complete insurance policy?

No. It is the electronic confirmation used for vehicle registration. Check with the insurer when cover begins and whether your selected policy includes only liability or also Teilkasko or Vollkasko.

Will every accident lower my SF class?

No. A paid liability or Vollkasko claim can trigger a downgrade under the policy’s table. A Teilkasko claim generally does not affect the SF class. Some policies offer claim protection (Rabattschutz), with conditions.

Can I keep driving with a non-EU licence after six months?

Usually not once the six-month period after establishing ordinary residence has passed, unless the authority has granted an extension. Apply for conversion in time and check the requirements for your issuing country.

Sources and further reading

This article is based on the rules reviewed on 30 October 2026. Licence recognition can depend on your country, residence status and licence conditions. Confirm your case with the responsible Fahrerlaubnisbehörde and your insurer.

§ 29 FeV , foreign driving licences and the six-month rule
Berlin Service Portal (LABO) , recognition of foreign driving licences
§ 1 PflVG , compulsory motor liability insurance
§ 49 FZV , proof of insurance for vehicle registration
GDV , type classes explained
GDV , regional classes explained
Verbraucherzentrale , car insurance and coverage
Verbraucherzentrale , comparing premiums and SF-class downgrades

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