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Motorcycle insurance in Germany: what you need before your first ride

Every registered motorcycle in Germany needs third-party liability insurance, whether it is a 125 or a big touring bike. Partial or fully comprehensive cover is optional and depends on what the bike is worth. With a seasonal plate you only pay for the months you actually ride.

The question almost everyone asks first

What motorcycle insurance do I need in Germany?

Only third-party liability is mandatory under the Compulsory Insurance Act. It pays for damage you cause to others. Teilkasko, partial cover, pays for your own bike after theft, fire, storm, hail and collisions with game animals. A crash you cause yourself, or dropping the bike while turning, is only covered by Vollkasko, fully comprehensive cover. For a new or financed bike that is nearly always worth it.

Liability, Teilkasko, Vollkasko: the motorcycle difference

Liability works as it does for cars. It pays for injury, property damage and financial loss suffered by others and defends you against unfounded claims. Motorcycle accidents often cause serious injuries, so the legal minimum of EUR 7.5 million for injury can run out. Good policies offer far higher cover for little extra.

For your own bike the key point is the crash. Sliding off on gravel, a mistake in a bend or tipping the bike over in a car park is not a partial cover claim. Only Vollkasko pays for that. Theft, one of the most common motorcycle losses, is already covered by Teilkasko.

Seasonal plates and lay-up cover

Many German riders register their bike with a Saisonkennzeichen, a seasonal plate. The bike is then registered for a fixed period each year, at least two and at most eleven months, and both premium and vehicle tax drop accordingly. The season cannot be split, so February to March and then again from May is not possible.

Outside the season a free Ruheversicherung, lay-up cover, applies. The bike must stay on private ground, in a garage or private parking space, never on a public road. If you have Teilkasko, theft, fire, hail and marten damage usually remain covered during this time. Vollkasko is suspended.

Coming from abroad: no-claims record and registration

German insurers price motorcycle cover by no-claims class, model type class, regional class, power and engine size. Your no-claims history from another country is not recognised automatically. Some insurers accept a claims certificate from your previous insurer, others start you in a lower class. It pays to ask before you sign.

To register the bike you need an eVB number from your insurer. Helmet and riding gear are a separate question: some policies cover a helmet stolen from the bike only if it was locked to it, others offer an add-on for helmet and clothing after an accident.

What is covered

  • Injury, property damage and financial loss you cause to others with your motorcycle
  • Defence against unfounded claims
  • Teilkasko: theft, fire, explosion, storm, hail, lightning, flooding
  • Teilkasko: collision with game animals, depending on the policy with any animal
  • Vollkasko: crash and accident you caused yourself, vandalism
  • Lay-up cover in the off season while the bike is on private ground
  • Helmet and protective clothing if the policy explicitly includes them

What is not covered

  • Crashes and drops without Vollkasko
  • Track days and racing events, as a rule excluded
  • Wear and tear on tyres, brakes, chain and engine
  • Loose items such as a mobile sat nav or tail bag, usually
  • Riding without a valid licence or under the influence, with recourse against you
  • Parking on a public road during lay-up cover

Who needs it

  • Anyone registering a motorcycle, light motorcycle or scooter in Germany
  • Owners of new or financed bikes, for whom Vollkasko makes sense
  • Seasonal riders who want to save with a seasonal plate
  • Riders with expensive helmets and gear
  • Owners of mopeds and scooters up to 45 km/h, who need an insurance plate

Who does not need it

  • Vollkasko for an older bike of low value if you could absorb a total loss yourself

Wheel of misfortune

Spin the wheel of bad luck

Six things that really happen. The wheel picks yours and shows who pays.

See all six cases
  1. Bike stolen from underground car park, value of the bike, often several thousand euros. Budget policy: pays in part, Strong policy: pays. Every Teilkasko pays for theft, but a basic policy pays only replacement value. Strong policies pay the new or purchase price in the first months.
  2. Helmet stolen from the handlebar, around EUR 300 to 800. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays in part. Basic policies cover only the bike. Strong ones include the helmet, often only if it was locked to the bike.
  3. Dropped while turning, around EUR 300 to 2,000 for fairing, levers and mirrors. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays. Teilkasko never pays for a drop. Only Vollkasko does, minus the deductible.
  4. Swerved to avoid a deer, crashed, several thousand euros on the bike. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays. Without contact with the animal there is no game collision under many policies. Strong ones pay as rescue costs, or Vollkasko pays.
  5. Hail during winter lay-up, around EUR 500 to 3,000. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Teilkasko usually continues during lay-up cover, provided the bike is on private ground and not on the street.
  6. Crash on a track day, from a scratch to a write-off. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: does not pay. Racetrack riding is excluded from road policies, Vollkasko included. You need separate track day insurance.

What it costs

Motorcycle premiums in Germany vary at least as much as car premiums. The same bike can cost several times as much depending on rider, postcode and claims history, so we show the factors rather than figures.

What drives the premium

  • No-claims class, a separate contract from your car
  • Type class of the model, based on claims experience
  • Power in kW and engine size
  • Regional class of where you live
  • Season length, who rides and the youngest rider's age
  • Deductible in partial and fully comprehensive cover
  • Garage, payment frequency, add-ons for helmet and gear

We do not quote ranges because they are meaningless without bike, rider and season. Your premium is only fixed in the quote.

The policy levels on the market

01

Liability only

The legal minimum. For older bikes where you could bear theft or a crash yourself.

02

Liability and Teilkasko

Protects your own bike against theft, fire, weather and game collisions, but not against your own crash.

03

Liability and Vollkasko

Adds crashes you cause and vandalism. For new, expensive or financed bikes.

How to recognise a good policy

CriterionMinimum standardStrong policyWhy it matters
Liability cover legal minimum, EUR 7.5m for injury EUR 50m to 100m in total, high limit per injured person Lifelong care and pension claims after a serious crash can exceed the minimum.
New or purchase price compensation replacement value only new price in the first 12 to 24 months, then purchase price Bikes lose value quickly, and theft often hits newer models.
Helmet and gear not covered covered after theft and accident up to a fixed amount A good helmet and suit easily cost more than a thousand euros.
Gross negligence waiver payout may be reduced full waiver except for alcohol and drugs Missing a stop sign could otherwise cut your claim.
Teilkasko during lay-up only liability rests free of charge partial cover continues in winter storage Garage thefts and hail do not stop when the season ends.
Recognition of foreign no-claims years start in a low class foreign claims certificate accepted Years of claims-free riding abroad can cut the premium considerably.

Insurers on the German market

Nearly every German motor insurer covers motorcycles. Some large ones sell only direct and do not work with brokers; we list them so you know the market. This is an overview, not a statement about who we work with.

InsurerBackground
HUK-COBURGlarge motor insurer with its own sales force, does not work with brokers
Allianztied agents and brokers
R+Vinsurer of the cooperative banks
VHVstrong in broker distribution, motor focus
ADAC Autoversicherunginsurer linked to the German automobile club ADAC, mainly direct
BavariaDirektdirect insurer of the Versicherungskammer Bayern group
AXAtied agents and brokers
DEVKmutual-led group, own sales force
Württembergischepart of the W&W group, agents and brokers

Compare the wordings of all tariffs 48 tariffs from 31 providers, as of 24 October 2026

From the BaFin register

106

106 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance.

(Kraftfahrzeug-Haftpflicht, Kraftfahrzeug-Kasko)

Show all 106 names from the register
  • ACM Versicherung AG
  • ADAC Autoversicherung AG
  • ADLER Versicherung AG
  • Allianz Direct Versicherungs-AG
  • Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE
  • Allianz Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Alte Leipziger Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Ambra Versicherung AG
  • andsafe Aktiengesellschaft
  • ARAG Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • AXA easy Versicherung AG
  • AXA Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • BA die Bayerische Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Badischer Gemeinde-Versicherungs-Verband
  • Baloise Sachversicherung Aktiengesellschaft Deutschland
  • Barmenia Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • BavariaDirekt Versicherung AG
  • Bayerischer Versicherungsverband Versicherungsaktiengesellschaft
  • BGV-Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • CG Car-Garantie Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Concordia Versicherungs-Gesellschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Continentale Sachversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Cosmos Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • DA Deutsche Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • DARAG Deutschland AG
  • Debeka Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft Sitz Koblenz am Rhein
  • DEVK Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • DEVK Deutsche Eisenbahn Versicherung Sach- und HUK-Versicherungsverein a.G. Betriebliche…
  • Dialog Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • ERGO Direkt Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • ERGO Reiseversicherung AG
  • ERGO Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • EUROPA Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Fahrlehrerversicherung Verein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Feuersozietät Berlin Brandenburg Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • GARANTA Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Generali Deutschland Versicherung AG
  • Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Gothaer Versicherungsbank VVaG
  • Great Lakes Insurance SE
  • GVO Gegenseitigkeit Versicherung Oldenburg VVaG
  • GVV Direktversicherung AG
  • GVV-Kommunalversicherung, Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Haftpflichtgemeinschaft Deutscher Nahverkehrs- und Versorgungsunternehmen Allgemein (HDNA) VVaG
  • Hamburger Feuerkasse Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • HanseMerkur Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG
  • HDI Global SE
  • HDI Global Specialty SE
  • HDI Haftpflichtverband der Deutschen Industrie Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • HDI Versicherung AG
  • Helvetia Schweizerische Versicherungsgesellschaft AG Direktion für Deutschland
  • Helvetia Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • HUK-COBURG Haftpflicht-Unterstützungs-Kasse kraftfahrender Beamter Deutschlands a.G. in Coburg
  • HUK-COBURG-Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • HUK24 AG
  • Hübener Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Itzehoer Versicherung/Brandgilde von 1691 Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Janitos Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • KRAVAG-ALLGEMEINE Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • KRAVAG-LOGISTIC Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Landschaftliche Brandkasse Hannover
  • Lifestyle Protection AG
  • Lippische Landesbrandversicherung AG
  • LVM Landwirtschaftlicher Versicherungsverein Münster a.G.
  • Mannheimer Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Markel Insurance SE
  • Mecklenburgische Versicherungs-Gesellschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • MÜNCHENER VEREIN Allgemeine Versicherungs-AG
  • NEH Neue Hildener Versicherung AG
  • Neodigital Autoversicherung AG
  • Newline Europe Versicherung AG
  • nexible Versicherung AG
  • NV-Versicherungen VVaG
  • NÜRNBERGER Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • NÜRNBERGER BEAMTEN ALLGEMEINE VERSICHERUNG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
  • OKV - Ostdeutsche Kommunalversicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Provinzial Nord Brandkasse Aktiengesellschaft
  • Provinzial Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • R+V Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • RheinLand Versicherungs Aktiengesellschaft
  • Rhion Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • S DirektVersicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SAARLAND Feuerversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SIGNAL IDUNA Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Sparkassen-Versicherung Sachsen Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Stuttgarter Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SV SparkassenVersicherung Gebäudeversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • TRIAS Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • uniVersa Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Versicherer im Raum der Kirchen Sachversicherung AG
  • Versicherungskammer Bayern Versicherungsanstalt des öffentlichen Rechts
  • Versicherungsverband Deutscher Eisenbahnen-Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Verti Versicherung AG
  • VHV Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Volkswagen Autoversicherung AG
  • Volkswagen Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • VOLKSWOHL-BUND SACHVERSICHERUNG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
  • Waldenburger Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • WERTGARANTIE SE
  • WGV-Versicherung AG
  • WWK Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Württembergische Gemeinde-Versicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Württembergische Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Zurich Insurance Europe AG
  • Öffentliche Feuerversicherung Sachsen-Anhalt

Source: BaFin company database, 18 September 2026; EU insurers without a German office excluded.

Legal basis and sources

Products and add-ons

Motorcycle liability

The mandatory cover for every registered motorcycle. Choose high cover rather than the legal minimum.

Teilkasko for motorcycles

Covers theft, fire, weather and game collisions. Usually continues during lay-up with a seasonal plate.

Vollkasko for motorcycles

Also pays for your own crash and vandalism. Worth it for new and financed bikes.

Helmet and gear add-on

Replaces helmet and protective clothing after an accident or theft, up to a fixed amount.

Insurance plate for mopeds

For mopeds and scooters up to 45 km/h. Valid for one year from 1 March to the end of February.

Myth or truth

True or false?

Five things people say about this insurance. Guess first, then see the answer.

With a seasonal plate my bike is not insured at all in winter.

This is false.

Wrong. Free lay-up cover applies outside the season, and with Teilkasko the bike usually stays covered against theft, fire and hail on private ground.

During the seasonal break the bike must not be parked on the street.

This is true.

Correct. An unregistered vehicle may not be left on a public road, and lay-up cover applies only on private ground.

Teilkasko pays if I slide off on wet leaves.

This is false.

No. A crash is an accident to your own vehicle and only Vollkasko pays for it.

A 45 km/h scooter in Germany needs an insurance plate rather than a registration.

This is true.

True. Mopeds and scooters up to 45 km/h carry a small insurance plate that has to be renewed every March.

My car's no-claims class also applies to my motorcycle.

This is false.

Wrong. Each vehicle has its own contract and its own class. Some insurers rate a bike more favourably as a second vehicle, but that is an offer, not a rule.

Common mistakes

  • Taking Teilkasko and assuming your own crash is covered
  • Parking the bike on the street during the seasonal break
  • Not asking whether your foreign no-claims years are recognised
  • Buying an expensive helmet without checking whether it is insured
  • Assuming a track day is covered by the road policy

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

What is a Saisonkennzeichen?

A seasonal registration plate.

Your bike is registered for the same period each year,

between two and eleven months in one stretch, for example March to October.

You pay premium and tax only for that period.

Is my bike insured outside the season?

Yes, through free lay-up cover, as long as it stays on private ground.

With Teilkasko, theft, fire and hail usually remain covered.

Vollkasko is suspended.

Will my no-claims record from home count in Germany?

Not automatically.

Some insurers accept a claims certificate from your previous insurer and place you in a better

class, others do not.

Bring the certificate, ideally in English or German.

Does Teilkasko pay if I drop the bike?

No.

Dropping or crashing the bike is an accident to your own vehicle, which only Vollkasko covers.

If a storm blows it over, that is a Teilkasko claim.

Do I need insurance for a 45 km/h scooter?

Yes.

Mopeds and scooters up to 45 km/h and 50 cc need an insurance plate instead of a registration.

It runs from 1 March to the end of February and its colour changes every year.

Is my helmet insured if it is stolen?

It depends on the policy.

Some only replace a helmet that was locked to the bike, others offer a separate add-on.

Without that, your household contents insurance may help.

Am I covered on a track day?

As a rule, no.

Racetrack riding and training events are almost always excluded from road policies.

Separate track day insurance exists for that.

How does a broker help with motorcycle insurance?

A broker compares terms such as new price compensation, helmet cover and lay-up protection,

not just price,

and can explain them in English.

Direct insurers that do not work with brokers cannot be arranged this way.

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