How long do I have to report a car insurance claim in Germany?
In short
In Germany, under the usual terms you have one week to report a car insurance claim to your own insurer. If you are the injured party, notify the other side's insurer in text form within two weeks. Your claim for damages itself only becomes time barred after three years, counted from the end of the year of the accident.
3 years from year end, at most 10 years against the insurer
As of October 2026.
The one week rule is in the model terms and your policy may differ;
the other deadlines are statutory.
Worked example
Parking scrape in March, reported after three weeks
A driver scrapes another car while pulling out, leaves his details and only reports it to his insurer three weeks later.
Deadline under the terms
one week
Actual report
after three weeks
Did the delay change anything?
no, the other owner had already contacted the insurer
The insurer pays the other owner. Because the delay changed nothing, a cut is usually not on the cards.
The deadline with your own insurer
Section 30 of the Insurance Contract Act (VVG) requires you to report an insured event without undue delay. Most motor policies are more specific: under the model terms you must report every incident that could lead to a payment within one week.
That also applies if you think you are not at fault or want to pay a small claim yourself. If the police or prosecutors investigate, you must tell your insurer immediately as well, even if you have already reported the claim.
The deadlines when you are the injured party
As the injured party you notify the other driver's liability insurer within two weeks in text form under section 119 VVG, meaning letter, fax or email. Sending it in time is enough.
Under section 15 of the Road Traffic Act you must tell the other car's keeper about the accident within two months, or you lose your rights under that Act. This does not apply if the keeper learned of the accident another way in time, for example at the scene.
To whom
Deadline
Basis
Your own motor insurer
within one week
policy terms, section 30 VVG
Other side's liability insurer
two weeks, text form
section 119 VVG
Other keeper
two months
section 15 StVG
Claim for damages
three years from year end
section 14 StVG with sections 195, 199 BGB
When your claim becomes time barred
Damages from a road accident become time barred after three years. The period starts at the end of the year in which you know of the loss and who caused it. An accident in March 2026 is therefore time barred at the end of 31 December 2029.
Once you have filed the claim with the other side's insurer, the period is suspended under section 115 VVG until the insurer gives you its decision in text form. Ten years after the accident is the outer limit.
What happens if you report late
Missing the deadline by a few days does not automatically cost you cover. Under section 28 VVG the insurer is only fully free if you acted intentionally; for gross negligence it may cut payment in line with the degree of fault. If the delay changed nothing about what could be established and what is owed, it must still pay, unless you acted fraudulently.
If the insurer learned of the accident in time another way, for example from the other side, it cannot rely on the missed notice. Still, reporting early is cheaper than arguing later.
Reporting does not mean a downgrade
Many people hesitate to report a car insurance claim because they fear losing their no-claims class. Reporting alone does not downgrade you; only a payment from liability or comprehensive cover does. Partial cover claims such as game, glass or hail cost no class.
Under the model terms you can repay small liability claims up to EUR 500 within six months and avoid the downgrade. You still have to report the claim on time.
Step by step
Secure the scene, take details and photos.
Tell your own insurer within one week.
As injured party, write to the other side's insurer within two weeks.
Report any police investigation straight away.
Put the limitation date in your calendar.
Checklist
Own insurer informed within one week
Notice to the other side in text form
Proof of sending date
Police reference passed on
Year end limitation in view
Common mistakes
Not reporting because you want to pay yourself
Only phoning instead of writing
Believing a late report costs all cover
Counting three years from the accident date instead of year end
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
How much time do I have after a parking scrape?
The same as for any car claim: one week to your own insurer.
The other owner has two weeks to contact your liability insurer.
Must I report a claim I want to pay myself?
Yes, within one week.
Paying it yourself is still possible afterwards, for liability up to EUR 500 under the model terms.
How long can I claim against the other driver's insurer?
Notify it within two weeks.
The claim itself is time barred three years after the end of the accident year.
What if I report the accident too late?
For gross negligence the insurer may cut payment, for intent it may refuse.
If the delay changed nothing, it must still pay.
Is a phone call to the insurer enough?
For your own insurer at first, yes.
Towards the other side the law requires text form.
Does a game collision also have a one week deadline?
Yes, every incident that could lead to a payment must be reported within one week.
