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How much does insurance for a hydrogen car cost?

In short

How much does insurance for a hydrogen car cost? Rather a lot, because the type classes are high: Toyota Mirai liability 19 and comprehensive 29, Hyundai Nexo 19 to 20 and 27 to 28, on scales up to 25 and 34. In a published example with no-claims class 1, the Mirai cost about EUR 550 for liability, EUR 700 with partial or EUR 1,680 with comprehensive cover a year.

How much does insurance for a hydrogen car cost?

What it costs

Published premium examples for hydrogen cars in Germany. Your premium depends mainly on your no-claims class.

ExampleTypical range
Toyota Mirai, no-claims class 1, Hamburg, driver 25 and over, 15,000 km (2023)liability about EUR 553, partial about EUR 698, comprehensive about EUR 1,681 a year
Toyota Mirai, base rate 100 percentliability EUR 1,480, partial EUR 948, comprehensive EUR 3,940 a year
Hyundai Nexo, cost portal estimate without stated assumptionsliability about EUR 1,600, partial about EUR 820, comprehensive about EUR 3,620 a year
Range of the examples, comprehensiveabout EUR 1,680 to 3,940 a year

Published examples with different assumptions, not directly comparable.

With many claim-free years premiums are much lower; we obtain the exact quote.

Worked example

Is comprehensive cover worth it for a used Mirai?

Calculated with the figures from the 2023 used car test, no-claims class 1.

Purchase price of the test car, built 2020EUR 29,780
Partial cover per yearabout EUR 698
Comprehensive per yearabout EUR 1,681
Extra cost of comprehensiveabout EUR 983 a year

Here comprehensive costs almost EUR 1,000 more a year. For a car around EUR 30,000 it can pay off, for a Mirai bought for EUR 13,000 rather not.

What the type classes say about the price

In Germany the type class reflects how many and how expensive claims a model causes compared with others. The higher it is, the more expensive the policy. The Mirai's comprehensive class of 29 sits high on the scale up to 34, the Nexo's 27 and 28 as well.

For liability both are at 19 and 20, in the upper middle of the scale up to 25. The values come from the insurance industry's type class lookup, as of 30 September 2026. They are not binding; each insurer may use its own classes.

ModelManufacturer and type codeLiabilityPartial coverComprehensive
Toyota Mirai from 2021, 48 kW7104 / AAD192529
Hyundai Nexo from 2018, 32 kW8252 / AIQ192427
Hyundai Nexo from 2025, 50 kW8252 / AMK202428

What published examples show

A used car test from 2023 quotes for a Mirai with no-claims class 1, registered in Hamburg, drivers aged 25 and over and 15,000 km a year about EUR 553 for liability, EUR 698 with partial and EUR 1,681 with comprehensive cover. With many claim-free years it becomes much cheaper.

A car catalogue gives 100 percent base rates for the Mirai: EUR 1,480 liability, EUR 948 partial cover with EUR 150 and EUR 3,940 comprehensive with EUR 500 excess. That is a calculation figure before the no-claims discount, not an offer, but it shows how much comprehensive cover weighs.

Own damage cover: high new price, low used price

A new Mirai costs from about EUR 68,500. Used cars were offered for about EUR 12,900 to 54,000 according to the listings in a 2023 test. After a total loss, standard own damage cover pays only the replacement value.

For a new, leased or financed hydrogen car, new price or purchase price compensation and GAP cover are therefore important, so no gap to the outstanding debt remains. Also ask whether damage to the hydrogen tank and fuel cell is covered without a separate limit.

Filling stations, breakdown cover and garages

At the start of 2026 Germany had 50 publicly accessible hydrogen stations according to the network operator's data, compared with over 80 two years earlier. 48 of them dispense hydrogen at 700 bar, the pressure car tanks are designed for. A kilogram cost about EUR 18 on average in 2026.

Because the next station can be far away, check your breakdown cover: does it tow with an empty tank, and how far? Whether you may park in an underground garage depends on the operator's garage rules. Some explicitly allow gas-powered vehicles, so ask before renting a space.

Vehicle tax

Under Section 3d of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act, electric vehicles are exempt if first registered by 31 December 2030. The exemption runs for ten years, at the latest until 31 December 2035, and passes to the new owner on sale.

Under Section 9(2), an electric vehicle is one driven solely by electric motors supplied wholly or mainly from energy stores or from energy converters operated without emissions. Without the exemption, a car catalogue gives EUR 74 a year for the Mirai.

When partial cover is enough

For an older Mirai now worth only EUR 13,000 to 20,000, partial cover may be enough. It pays for theft, fire, hail and collisions with game, but not for an accident you caused.

For a new, leased or financed vehicle, comprehensive cover is hard to do without. A high excess of EUR 500 or 1,000 lowers the premium noticeably if you would pay small claims yourself anyway.

Step by step

  1. Read the manufacturer and type code from the registration certificate, fields 2.1 and 2.2.
  2. Look up the type classes in the insurance industry's type class lookup.
  3. Choose partial or comprehensive cover depending on value and financing.
  4. For new and leased cars, check new price compensation and GAP cover.
  5. Check that breakdown cover tows with an empty tank.
  6. Compare quotes with the same excess.

Checklist

  • Type classes of the exact model checked
  • Tank and fuel cell covered without a separate limit
  • New price or purchase price compensation for new cars
  • GAP cover for leasing or financing
  • Breakdown cover that tows with an empty tank
  • Parking space: garage rules allow gas-powered vehicles

Common mistakes

  • Calculating only with the purchase price of a used hydrogen car and overlooking the high comprehensive type class
  • Doing without GAP cover on a lease
  • Assuming every underground garage accepts hydrogen cars
  • Taking examples with no-claims class 1 as your own premium

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Is a hydrogen car more expensive to insure than an electric car?

That depends on the model, not the drive type.

Mirai and Nexo are high in comprehensive at 27 to 29,

so compare the type classes of the model you have in mind.

Do I have to tell the insurer it is a hydrogen car?

The insurer recognises the model from the manufacturer and type code.

Your details in the application must be correct, and you must always report modifications.

Does a hydrogen car pay vehicle tax?

Electric vehicles under Section 9(2) of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act are exempt if first registered

by the end of 2030, at the latest until 31.12.2035.

How many hydrogen filling stations are there?

At the start of 2026 Germany had 50 publicly accessible stations,

compared with over 80 two years earlier.

Plan longer trips in advance.

Are type classes recalculated every year?

Yes, the insurance industry recalculates them annually.

For the Nexo from 2018, the liability and comprehensive classes recently fell by one class each.

Is a high excess worth it?

Often yes.

Because comprehensive cover is expensive for hydrogen cars,

an excess of EUR 500 or 1,000 saves more money than on a cheap small car.

Sources

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