How do I insure a 125cc motorbike with a B196 licence in Germany?
In short
How do I insure a 125cc motorbike with a B196 licence in Germany? Like any motorbike: get an eVB number from the insurer and register the bike with official plates. Liability is mandatory and costs experienced riders from about EUR 14 to 45 a year, with partial cover about EUR 20 to 95. There is no B196 surcharge, but the licence is only valid in Germany.
How the premium adds up for a commuter insuring a motorbike for the first time.
B196 training and entry
one-off, cost depends on the driving school
Liability, entry class for motorcycles
about EUR 50 to 90
Partial cover with EUR 150 deductible
about EUR 30 to 60
Seasonal plates March to October
saves part of that
Together about EUR 80 to 150 a year, less with seasonal plates. The premium falls with every claim-free year.
What a B196 licence allows
With code 196 in your German car licence you may ride light motorcycles (Leichtkrafträder), including with a sidecar. The limits are set in the Driving Licence Regulation (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung): at most 125 cc, at most 11 kW and a power to weight ratio of at most 0.1 kW per kilogram.
You can get the entry from the age of 25 and once you have held class B for at least five years. Before that you complete theory and practical training at a driving school, but no test. No more than twelve months may pass between the end of the training and the entry in your licence. If you hold a licence from another country, check first whether you need to exchange it for a German one.
Point
Rule for B196
Minimum age
25 years
Class B held
at least five years
Engine size and power
up to 125 cc and 11 kW
Test
none, only training with a certificate
Where valid
Germany only
How to insure the 125cc step by step
A light motorcycle needs official registration with number plates. Ask the insurer for an eVB number (electronic insurance confirmation). The registration office (Zulassungsstelle) uses it to register the bike, and liability cover starts on the day of registration.
In the application the insurer asks about your licence. State class B with code 196. Rating by model, address and no-claims history works the same as for a rider with class A1. A separate surcharge for B196 is not usual.
No-claims class: why your car years do not count automatically
German insurers keep a separate no-claims class (Schadenfreiheitsklasse) for motorcycles. Without a previous motorcycle policy you usually start in an entry class, even after 20 accident-free years in a car. Years from a foreign policy are only recognised if the insurer agrees.
Some insurers rate customers with a claim-free car policy in the same company more favourably. This is not automatic. For a 125cc bike the difference in euros is small, because the basic premium is already low.
The border is the main catch
Your insurance applies throughout Europe, but your licence for the 125cc only applies in Germany. Ride across the border and you are riding there without a valid licence.
Liability insurance still pays the victim of an accident. But the insurer may claim the money back from you, up to EUR 5,000, because riding without the required licence breaches your obligations. Under casco, cover may be lost entirely. If you plan trips abroad, you need class A1 or A2 with a test.
Do you need more than liability?
Partial cover (Teilkasko) mainly pays for theft, fire, storm, hail and collisions with animals. Scooters and small motorbikes are often stolen, so it makes sense for almost any new or nearly new 125cc.
Comprehensive cover (Vollkasko) also pays for your own falls and accidents you cause. It makes sense for a financed bike or in the first years. For a 125cc that is only worth two or three thousand euros it rarely pays off.
Step by step
Check the bike stays within the limits: 125 cc, 11 kW, 0.1 kW per kilogram.
Complete the training and have code 196 entered.
Compare quotes with the same cover amount and the same casco level.
Request an eVB number and register the bike with official plates.
If theft is a risk, choose partial cover and state where the bike is parked correctly.
Checklist
Code 196 entered in your licence
Bike within the light motorcycle limits
Liability with EUR 100 million flat cover instead of the legal minimum
Partial cover for a new or theft-prone bike
Helmet and protective clothing included in the policy
No trips abroad without class A1 or A2
Common mistakes
Riding the 125cc across the border and risking recourse
Buying a restricted bigger bike that does not meet the limits
Stating class A1 in the application when only B196 is entered
Choosing liability only for a new scooter that is easily stolen
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Is insurance more expensive with B196 than with class A1?
Usually not.
Insurers rate by bike, address, age and no-claims history.
The type of licence normally makes no difference to the premium.
Can I ride to Austria or Italy with B196?
No.
Code 196 is only valid in Germany.
Abroad you would be riding without a valid licence,
and the insurer could claim up to EUR 5,000 back from you.
Do I need a small insurance plate for a 125cc?
No.
The small insurance plate is for mopeds and scooters up to 45 km/h.
A light motorcycle is registered and gets official number plates.
Will my claim-free years from my car count?
Not automatically.
The motorcycle has its own no-claims class.
Some insurers rate customers with a claim-free car policy more favourably, so ask about it.
Can someone else ride my 125cc?
Yes, if they hold a suitable licence, A1, A2, A or also B196,
and the policy does not restrict riders.
Name young riders in the application.
Are seasonal plates worth it?
If you do not ride in winter, yes.
You only pay for the registered months.
Outside the season the bike may not be used on public roads.
