Do I get money back if I drive fewer kilometres in Germany?
In short
Do I get money back if I drive fewer kilometres in Germany? For the current insurance year usually yes: under the model terms a changed annual mileage (Jahresfahrleistung) applies back to the start of that year. For past years you have no claim, only goodwill. Moving from 10,000 to 5,000 kilometres saves about 12 percent on average.
Average savings per mileage band from a German tariff analysis and rules from the model terms, September 2026.
Example
Typical range
5,000 instead of 10,000 km
on average 12 percent cheaper
15,000 instead of 20,000 km
on average 11 percent cheaper
2,000 instead of 5,000 km
on average 4 percent cheaper
Back dating of the new mileage
to the start of the current insurance year, up to 12 months
Savings from a published tariff analysis; your insurer may use other bands and rates.
The EUR 600 premium in the example is an estimate from quoting practice.
Worked example
Commuter starts working from home in March
Insurance year equals calendar year, 10,000 kilometres declared, annual premium EUR 600 paid in advance. In September she sees she will stay under 5,000.
New band up to 5,000 km
about 12 percent less
New annual premium
about EUR 528
Refund for the current year
about EUR 72
Previous year, also with low mileage
goodwill only
She gets about EUR 72 back because the change applies to the whole current year. Reporting it the year before would have paid off too.
How you get money back
Annual mileage is one of the factors behind your premium. If it changes, the insurer recalculates. For most factors the new premium applies from the day of the change; for annual mileage the German model terms make an exception: the new premium applies back to the start of the current insurance year.
In a 2026 survey, six of eight responding car insurers confirmed this back dating. None regularly refunds past years. Make sure the current premium is recalculated rather than a credit for next year, which only helps if you stay.
How much fewer kilometres save
You only save if you drop into a lower mileage band. Each insurer sets its own limits; the lowest band often goes up to 5,000 or 6,000 kilometres. The table shows average savings from a 2026 tariff analysis.
Change in mileage
Average saving
2,000 instead of 5,000 km
4 percent
5,000 instead of 10,000 km
12 percent
10,000 instead of 15,000 km
7 percent
15,000 instead of 20,000 km
11 percent
20,000 instead of 25,000 km
9 percent
When you drive less than you thought
Typical reasons are a new job closer to home, working from home, retirement or children moving out. The odometer tells you: today's reading minus the reading a year ago. For comparison, petrol cars covered 8,406 kilometres on average in 2025 and battery electric cars 11,312.
Report the change in writing, by app or customer portal, and get the new mileage, the amount and the date of the premium change confirmed.
Careful with understating
The insurer may check your details and ask for proof, such as a photo of the odometer. If you stated too little, the correct premium applies back to the start of the current insurance year. For deliberately wrong details the model terms add a contractual penalty, and false statements can end up in the insurers' alert system.
So estimate cautiously but honestly. You can always report more kilometres later.
When a pay per kilometre tariff fits
If you drive less than 6,000 kilometres a year, a tariff with a base premium plus a charge per kilometre can be cheaper than a band up to 6,000. Such tariffs are often linked to telematics. If you end up driving more, it can cost more than a fixed band.
Step by step
Read the odometer and project it to a full year.
Look up the agreed mileage in your policy.
Report the change in writing, by app or portal.
Ask for a recalculation from the start of the current insurance year, not a credit.
For earlier years ask for goodwill and show the odometer reading.
Checklist
Current odometer reading noted
Agreed mileage known
Insurer's mileage bands checked
Change confirmed in writing
Reminder set for the yearly check
Common mistakes
Copying last year's mileage without checking
Accepting a credit for next year and then switching insurer
Deliberately understating and paying back after an accident
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
How far back can I change my mileage?
Under the model terms to the start of the current insurance year.
Do I get money for earlier years?
You have no entitlement.
Some insurers show goodwill in individual cases.
How do I prove my mileage?
Usually the odometer reading is enough, for example as a photo or from the inspection report.
What if I drive more than declared?
Report it.
Otherwise the premium is recalculated back, and deliberate understating can bring a penalty.
