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What does bike breakdown cover do in Germany?

In short

Bike breakdown cover (Fahrradschutzbrief) sends help after a breakdown, takes the bike to a workshop and on longer rides pays for a replacement bike, the trip home or a hotel. On its own it costs about EUR 20 to 25 a year. It does not replace bike insurance: theft and the repair itself are not paid.

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What does bike breakdown cover do in Germany?

What it costs

Published annual premiums for bike breakdown cover and bike assistance, 2026.

Example	Typical range
Bike breakdown cover only, one person	about EUR 20 to 24 a year
Bike breakdown cover only, partner or family	around EUR 30 a year
Cycling association membership with breakdown help in Germany	around EUR 66 a year, about EUR 12 extra abroad
Motoring club with bike breakdown help	about EUR 65 to 111 a year, car included

Guide values as of September 2026 from publicly quoted tariffs. The limits in the table come from published tariff overviews and vary a lot between providers.

Worked example

Broken spoke on a cycling holiday, 40 km from home

A couple is out on touring bikes when a rear wheel breaks in the afternoon. The workshop only has time the next morning.

Transport to the workshop, otherwise paid by you	about EUR 60 to 120
One night for two	about EUR 80 to 100 paid by the policy
New wheel and labour	paid by you
Family breakdown cover	around EUR 30 a year

One call out covers several years of premiums. Worked example with guide values, transport costs from our quoting practice.

What breakdown cover actually does

It is an assistance service, not insurance for the bike. You call an emergency number and help is organised: a mechanic who fixes the flat or the chain on the spot, or a transport that takes you and the bike to the nearest workshop.

If the bike cannot be ridden the same day, many policies pay for a rental bike for a few days, the train home or hotel nights. Trailers and luggage are usually included. The repair in the workshop, meaning parts and labour, you normally pay yourself.

Service	Typical range	What to watch
Roadside help	usually no fixed limit	often only for bikes and e-bikes up to 25 km/h
Transport to a workshop	often only from 10 km away from home	in your own town often not covered
Replacement bike	about 7 to 14 days, around EUR 50 a day	only if the bike cannot be ridden the same day
Overnight stay	up to 5 nights, EUR 80 to 100 a night	basic policies sometimes pay one night
Trip home or onward	depending on the policy up to about EUR 500	cheap policies cap at around EUR 50
Abroad	only in extended policies	Europe often costs extra

The 10 kilometre rule

Many policies pay for transport, replacement bike and hotel only if the breakdown happens at least 10 kilometres from your home. For city rides to work or the shops, often only the help on the spot applies.

If you commute 6 kilometres a day, you may get a mechanic but no transport. Read this point in the terms first, it decides how useful the cover is in daily life.

Already covered through a club?

Many people who move to Germany join a motoring club for their car, and several of these memberships include help for bike breakdowns. German cycling associations also offer breakdown help with membership. Check what you already have before you buy a separate policy.

The phone lines of these services usually work in English too, but it helps to know your exact location. Save the emergency number in your phone and share your location from a map app when you call.

When you do not need breakdown cover

If you only ride short distances in town, can fix a tube yourself and have a train station nearby, breakdown cover rarely pays off. Most breakdowns are a flat tyre.

Paying twice brings nothing, because only one service will pay after a breakdown. Some full bike policies also bring breakdown help with them.

When it is worth it

On cycling holidays of several days, rides far from stations and with heavy e-bikes or cargo bikes that you cannot simply push onto a train, breakdown cover is worth its price. Transport over 30 kilometres or two hotel nights quickly cost more than ten years of premiums.

With children in a trailer it is also a relief to get moving again quickly instead of waiting at the roadside for a solution.

Step by step

Check whether a club, your car breakdown cover or your bike policy already includes bike help.
Consider how far you usually ride: only in town or also tours over 10 km.
Compare the distance rule, replacement bike, hotel and cover abroad in the terms.
With a family, choose a family policy, it costs only a little more.
Save the emergency number and call it first after a breakdown instead of booking help yourself.

Checklist

No double breakdown cover through a club or bike policy
Distance rule fits your routes
E-bike, cargo bike and trailer explicitly included
Cover abroad if you plan cycling holidays
Emergency number saved

Common mistakes

Taking breakdown cover for theft or damage insurance
Booking a taxi or transport yourself and expecting a refund later
Overlooking that breakdowns near home are often only fixed on the spot

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Does bike breakdown cover pay for the repair?

Usually only the help on the spot and the way to the workshop. Parts and labour there are paid by you or your bike insurance.

Does it cover e-bikes?

For pedelecs up to 25 km/h usually yes. S-pedelecs count as motor vehicles and are often excluded, check your terms.

Does it help after a theft?

No, the value of the bike is only replaced by contents insurance with a bike add-on or a bike policy. Some policies pay the trip home after a theft on the road.

Am I already covered through my motoring club?

Often yes. Many clubs include bike breakdowns, though sometimes with low limits such as one night or EUR 50 travel costs.

Can I call in English?

Most assistance lines can help in English. Having your exact location ready saves time.

Does it apply abroad?

Basic policies apply only in Germany. For Europe you usually need an extended policy that costs a few euros more.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

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