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What happens to your car insurance when you re-register your car in Germany?

In short

What happens when you re-register your car in Germany after a move: your car insurance simply continues, you need no new eVB and you keep your no-claims class. From the day of re-registration the regional class of your new home applies, and in one model calculation even neighbouring towns were 28 to 41 percent apart. When your car gets a new keeper, the policy passes to the buyer.

What happens to your car insurance when you re-register your car in Germany?

What it costs

Fees using Berlin as an example and premium differences between regions from a published model calculation.

ExampleTypical range
Address change within the same district, BerlinEUR 8.43 online, EUR 11.40 to 12.60 in person
Re-registration after moving to Berlin, base feeEUR 17.50
Transfer to a new keeper, Berlinfrom EUR 19.60 in person, less online
Liability premium difference between neighbouring townsabout 28 percent
Comprehensive premium difference between neighbouring townsabout 41 percent
Difference between Berlin and Emden in the model calculationup to 61 percent

Fees as of November 2026, they vary by registration office, number plates cost extra.

The premiums in the worked example are a guide value from our quoting practice.

We are happy to work out what the move means for your premium; we obtain the exact quote.

Worked example

Moving from Kleinmachnow to Berlin Nikolassee

Compact car with liability and comprehensive cover, the number plate is kept. Re-registration takes place on 1 March, the insurance year runs to 31 December.

Liability beforeEUR 300 a year
Liability after re-registration (plus 28 percent)about EUR 384 a year
Comprehensive beforeEUR 500 a year
Comprehensive after re-registration (plus 41 percent)about EUR 705 a year
Extra premium for March to Decemberabout EUR 241

Same car, same driver, same number plate: about EUR 289 more per year, only because of the new regional class. Calculation with guide values.

Three cases, three outcomes for the policy

In everyday German, ummelden (re-registering) means two different things: you move and change the address on the registration, or the car gets a new keeper. For the insurance this makes a big difference.

CaseWhat happens to the insuranceeVB needed
Move within the same registration districtpolicy continues, regional class usually staysno
Move to another districtpolicy continues, new regional class from the re-registration dateno
Sale, buyer re-registerspolicy passes to the buyer, who can cancel within one monthyes, from the buyer
Car goes to a family memberas with a sale; on request, the person who mainly drove the car can take over the claims historyyes

Why the premium goes up or down after a move

The premium also depends on where you live. What counts is the address the registration office reports to your insurer, not the letters on your number plate. Under the model conditions of the German insurers association, the new regional class applies from the day of re-registration.

A model calculation for a compact car shows the effect: between Berlin Nikolassee and neighbouring Kleinmachnow, comprehensive cover differed by 41 percent, partial cover by 39 percent and liability by 28 percent. Between Berlin and Emden the gap reached 61 percent.

Cancelling because of a higher premium

If your premium rises because you moved, the model conditions give you no special right to cancel. That right only applies there when the insurer itself raises the premium because of new type or regional classes in the annual review.

You can still cancel at the end of the insurance year, your notice must reach the insurer at least one month before. If you move to a more expensive area, compare offers before that date.

When the registration office is all you need

If you move within the same town or district, changing the address in registration certificate part I (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I) is enough. The insurer learns about it through the registration office, you need neither a cancellation nor a new application.

If you do not report the move, the registration authority can ban use of the car. Re-register promptly, many offices also offer this online. As a newcomer, register your address at the citizens office (Bürgeramt) first.

Step by step

  1. Register your new address at the citizens office and keep the registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) at hand.
  2. Re-register at the registration office, in person or online, and decide whether to keep your number plate.
  3. Check your insurer's new premium notice, it applies from the day of re-registration.
  4. If the premium is much higher, compare offers before the notice deadline at the end of the year.
  5. If the keeper changes, get the new keeper's eVB and report the sale to the insurer.

Checklist

  • Registration certificate part I with security code at hand
  • ID and proof of your new address
  • Inspection report (HU) if the inspection is due
  • New regional class checked on the premium notice
  • Notice deadline one month before the end of the insurance year noted

Common mistakes

  • Believing the old number plate keeps the old regional class
  • Putting off re-registration for months
  • Taking out new insurance just because you moved
  • Letting the buyer re-register after a sale without telling your insurer

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

What happens to the car insurance when re-registering after a sale?

It passes to the buyer, who can cancel within one month of buying.

Your no-claims class stays with you.

Do I need an eVB to re-register after moving?

No, as long as the keeper stays the same.

The registration office reports your new address to the insurer.

Do I have to tell my insurer about the move myself?

The insurer learns about it from the registration office.

A short message still helps so that letters and premium notices reach you.

Can I keep my old number plate after moving?

Yes, even in another registration district.

You have to tell the office that you want to keep it.

Can I cancel straight away because the premium rose after the move?

Not under the model conditions.

You can cancel at the end of the insurance year, at least one month before.

Does my no-claims class change when I move?

No.

It depends on your claims history, not where you live.

Only the regional class changes.

Sources

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