# Motorcycle insurance in Germany: what you need before your first ride > Every registered motorcycle in Germany needs third-party liability insurance, whether it is a 125 or a big touring bike. Partial or fully comprehensive cover is optional and depends on what the bike is worth. With a seasonal plate you only pay for the months you actually ride. Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-motorcycle-insurance.php Updated: 2026-10-31 ## What motorcycle insurance do I need in Germany? Only third-party liability is mandatory under the Compulsory Insurance Act. It pays for damage you cause to others. Teilkasko, partial cover, pays for your own bike after theft, fire, storm, hail and collisions with game animals. A crash you cause yourself, or dropping the bike while turning, is only covered by Vollkasko, fully comprehensive cover. For a new or financed bike that is nearly always worth it. ## At a glance - **Mandatory?:** Yes, liability under the Compulsory Insurance Act for every registered motorcycle - **Legal minimum cover:** EUR 7.5m injury, EUR 1.3m property, EUR 50,000 financial loss per accident - **Seasonal plate:** between 2 and 11 months a year, one continuous period - **Off season:** free lay-up cover, bike must be kept on private ground - **Mopeds up to 45 km/h:** insurance plate, valid from 1 March to the end of February - **Registration:** needs an eVB number, an electronic proof of insurance from the insurer ## Liability, Teilkasko, Vollkasko: the motorcycle difference Liability works as it does for cars. It pays for injury, property damage and financial loss suffered by others and defends you against unfounded claims. Motorcycle accidents often cause serious injuries, so the legal minimum of EUR 7.5 million for injury can run out. Good policies offer far higher cover for little extra. For your own bike the key point is the crash. Sliding off on gravel, a mistake in a bend or tipping the bike over in a car park is not a partial cover claim. Only Vollkasko pays for that. Theft, one of the most common motorcycle losses, is already covered by Teilkasko. ## Seasonal plates and lay-up cover Many German riders register their bike with a Saisonkennzeichen, a seasonal plate. The bike is then registered for a fixed period each year, at least two and at most eleven months, and both premium and vehicle tax drop accordingly. The season cannot be split, so February to March and then again from May is not possible. Outside the season a free Ruheversicherung, lay-up cover, applies. The bike must stay on private ground, in a garage or private parking space, never on a public road. If you have Teilkasko, theft, fire, hail and marten damage usually remain covered during this time. Vollkasko is suspended. ## Coming from abroad: no-claims record and registration German insurers price motorcycle cover by no-claims class, model type class, regional class, power and engine size. Your no-claims history from another country is not recognised automatically. Some insurers accept a claims certificate from your previous insurer, others start you in a lower class. It pays to ask before you sign. To register the bike you need an eVB number from your insurer. Helmet and riding gear are a separate question: some policies cover a helmet stolen from the bike only if it was locked to it, others offer an add-on for helmet and clothing after an accident. ## What is covered - Injury, property damage and financial loss you cause to others with your motorcycle - Defence against unfounded claims - Teilkasko: theft, fire, explosion, storm, hail, lightning, flooding - Teilkasko: collision with game animals, depending on the policy with any animal - Vollkasko: crash and accident you caused yourself, vandalism - Lay-up cover in the off season while the bike is on private ground - Helmet and protective clothing if the policy explicitly includes them ## What is not covered - Crashes and drops without Vollkasko - Track days and racing events, as a rule excluded - Wear and tear on tyres, brakes, chain and engine - Loose items such as a mobile sat nav or tail bag, usually - Riding without a valid licence or under the influence, with recourse against you - Parking on a public road during lay-up cover ## Who needs it - Anyone registering a motorcycle, light motorcycle or scooter in Germany - Owners of new or financed bikes, for whom Vollkasko makes sense - Seasonal riders who want to save with a seasonal plate - Riders with expensive helmets and gear - Owners of mopeds and scooters up to 45 km/h, who need an insurance plate ## Who does not need it - Vollkasko for an older bike of low value if you could absorb a total loss yourself ## What it costs Motorcycle premiums in Germany vary at least as much as car premiums. The same bike can cost several times as much depending on rider, postcode and claims history, so we show the factors rather than figures. **What drives the premium:** - No-claims class, a separate contract from your car - Type class of the model, based on claims experience - Power in kW and engine size - Regional class of where you live - Season length, who rides and the youngest rider's age - Deductible in partial and fully comprehensive cover - Garage, payment frequency, add-ons for helmet and gear _We do not quote ranges because they are meaningless without bike, rider and season. Your premium is only fixed in the quote._ ## The policy levels on the market - **Liability only:** The legal minimum. For older bikes where you could bear theft or a crash yourself. - **Liability and Teilkasko:** Protects your own bike against theft, fire, weather and game collisions, but not against your own crash. - **Liability and Vollkasko:** Adds crashes you cause and vandalism. For new, expensive or financed bikes. ## How to recognise a good policy | Criterion | Minimum standard | Strong policy | Why it matters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Liability cover | legal minimum, EUR 7.5m for injury | EUR 50m to 100m in total, high limit per injured person | Lifelong care and pension claims after a serious crash can exceed the minimum. | | New or purchase price compensation | replacement value only | new price in the first 12 to 24 months, then purchase price | Bikes lose value quickly, and theft often hits newer models. | | Helmet and gear | not covered | covered after theft and accident up to a fixed amount | A good helmet and suit easily cost more than a thousand euros. | | Gross negligence waiver | payout may be reduced | full waiver except for alcohol and drugs | Missing a stop sign could otherwise cut your claim. | | Teilkasko during lay-up | only liability rests free of charge | partial cover continues in winter storage | Garage thefts and hail do not stop when the season ends. | | Recognition of foreign no-claims years | start in a low class | foreign claims certificate accepted | Years of claims-free riding abroad can cut the premium considerably. | ## Insurers on the German market Nearly every German motor insurer covers motorcycles. Some large ones sell only direct and do not work with brokers; we list them so you know the market. This is an overview, not a statement about who we work with. - **HUK-COBURG**: large motor insurer with its own sales force, does not work with brokers - **Allianz**: tied agents and brokers - **R+V**: insurer of the cooperative banks - **VHV**: strong in broker distribution, motor focus - **ADAC Autoversicherung**: insurer linked to the German automobile club ADAC, mainly direct - **BavariaDirekt**: direct insurer of the Versicherungskammer Bayern group - **AXA**: tied agents and brokers - **DEVK**: mutual-led group, own sales force - **Württembergische**: part of the W&W group, agents and brokers 106 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance. (Kraftfahrzeug-Haftpflicht, Kraftfahrzeug-Kasko). Source: BaFin company database, 2026-09-18; EU insurers without a German office excluded. ## Typical claims and who pays - **Bike stolen from underground car park** (value of the bike, often several thousand euros): Every Teilkasko pays for theft, but a basic policy pays only replacement value. Strong policies pay the new or purchase price in the first months. - **Helmet stolen from the handlebar** (around EUR 300 to 800): Basic policies cover only the bike. Strong ones include the helmet, often only if it was locked to the bike. - **Dropped while turning** (around EUR 300 to 2,000 for fairing, levers and mirrors): Teilkasko never pays for a drop. Only Vollkasko does, minus the deductible. - **Swerved to avoid a deer, crashed** (several thousand euros on the bike): Without contact with the animal there is no game collision under many policies. Strong ones pay as rescue costs, or Vollkasko pays. - **Hail during winter lay-up** (around EUR 500 to 3,000): Teilkasko usually continues during lay-up cover, provided the bike is on private ground and not on the street. - **Crash on a track day** (from a scratch to a write-off): Racetrack riding is excluded from road policies, Vollkasko included. You need separate track day insurance. ## Myth or truth - „With a seasonal plate my bike is not insured at all in winter." ✘ Wrong. Free lay-up cover applies outside the season, and with Teilkasko the bike usually stays covered against theft, fire and hail on private ground. - „During the seasonal break the bike must not be parked on the street." ✔ Correct. An unregistered vehicle may not be left on a public road, and lay-up cover applies only on private ground. - „Teilkasko pays if I slide off on wet leaves." ✘ No. A crash is an accident to your own vehicle and only Vollkasko pays for it. - „A 45 km/h scooter in Germany needs an insurance plate rather than a registration." ✔ True. Mopeds and scooters up to 45 km/h carry a small insurance plate that has to be renewed every March. - „My car's no-claims class also applies to my motorcycle." ✘ Wrong. Each vehicle has its own contract and its own class. Some insurers rate a bike more favourably as a second vehicle, but that is an offer, not a rule. ## Common mistakes - Taking Teilkasko and assuming your own crash is covered - Parking the bike on the street during the seasonal break - Not asking whether your foreign no-claims years are recognised - Buying an expensive helmet without checking whether it is insured - Assuming a track day is covered by the road policy ## FAQ ### What is a Saisonkennzeichen? A seasonal registration plate. Your bike is registered for the same period each year, between two and eleven months in one stretch, for example March to October. You pay premium and tax only for that period. ### Is my bike insured outside the season? Yes, through free lay-up cover, as long as it stays on private ground. With Teilkasko, theft, fire and hail usually remain covered. Vollkasko is suspended. ### Will my no-claims record from home count in Germany? Not automatically. Some insurers accept a claims certificate from your previous insurer and place you in a better class, others do not. Bring the certificate, ideally in English or German. ### Does Teilkasko pay if I drop the bike? No. Dropping or crashing the bike is an accident to your own vehicle, which only Vollkasko covers. If a storm blows it over, that is a Teilkasko claim. ### Do I need insurance for a 45 km/h scooter? Yes. Mopeds and scooters up to 45 km/h and 50 cc need an insurance plate instead of a registration. It runs from 1 March to the end of February and its colour changes every year. ### Is my helmet insured if it is stolen? It depends on the policy. Some only replace a helmet that was locked to the bike, others offer a separate add-on. Without that, your household contents insurance may help. ### Am I covered on a track day? As a rule, no. Racetrack riding and training events are almost always excluded from road policies. Separate track day insurance exists for that. ### How does a broker help with motorcycle insurance? A broker compares terms such as new price compensation, helmet cover and lay-up protection, not just price, and can explain them in English. Direct insurers that do not work with brokers cannot be arranged this way. ## Legal basis and sources - [Insurance Contract Act (VVG, German)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/vvg_2008/) - [BaFin company database (licensed insurers)](https://portal.mvp.bafin.de/database/InstInfo/) ## Request quotes We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-motorcycle-insurance.php#anfrage --- Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT. Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act. Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company. It does not arrange your contract. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.