For many car insurance contracts in Germany, 30 November is an important deadline. If you want to change insurer, check now when your contract ends. (1)
Regular cancellation
Compulsory liability and comprehensive cover can be cancelled once a year, with one month’s notice before the end of the insurance year. If the insurance year matches the calendar year, as with many older contracts, your notice must reach the insurer by 30 November at the latest. What counts is the date of receipt, not the date you sent it. (1)
Many insurers now use other cut-off dates, so look at your policy. (1)
When the premium goes up
If the insurer raises the premium without changing the cover, you can cancel within one month of receiving the notice. The cancellation takes effect at the earliest when the increase starts. The insurer must point out this right in its notice and deliver it at least one month before the increase. (2)
If the notice only arrives at the end of November or in December, you have this special right to cancel even after 30 November. (1)
After a claim
Cancellation is also possible after an insured claim, but only up to one month after the settlement talks have ended. (1)
How to proceed
- Check the end date and cut-off in your policy.
- Send your cancellation by letter, fax or email. If time is short, the consumer advice centre suggests registered mail or a confirmation of receipt. (1)
- Before cancelling, make sure your cover continues without a gap.
You can read more about comparing and switching in our car insurance guide.
We do not give advice and do not recommend any particular insurer or tariff. The decision is yours.
Sources (checked on 23 October 2026)
- Verbraucherzentrale: Versicherungsvertrag kündigen (Stand 19.11.2025), verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/geld-versicherungen/weitere-versicherungen/versicherungsvertrag-kuendigen-wann-das-klappt-und-wie-sie-vorgehen-5442
- § 40 VVG, gesetze-im-internet.de/vvg_2008/__40.html