Regionalklasse: how your postcode affects car insurance in Germany

Moving within Germany can change your car insurance premium even if nothing else changes – same car, same no-claims class, same driver. The reason is the Regionalklasse (regional class). It reflects the claims record of the registration district where your car is registered, and it is the main reason every German comparison form asks for your postcode (PLZ) first.

This guide explains how regional classes are calculated, what the scales look like and what you can do if your area is moved to a more expensive class.

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What is the Regionalklasse?

Germany has more than 400 vehicle registration districts (Zulassungsbezirke). Once a year, the German Insurance Association (GDV) rates each of them according to its claims record. The better the record, the lower the class – and the more favourable its effect on your premium tends to be.

Like the type class for car models, the regional statistics are not binding on insurers. Most use them as a rating factor, but every company sets its own prices. A change in regional class therefore tells you nothing definite about your total premium.

How the GDV calculates it

For liability insurance (Kfz-Haftpflicht), the GDV looks at how many claims drivers registered in a district cause, relative to the number of cars registered there, and how expensive those claims are on average. Accident black spots can push a district above average. For comprehensive cover (Kasko), theft rates, storm and hail damage and collisions with game animals are added.

The result is converted into an index where 100 is the national average. Below 100 means a better record than average, above 100 a worse one. According to the GDV, large cities often score worse than rural areas.

Three regional classes per district

Each district has a separate class for each type of cover:

Type of cover	Regional classes	National average (index 100) equals
Liability (Haftpflicht)	1 to 12	class 6
Partial cover (Teilkasko)	1 to 16	class 7
Fully comprehensive (Vollkasko)	1 to 9	class 4

Source: GDV. A district can be expensive for liability but cheap for partial cover – for example, if accidents are frequent but thefts and storm damage are rare.

It is where the car is registered that counts

A common misconception: the regional class has nothing to do with where an accident happens. What matters is where the car is registered, which normally means the district where the registered keeper (Halter) lives. If you live in a district with a good record and commute into a big city every day, you still benefit from your home district's class.

In a comparison, your postcode is simply the tool used to match your address to the right district. Always enter the PLZ where the car is, or will be, registered. Why identical inputs matter for fair quotes is explained on our English car insurance comparison page.

Your regional class has gone up – what now?

The GDV publishes new regional statistics once a year. For the vast majority of drivers nothing changes, but some districts move up or down. Insurers may apply the new classes immediately to new policies and to existing ones from the next insurance year.

If your insurer raises your premium because your district has been reclassified, and your cover stays the same, you normally have a special right to cancel (Sonderkündigungsrecht). Your notice must reach the insurer within one month of receiving the letter. A change in class without a price increase does not give you that right. Deadlines and steps are covered in our guide to switching car insurance in Germany.

What happens when you move?

If you move to a different registration district, you have to update the car's registration there, and you will usually need an eVB number from your insurer to do so. From then on, the new district's regional class applies. If that class is more expensive, the change comes from your side, so under standard policy terms it does not create a special right to cancel. Moving to a district with a better record can lower your premium. Before you move, it is worth running a quote with your new postcode.

What you can do in an expensive district

You are unlikely to move house because of car insurance, but other factors are in your hands:

Annual mileage: a realistic, lower figure often reduces the premium – but it must be accurate.
Parking: a garage or carport can help, especially for comprehensive cover.
Deductible and garage network: check both for your Kasko cover.
Named drivers: limit the driver circle to the people who actually drive the car.
Payment frequency: paying annually is cheaper than monthly instalments with many insurers.

For more ideas, see our tips on how to lower your car insurance premium in Germany and the overview of car insurance cost factors.

Frequently asked questions about the regional class

How can I find the regional class for my area?

The GDV publishes a regional class lookup (Regionalklassen-Abfrage) on its website every year. It shows your district's classes for liability, partial and fully comprehensive cover, and the change from the previous year.

Does my workplace's regional class matter?

No. What counts is the district where the car is registered, which is normally where the registered keeper lives – not where you drive or where damage occurs.

How often do regional classes change?

The GDV recalculates them once a year. Existing policies can be reclassified from the next insurance year.

Can I cancel my policy after moving to a more expensive area?

Usually not. Moving is a change on your side. A special right to cancel typically arises when the insurer raises your premium because your district itself has been reclassified.

Do all insurers use the GDV regional classes?

The regional statistics are non-binding. Most insurers use them as a rating factor, but each one calculates its own premiums.

Next step

Compare quotes using the postcode where your car is registered, and keep all other details the same at first.

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