SF class in Germany: no-claims discount and how it works

In Germany, your SF class (Schadenfreiheitsklasse) is one of the key rating factors in car insurance. It reflects the number of claim-free years taken into account for pricing. The longer you drive without a claim being settled against you, the more favorable your classification can become for liability and full comprehensive cover. Your final premium still depends on other factors as well, including the vehicle, region, annual mileage, drivers, coverage and the insurer's tariff.

It is also important to distinguish between SF class and no-claims discount. The SF class reflects your insurance history and recognized claim-free years, while the percentage discount or contribution rate is set by each insurer according to its own scale. That is why the same SF class can produce different premiums with different insurers.

SF class in Germany: classification, downgrade, transfer and switching insurer

For a meaningful comparison, first identify your current SF class and keep the main details the same: vehicle, drivers, annual mileage, coverage and deductible. Only then should you change individual factors. This makes it easier to see whether a price difference really comes from the SF classification or from other policy settings.

Compare car insurance using your current SF class

Enter your ZIP code and use realistic information for the vehicle, drivers and annual mileage. For the first comparison, use the same SF class and level of coverage as in your current policy.

What is an SF class?

Schadenfreiheitsklasse reflects your claim history. In simple terms, the more claim-free insurance years that are recognized, the higher your SF class can become. If the insurer pays a liability or full comprehensive claim, you may be downgraded in the following insurance year. The exact downgrade rules depend on the insurer.

The SF class for motor liability and full comprehensive insurance is tracked separately. This means the two classifications can differ.

Does the SF class apply to partial comprehensive insurance?

Usually not. Partial comprehensive insurance is generally calculated without a Schadenfreiheitsklasse. A typical partial comprehensive claim, such as glass damage, hail or storm damage, therefore does not by itself reduce your SF class.

Which SF classes are there?

The exact system and conditions can vary by insurer. Standard SF classes are generally used for claim-free years, while special classes may apply in certain entry situations or after an unfavorable claims history.

SF class and no-claims discount: what is the difference?

The SF class and the no-claims discount are not the same thing. The SF class describes your classification, while the insurer assigns its own contribution rate to that class. As a result, the same SF class can produce a different final premium with two different insurers.

When switching insurer, it is therefore useful to look not only at the percentage shown on the old policy but also at the confirmed claims history that the previous insurer will report.

Where can I find my current SF class?

Your current SF class is usually shown on the latest premium statement or in your car insurance documents. If the information is unclear, you can ask your insurer. Before switching, it is also useful to check whether your current classification is a regular SF class or a special classification.

What happens to the SF class after a claim?

If the insurer settles a liability or full comprehensive claim, the SF class may be downgraded in the next insurance year. The extent of the downgrade is determined by the insurer's own downgrade table. This means the same claim can affect future premiums differently with different companies.

For smaller claims, it can sometimes be worth checking whether reimbursing the insurer for the claim amount is possible and financially sensible. The decision should be based on the actual claim amount, expected downgrade and future additional premiums.

What is no-claims protection?

No-claims protection can, depending on the tariff, prevent one claim from immediately worsening the premium-relevant classification with the current insurer. However, this protection is tied to the specific tariff. When you later switch insurer, the new company may take the actual claims history into account as if the old insurer's internal protection had not existed.

How does the second-car rule work?

Many insurers offer a more favorable starting classification for a second car than SF 0. The exact class and the requirements vary significantly by insurer. The policyholder, registered keeper, age of the drivers and the existing first-car insurance may all be relevant.

A second-car quote should therefore not be compared directly with a standard first-car policy without checking the classification rules.

Can an SF class be transferred to another person?

Under certain conditions, claim-free years can be transferred to another person, for example within a family. In general, the recipient cannot receive more claim-free years than they could realistically have accumulated since obtaining a driving licence. The person giving up the SF class may permanently lose the transferred classification.

The exact rules differ by insurer, so it is worth confirming in writing how many years will be recognized and what the consequences are for the current holder of the SF class.

What happens after a long break in insurance?

If you did not have your own car insurance policy for a longer period, an earlier claim-free history may still be relevant. How long old SF years are recognized differs by insurer. Before taking out a new policy, check which documents are required and which SF class will actually be offered.

Can foreign no-claims history be recognized?

Some insurers in Germany may recognize documented claim-free insurance history from another country. Whether and to what extent this is possible depends on the insurer and the available evidence. A certificate from the previous insurer, the insurance period and information about claims may be requested.

In this situation, compare not only the final premium but also the SF classification that is actually offered. Different insurers may assess the same foreign insurance history differently.

What happens to the SF class when you switch insurer?

When you move to another insurer, the new company asks the previous insurer to confirm your claims history. At that point, a special classification or additional discount from the old insurer may turn out not to be fully transferable. Each insurer also uses its own SF and contribution-rate tables.

If you are considering a switch, also read our guide to switching car insurance in Germany.

Frequently asked questions about SF class

Here are short answers to common questions about Schadenfreiheitsklasse.

Does a higher SF class always mean cheaper insurance?

Within one tariff, a better claim-free history usually leads to a more favorable classification. The total premium can still be higher than with another insurer because the vehicle, region, drivers, mileage and tariff model also affect the price.

Does partial comprehensive insurance have an SF class?

Generally, no. Schadenfreiheitsklasse is used for liability and full comprehensive insurance, but usually not for partial comprehensive cover.

Are the SF classes for liability and full comprehensive always the same?

No. They are tracked separately, so the SF classes can differ depending on your claims history.

Can a special discount be lost when switching insurer?

Yes. A special classification or additional discount from the previous insurer does not have to transfer automatically to the new company.

Where can I see the downgrade after an accident?

The exact downgrade is shown in the downgrade table for the specific insurer or tariff. There is no single universal table that applies to all insurers.

How to check your SF class before comparing

1) Check the premium statement: note the current SF class for liability and, if applicable, full comprehensive insurance.

2) Check for special classification: find out whether a second-car rule, no-claims protection or another special discount applies.

3) Keep the baseline unchanged: do not change the vehicle, drivers, mileage, coverage or deductible at first.

4) Compare the offers: look not only at the price but also at the SF class actually offered and the scope of cover.

5) Optimize afterwards: change mileage, driver scope, deductible and comprehensive cover one factor at a time.

For a structured comparison process, see How Autoabsichern.de works.

Additional insurance: home building

If you also want to insure a residential building, you can start a separate home building insurance comparison. The SF class from car insurance does not apply to home building insurance, where different property and risk characteristics are used.

Next step

First check your current SF class and whether a special classification applies. Then compare policies using the same baseline details. Only after that should you change individual factors one at a time. This makes it easier to see which offer genuinely fits your claims history and the level of protection you want.

Back to the car insurance comparison