- Price
- €7.95incl. VAT, 2 pages included
- Delivery time
- Next business dayusually, after handover to the post
- Proof
- Delivery recordinto the letterbox, + tracking
- Handed to the post
- Upload by 12:00Central European Time on a business day, posted the same day
- Counts as
- Domestic registered mailprinted and posted in Germany
Does the notice have to go by registered mail?
No. For contracts made since October 2016, the policy terms may not ask for a stricter form than text form. Email, fax, the cancellation form in the customer portal or an ordinary letter is enough.
What counts is receipt by the insurer, not the date you sent it. If the insurer later says nothing arrived, you have to prove it did. So ask for a written confirmation when you cancel by email or portal, or send the notice as registered mail (Einschreiben).
Will the notice still arrive in time?
A PDF uploaded on a business day by 12:00 Central European time is printed in Germany the same business day and handed to Deutsche Post as Einschreiben Einwurf. Delivery is usually the next business day. For 30 November that means uploading by Thursday, 26 November, at 12:00 Central European time at the latest, so one business day is left in reserve. Earlier is better.
Einschreiben Einwurf records posting and the drop into the insurer's letterbox. In court the online tracking status is not always enough on its own; if there is a dispute, ask Deutsche Post for the delivery record (Auslieferungsbeleg).
What else matters when you switch?
Motor liability insurance is compulsory. Take out the new policy from 1 January before the old one ends, so there is no gap. The new insurer gives you an electronic insurance confirmation for that.
Your no-claims discount moves with you: the new insurer asks the old one for it.
Which deadlines apply for 2027?
| Reason | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Ordinary notice, insurance year is the calendar year | Received by Monday, 30 November 2026, ends 31 December 2026 |
| Other insurance year | One month before the renewal date on the policy schedule |
| Premium rise without better cover | Within one month of receiving the notice of the rise, also after 30 November |
| After a claim | Within one month of the claim being settled |
| Buying a car that is still registered and insured | Within one month of the purchase, with immediate effect |
The notice period is usually one month to the end of the insurance year. For many policies, especially older ones, the insurance year is the calendar year: the notice must then reach the insurer on Monday, 30 November 2026. More and more insurers set other renewal dates. Yours is on the policy schedule (Versicherungsschein).
How do you cancel German car insurance by registered mail?
- Take out the new policyFrom 1 January, so liability cover runs on without a gap.
- Write the cancellationWith the policy number and the number plate.
- Upload by 26 NovemberBy 12:00 Central European time, leaving one business day spare.
- Wait for confirmationKeep the tracking number until the insurer confirms.
Sample cancellation letter in German
No reason is needed for an ordinary cancellation. For a special cancellation, give the reason, such as the premium increase, and the date of the notice. In German, the language of your insurer. Replace the parts in brackets.
[Vorname Nachname]
[Anschrift]
[Versicherer]
[Anschrift]
Versicherungsscheinnummer: [Nummer]
Kennzeichen: [Kennzeichen]
Kündigung meiner Kfz-Versicherung
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
hiermit kündige ich die Kfz-Haftpflicht- und Kaskoversicherung für das oben genannte Fahrzeug fristgerecht zum 31.12.2026, hilfsweise zum nächstmöglichen Termin.
Bitte bestätigen Sie mir die Kündigung schriftlich.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
[Vorname Nachname]
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to cancel German car insurance by registered mail?
No. Text form is enough, so email or the customer portal also works. Registered mail helps prove the notice arrived in time.
When must the notice reach the insurer?
If your insurance year is the calendar year, on Monday, 30 November 2026. Receipt counts, not the postmark.
Can I still cancel after 30 November?
Yes, if the insurer raises the premium without improving the cover. You then have one month from receiving the notice. There is also a right to cancel after a claim.
Should I cancel first or take out the new policy first?
Take out the new policy from 1 January and cancel the old one in time. Motor liability cover is compulsory, so there must be no gap.
Is a printed signature enough?
Yes. Text form is enough for this notice, so a handwritten signature is not needed.
Does registered mail prove the contents?
No registered letter proves the contents. Your proof PDF does contain the printed letter, so you can show what you sent.