German insurers update regional classes with better car insurance ratings for 5.2 million drivers

Shift in motor liability classes

The German Insurance Association (GDV) completed its annual recalculation of regional claims statistics across all 413 vehicle registration districts in Germany. The resulting regional classes determine risk levels for third-party motor liability and comprehensive vehicle policies. In motor third-party liability, the classification will change for 23.5% of insured drivers. Approximately 5.2 million motorists across 63 registration districts will move into lower, more favourable regional classes, while 4.8 million drivers in 46 districts will see their ratings rise. For more than 32 million vehicle owners in 304 districts, the existing classification remains in place.

GDV Managing Director Jörg Asmussen described the broad distribution of the recalculations across the country.

For 5.2 million motorists from 63 registration districts, the regional class improves; for 4.8 million from 46 districts, it rises.

Urban and rural damage disparities

Regional classifications reflect where vehicle owners reside rather than where individual collisions take place. The index spans twelve distinct risk categories for motor liability, with higher classes indicating higher claim costs. The city of Offenbach in Hesse retained the worst claims record in Germany, remaining in the highest regional class 12 with liability claim expenses running up to 39% above the national average. Gelsenkirchen and Berlin followed in second and third position, while Wiesbaden placed fifth nationwide.

Conversely, rural areas consistently reported lower damage frequency. The district of Elbe-Elster in Brandenburg recorded the best damage balance across Germany, with liability claims roughly 33% below the nationwide average. Low claim averages also appeared in Prignitz in Brandenburg, Ludwigslust-Parchim in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Cochem-Zell in Rhineland-Palatinate, and Lüchow-Dannenberg in Lower Saxony.

Asmussen pointed to geographical location as a key driver of claim variations.

Large cities in particular often perform worse than rural regions.

Regional developments across German states

Bavaria, which contains 97 registration districts, saw net improvements with 1.5 million motorists shifting into better liability categories and roughly 350,000 moving into worse tiers. In Saxony, around 270,000 drivers in Meißen and the Leipzig rural district received lower liability classes, with Mittelsachsen logging the best claims balance in the state and Dresden recording the worst. In Brandenburg, over 260,000 drivers across Dahme-Spreewald, Potsdam, and Barnim moved to lower classes, whereas Cottbus rose by one class.

In Lower Saxony, liability classes increased for 450,000 drivers in six districts, including Hanover, Delmenhorst, and Oldenburg, while 600,000 policyholders across seven districts such as Aurich and Cuxhaven moved to lower classes. All 250,000 motorists registered in Bremen and Bremerhaven shifted into higher liability tiers. In Thuringia, 30% of drivers across seven districts, including Jena and Sonneberg, benefited from lower liability ratings, though Suhl and Weimar experienced rating increases.

Adjustments in comprehensive insurance

The GDV also updated regional classes for voluntary partial and full comprehensive coverage. Across the comprehensive insurance sector, 2.4 million policyholders will move into lower classes and approximately 2.4 million will enter higher categories. For roughly 33 million of the 38 million total comprehensive policyholders, nearly 87%, the classifications will remain unchanged. Insurers use these non-binding recommendations alongside individual parameters, such as vehicle type class, annual mileage, and repair cost developments, to calculate final policy premiums.