Important deadline: Cancel car insurance and change tariff - tips from financial experts

Wer die Kfz-Versicherung kündigen will, weil er wechseln möchte, muss vieles beachten. Vor allem die Kündigungsfrist. Ein wichtiger Stichtag steht an.

Anyone who owns a car or drives a car needs appropriate insurance. The tariffs often differ quite a bit. If you change your car insurance, you can quickly save several hundred euros. It is advisable to make a comparison beforehand - and then the correct notice period should be observed. For many drivers, an important deadline will soon be approaching.

Deadline November 30th: If you want to cancel your car insurance, you have to take action

Motor vehicle insurance policies usually expire at the end of the year and are extended for another twelve months if consumers do not cancel them in time. The providers usually set a notice period of one month - so the important deadline is coming up soon: If you want to cancel your car insurance in time to perhaps switch to a cheaper tariff, you must ensure that the cancellation letter is received by the insurance provider by November 30th at the latest.

Motor vehicle liability insurance and comprehensive insurance

As the name suggests: motor vehicle liability insurance is mandatory. Partial and fully comprehensive insurance, on the other hand, are voluntary and only worthwhile in certain cases. "For old cars of low value, motor vehicle liability insurance is sufficient. For more expensive cars, at least partially comprehensive insurance makes sense; for new cars, expensive used cars and electric cars, fully comprehensive insurance makes sense," advises Stiftung Warentest.

One month notice period for car insurance

The notice period of one month also applies if the car insurance has its own rhythm. In this case, consumers should check when the contract ends and then keep an eye on the respective deadline. If you don't want to miss it under any circumstances, you can simply cancel your insurance as soon as possible. There is also one exception.

Anyone who has a (larger) claim or does not agree to a price increase during the term of the contract could possibly make use of a special right to cancel their car insurance. When and whether someone is entitled to a special right of termination can be found in the general terms and conditions (GTC) of the respective insurer.

The amount of car insurance depends on several factors

If you send everything off on time and have found a new tariff for the change, you can save a lot of money. The contribution to car insurance is made up of several factors:

• Modell
• Motorleistung
• Wohnort
• Alter des Fahrers
• Beruf
• jährlich gefahrene Kilometer
• Art des Stellplatzes
• Verzicht auf die Wahl der Werkstatt im Schadensfall
• die sogenannte Schadenfreiheitsklasse (SF-Klasse): Wer längere Zeit unfallfrei fährt, wird höher eingestuft und bezahlt weniger

It also depends on the car insurance benefits

However, Stiftung Warentest advises not only to look at the price of the insurance, but also at the services. “Many important motor vehicle insurance services are not automatically included,” it says. It is important to have the highest possible coverage amount and, in comprehensive insurance, to have a clause that the insurance company will pay in full even in the event of gross negligence. “Many insurers now also offer special tariff options for electric cars, which, for example, cover damage to the battery and charging cable,” explains Stiftung Warentest. Important: Damage caused by marten bites, for example, should also be covered here.

More than 7 million car owners are threatened with an increase in car insurance. This is due to the new type classes. Some models are more expensive, while others are cheaper. Comparing the different car insurers and offers can be worthwhile if you subsequently switch - you just have to choose correctly and stick to the notice period.