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Germany travel insurance

Germany Travel insurance

Every corner of Germany offers something different. Castles? Check. Epic mountains? Check. An ex-coal mining hub that's been transformed into a museum, outdoor swimming pool and driving center? Also check.

If you're already packed for Germany, then let's save you some time. Click or tap 'get a quote' and grab your travel insurance. But if you'd like to learn more about Germany, and what travel insurance to buy, then scroll on.

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Important information

All insurance products can offer cover for known events. These are global events that can be dangerous and/or disrupt travel arrangements. An example of this is the Covid-19 pandemic. This exclusion is valid if the event was declared a ‘known event’ when your travel insurance was purchased.

If you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice, you won’t be covered by any travel insurance you buy. The same applies if you fail to meet the destination’s entry requirements.

Currently, there are no FCDO travel restrictions for any part of Germany*.

*Correct as of November 2024

Do I need travel insurance for Germany?

Travel insurance isn't a legal requirement in Germany. But it's a good idea to buy it. We know what you're thinking, we would say that. But it covers your baggage, medical care and anything that might happen in the lead up to your trip. For example, if you need to cancel your trip due to medical reasons.

Choosing the right policy for your trip to Germany

Single-trip travel insurance

If your holiday to Germany is your only one this year, then single-trip travel insurance could be the policy for you. It covers you for one trip only and could be more cost effective if you're only going away once.

Annual travel insurance

If you're planning multiple trips to Germany or other places, then annual travel insurance could work. You can go on several trips within 12 months with this policy, and it's usually cheaper than multiple single trip policies.

Family travel insurance

Family travel insurance is ideal if you're going on a family trip to Germany. It covers 2 adults and up to 8 children on one policy, so it's super convenient. It's often cheaper than individual policies too.

What our travel insurance expert says

"There are so many great places to visit in Germany. From Berlin that's oozing with culture to trekking in the national parks. The country has so much to offer.

"Travel insurance isn't a legal requirement in Germany, but we'd always recommend buying it. That's because it can cover anything unexpected in the lead up to your holiday, as well as your baggage if it gets lost, stolen or damaged. Your travel insurance can also cover you if you need medical care abroad."

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

What does travel insurance for Germany cover?

Here's what's covered and not covered on a travel insurance policy for Germany:

What's usually covered:

Cancellation and curtailment cover: Travel insurance can cover the cost of getting home, or finding alternative accommodation if something happens on your trip. For example, if your hotel suddenly has to close. It can also cover you if you need to cancel your holiday due to reasons like medical conditions or bereavement.
Lost luggage: Losing your luggage is a worrying prospect, but travel insurance can reimburse you if your belongings are lost, stolen or damaged.
Medical expenses and repatriation: You can get state level medical care with your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). But any further medical treatment or repatriation might not be covered by it. That's where your travel insurance can help.
Travel disruption: If something happens to your flight, for example it's cancelled because of strikes or mechanical break down, your travel insurance can cover your extra expenses.
Travel money and documents: If you lose your passport your travel insurance might cover the cost of replacing it. If your travel money gets lost or stolen, travel insurance can reimburse you up to a certain amount.
Missed departure: If your car breaks down and you miss your flight, your travel insurance can cover this. Usually this cover comes in when you miss the flight due to no fault of your own.
Covid-19 cover: Some insurers offer cover for Covid-19. Every policy varies, but it usually covers you if you or someone you're travelling with tests positive for Covid-19. It also covers you if you get Covid-19 when you're travelling and need to quarantine, or return home.

Natural disasters: These aren't always covered as standard on travel insurance policies. Have a look at your policy documents to check whether they're covered.
High risk activities: If you're looking to do rock climbing, parachuting or any other extreme sport in Germany, you need to tell your insurer. They might offer you specialist cover, or it might not be covered at all.
Any pre-existing conditions you haven't declared: You need to declare any medical conditions to your insurer. If you don't you won't be covered for any medical care you need for the illness while you're in Germany. We'll ask you if you have any pre-existing conditions when you get a quote with us.
Travelling against FCDO advice: If you travel against FCDO advice to certain parts of Germany, you won't be covered for anything that happens to you.
Incidents involving alcohol and drugs: If you injure yourself or lose belongings because you were drunk or on drugs, your insurance won't cover this.

How much is Germany travel insurance?

A few different things affect the cost of insurance. For example, pre-existing conditions, the type of policy you choose and how long you're going for. But here's a rough idea of how much travel insurance costs for Germany:

Type of policy	Price
Single-trip travel insurance	£2.05¹
Annual travel insurance	£10.85²
Family travel insurance	£15.12³

¹Cheapest single-trip policy travelling for 3 days in Germany, 30 year old with no medical conditions - Confused.com data September 2024.
²Cheapest annual policy covering Europe, 30 year old with no medical conditions - Confused.com data September 2024.
³Cheapest family policy for 2 adults aged 30 and 2 children under 10 with no medical conditions. Travelling to Germany for 7 days - Confused.com September 2024.

Medical care in Germany

If you've got your GHIC, you can access state level medical care. But there are some things it doesn't cover. For example, sometimes GHICs aren't accepted in private hospitals.

In Germany, sometimes public healthcare isn't available, so you might have to get private medical treatment which you'll have to pay for. The good news is you can claim for private medical care on your travel insurance if you have it.

Important info: The emergency medical number for Germany is 112. And if you need medical treatment when you're away, make sure you contact your insurer as soon as possible. You can find more health advice for Germany at GOV.UK

Activity travel insurance in Germany

If you're a bit of a thrill seeker there's loads of things to do in Germany. For example, white water rafting and canoeing. You could even have a go at canyoning (that's walking along a canyon and then jumping into water). If you're thinking of doing anything like this, you'll need to buy activity travel insurance. That's because activities like this usually carry extra risk, so they need a dedicated travel insurance policy.

Do I need a visa to travel to Germany?

You don't need a visa if you're travelling to Germany because it's in the Schengen Zone. You can travel here for 90 days at a time during a 180 day period. If you're thinking of staying for over 90 days, you might need a visa.

You need to have a good look at your passport before you head off to Germany. Its date of issue must be less than 10 years before the date you arrive. For example, if you arrived in Germany on 5 September 2024, your date of issue must be after 5 September 2014.

But why work that out yourself? Use our passport checker tool to see if your passport is in date.

Another thing to bear in mind is the expiry date. From the end of your stay, there must be at least 3 months left on your passport before it expires. For example, if you arrive in Germany on 5 September and plan to leave on the 15 September, your passport must be valid until at least 15 December. This applies to the whole Schengen area.

For more detail on travelling to Germany and the entry requirements, visit the FCDO website.

Tips for travelling to Germany

Driving in Germany

Germany is known for its great driving roads and some people like to take their car. So if you're craving the speed of the Autobahn, you'll need:

A full, valid UK driving licence
Proof of ID, your passport will work
A certificate of motor insurance
Your V5 registration document
An emissions sticker

Currency

You'll need Euros in Germany. You can get Euros in most (if not all) currency exchanges.

Languages

As you might expect, in Germany they speak German. According to sources online, about 56% of the population speak English. But it might be a good idea to brush up on a few German phrases. Sehr gut.