Deutsche Bahn refund and compensation rules
The general rules at a glance. Check your case
Deutsche Bahn compensation: amounts and limits
| Case | Entitlement |
|---|---|
| 60 to 119 minutes late at destination | 25% of the fare |
| 120+ minutes | 50% of the fare |
| Return ticket | Price of that direction if shown, otherwise half |
| Cancellation or 60+ minutes announced or foreseeable delay | Fare back, abandon, continue or reroute |
| 20+ minutes announced or foreseeable delay (international 60) | take another train; heavily discounted tickets may be excluded |
| 60+ minutes delay | meals and refreshments if available or reasonably obtainable, plus a hotel if needed |
| Scheduled arrival 00:00 to 05:00 and 60+ minutes announced or foreseeable, or last train cancelled | Taxi up to 120 EUR with receipt, only if DB offers nothing and cannot be reached |
| Season tickets per 60+ minute delay (2nd / 1st class) | Local 1.50 / 2.25 EUR, long-distance 5 / 7.50 EUR, BahnCard 100 10 / 15 EUR, Deutschlandticket 1.50 EUR (always 2nd class, even with a 1st class upgrade); max 25% of the season ticket price |
| Minimum | nothing paid under 4 EUR |
| Deadline | Claim no later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. For passes, the clock starts when the pass's validity ends. Tip: submit as soon as possible. |
Sources: DB passenger rights brochure (PDF, German), DB: season tickets, BMV: passenger rights, DB: Taxi, DB: hotel, DB: 20 minutes, DB: deadline.
Force majeure and strikes
No compensation for extraordinary circumstances such as major natural disasters (ordinary storms do not count) or causes by third parties such as people on the tracks, cable theft, police operations or bomb disposal. Strikes by rail staff do not count as an exception. Force majeure means weather, natural disasters, third parties, police and similar causes, not the railway's own staff. DB: exceptions, BMV: passenger rights
Season tickets: add up delays
Season ticket holders (not BahnCard 100) can add up several delays of 20+ minutes within the validity period and submit them together. DB: season ticket compensation (German)
Passenger information on the general rules, not legal advice. Your case is decided by DB or your contract partner; in a dispute, söp can help.