What happened? Your path to rail compensation

Your right

Compensation for late arrival at the destination on your ticket, measured against the timetable when you bought your ticket.

Amount / limit

25% of the fare (60 to 119 min), 50% (120+ min). Nothing paid under 4 EUR.

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

DB Navigator or DB customer account, otherwise the passenger rights form to the Servicecenter Fahrgastrechte. If refused: objection, then söp. DB passenger rights (Navigator, form)

What to document

Ticket, DB Navigator screenshot of planned vs actual time, receipts.

Sources

1, 2

Create letter

Your right

If cancelled, or from 60 minutes announced or foreseeable delay: do not travel and get the fare back, or continue / reroute.

Amount / limit

Full fare if you do not travel; if you continue, compensation by arrival delay.

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

DB Navigator or DB customer account, otherwise the passenger rights form to the Servicecenter Fahrgastrechte. If refused: objection, then söp. DB passenger rights (Navigator, form)

What to document

Ticket, DB Navigator screenshot of planned vs actual time, receipts.

Sources

1, 2

Create letter

Your right

With one ticket for the whole trip, the delay at the final destination counts, whichever train caused it. Several tickets (e.g. Deutschlandticket plus long-distance ticket) are assessed separately.

Amount / limit

As for delays: 25% or 50%.

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

DB Navigator or DB customer account, otherwise the passenger rights form to the Servicecenter Fahrgastrechte. If refused: objection, then söp. DB passenger rights (Navigator, form)

What to document

Ticket, DB Navigator screenshot of planned vs actual time, receipts.

Sources

1, 2, 3

Create letter

Your right

From 20 minutes announced or foreseeable delay (international 60) you may take another train that needs no reservation. Pay any extra ticket first, then claim it back. Not for heavily discounted tickets: no IC/ICE on a Deutschlandticket, except in the night or last-train cases.

Amount / limit

Cost of the extra ticket (with receipt).

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

Servicecenter Fahrgastrechte, with the original receipt. DB passenger rights (Navigator, form)

What to document

Ticket, DB Navigator screenshot of planned vs actual time, receipts.

Sources

1, 2, 3, 4

Your right

Scheduled arrival 00:00 to 05:00 and 60+ minutes announced or foreseeable delay, or the last train of the day is cancelled and the destination cannot be reached by midnight. Only if DB provides no alternative and cannot be contacted on site.

Amount / limit

Taxi or other transport up to 120 EUR, original receipt required.

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

Servicecenter Fahrgastrechte, with the original receipt. DB passenger rights (Navigator, form)

What to document

Taxi receipt, time, whom you tried to reach.

Sources

1, 2, 3

Create letter

Your right

From 60 minutes of delay: meals and refreshments if available or reasonably obtainable, plus a hotel if needed. If DB books no hotel and cannot be contacted, claim the documented costs.

Amount / limit

Reasonable, documented costs.

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

Servicecenter Fahrgastrechte, with original receipts. DB passenger rights (Navigator, form)

What to document

Receipts, time of the wait.

Sources

1, 2, 3

Your right

From 60 minutes announced or foreseeable delay: abandon and get the unused part refunded, or if the trip has become pointless, return to the origin and get the fare refunded.

Amount / limit

Unused part, or full fare if you return.

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

DB travel centre (if it can be checked) or Servicecenter Fahrgastrechte. DB passenger rights (Navigator, form)

What to document

Ticket, DB Navigator screenshot of planned vs actual time, receipts.

Sources

1, 2

Your right

Flat rate per delay of 60+ minutes. Season ticket holders (not BahnCard 100) can add up several delays of 20+ minutes and submit them together.

Amount / limit

Local 1.50 / 2.25 EUR, long-distance 5 / 7.50 EUR, BahnCard 100 10 / 15 EUR (2nd / 1st class); Deutschlandticket always 1.50 EUR (2nd class, even with a 1st class upgrade). Max 25% of the season ticket price, nothing paid under 4 EUR.

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends; for passes, the clock starts when the pass's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

DB Navigator or DB customer account, otherwise the passenger rights form to the Servicecenter Fahrgastrechte. If refused: objection, then söp. DB passenger rights (Navigator, form)

What to document

List of trips with date, line, planned and actual time.

Sources

1, 2

Create letter

Your right

If reserved seats or bike spaces were not provided or could not be used because of a delay, the reservation fee is refunded.

Amount / limit

The reservation fee.

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

Online claim in the DB account ("delay under 60 minutes", then "could not use my reservation"), or informally in writing. DB passenger rights (Navigator, form)

What to document

Reservation receipt, staff confirmation if possible.

Sources

1

Your right

If an ICE or IC/EC scheduled with 1st class runs with 2nd class cars only.

Amount / limit

Flexpreis: difference between 2nd and 1st class for the affected section. Sparpreis / Super Sparpreis: 20 EUR once per person, at most the ticket value.

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

Servicecenter Fahrgastrechte, with proof. DB passenger rights (Navigator, form)

What to document

Confirmation from train staff.

Sources

1

Your right

The railway must inform you about delays and expected departure and arrival times as soon as known. The only money right: if it offers no alternative within 100 minutes of the scheduled departure, you may continue yourself by other railways or buses.

Amount / limit

Only under the 100-minute rule: necessary, reasonable onward travel costs.

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

Servicecenter Fahrgastrechte, with receipts. DB passenger rights (Navigator, form)

What to document

Time, screenshot of the display or app, receipts.

Sources

1, 2, 3

Your right

If booked assistance is not provided and this causes a delay, missed connection or abandoned trip, passenger rights apply. Lost or damaged mobility aids and assistance dogs must be compensated.

Amount / limit

Depending on the case: compensation, costs, damages.

Deadline

No later than 1 year after the ticket's validity ends. Tip: as soon as possible.

Where to claim

Mobility Service Centre (MSZ) or Servicecenter Fahrgastrechte. DB accessible travel

What to document

Assistance booking confirmation, times, receipts.

Sources

1, 2

Your right

Report loss or damage to DB staff or the luggage service immediately and keep receipts. Items left on a train: DB lost and found.

Amount / limit

Paid DB Gepäckservice only: loss up to 1,200 units of account (about 1,350 EUR) per item with proof; late delivery up to about 16 EUR per 24 h, max 14 days. Details on DB's page.

Deadline

Report immediately.

Where to claim

DB luggage service or the railway; lost items: DB lost and found. DB Gepäckservice DB Fundservice

What to document

Pickup receipt, luggage tag, damage report, purchase receipts.

Sources

1, 2

Your right

For VVS period tickets (e.g. monthly, annual, 10-day ticket): if you reach your destination more than 20 minutes later than timetabled because of a delay or cancellation caused by the operator, and no other VVS connection exists, taxi or car/bike sharing (polygo partners) is reimbursed. Deutschlandticket only if bought from a VVS company (not JugendBW, not the semester ticket). Excluded: storms, strikes, third-party interference, closures announced in advance.

Amount / limit

Up to 35 EUR, up to 50 EUR with TicketPlus.

Deadline

Within 2 weeks (strict deadline).

Where to claim

VVS mobility guarantee claim form, with receipt. VVS mobility guarantee form

What to document

Taxi or sharing receipt, ticket, time.

Sources

1, 2, 3

Your right

No automatic compensation from DB. Check the airline's or tour operator's Rail&Fly terms; claims there may exist under their conditions or package-travel law.

Amount / limit

No automatic compensation.

Deadline

-

Where to claim

DB feedback; söp if a claim was refused. Rail&Fly: the airline or tour operator. DB feedback söp

What to document

Ticket, flight booking, times.

Sources

1

Your right

Without a reservation there is no right to a seat, or to 1st class when 2nd class is full.

Amount / limit

No automatic compensation.

Deadline

-

Where to claim

DB feedback. DB feedback

What to document

Photos, train number, time.

Sources

1

Your right

No statutory entitlement; DB may offer goodwill.

Amount / limit

No automatic compensation.

Deadline

-

Where to claim

DB feedback. DB feedback

What to document

Train number, time, photo.

Sources

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