Current for 2026•As of: July 2026

Deutschlandticket vs. Car Cost comparison for commuters.

Calculate whether the Deutschlandticket (€63) is worth it for you or whether the car is cheaper

FreeNo sign-upGDPR-compliant
5 km100 km
4.0 L/100km15.0 L/100km
0 EUR/month300 EUR/month

Many employers subsidize the Deutschlandticket

About the Deutschlandticket:

  • Price: 63 EUR/month (since January 2026) – valid nationwide on public transport
  • Car costs: fuel + wear (0.06 EUR/km) + parking
  • CO2 comparison: public transport emits about 75% less
  • Not included: long-distance rail (ICE, IC)

Monthly savings with public transport

86.73 EUR

per month

Cost comparison per month

  • Car costs(70.4 %)149.73 EUR
  • Deutschlandticket(29.6 %)63.00 EUR

Cost comparison per month

Car costs149.73 EUR
Fuel costs106.33 EUR
Wear & tear (0.05 EUR/km)43.40 EUR
Deutschlandticket63.00 EUR
Ticket price63.00 EUR

Annual savings

1,040.76 EUR

CO2 balance

Car (per month)

144.0 kg

Public transport (per month)

52.1 kg

64% less CO2 with public transport

= 1,103.1 kg CO2 saved per year

Recommendation: the Deutschlandticket pays off!

With the Deutschlandticket you save 86.73 EUR per month compared to the car. At your commute distance of 20 km, public transport is the cheaper option.

Calculation basis:

  • Ticket price: 63.00 EUR/month
  • Workdays: 21.7 days/month
  • Total distance: 868 km/month
  • Fuel price: 1.75 EUR/L

Important note

These calculations are for non-binding information only and do not replace professional tax advice. All information without guarantee. Learn more

Sources & calculation basis

Our calculations are based on the following official sources (as of: July 2026):

What does the Deutschlandticket cost in 2026?

The Deutschlandticket costs 63 euros per month starting January 2026. With this price you can use the entire local and regional public transport network nationwide – including S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, buses and regional trains.

Compared to car costs, the ticket is especially attractive for commuters: while a car means paying for fuel, wear, insurance and parking fees, the Deutschlandticket bundles everything into a single flat fee.

The Deutschlandticket at a glance

63 euros a month
Flat fee from January 2026 (valid nationwide)
Local & regional transport
S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus, tram, regional trains
Job ticket option
From €34.30 possible with an employer subsidy
Cancel monthly
Flexible subscription with no long-term commitment

Hidden car costs many commuters forget

When weighing car versus Deutschlandticket, many commuters underestimate the true cost of their vehicle. Beyond the obvious fuel consumption, numerous other costs add up quickly.

The true costs of driving

Fuel costs
At 7L/100km and €1.70/L: about 12 cents per km
Wear & maintenance
Tires, brakes, oil changes: about 5-8 cents per km
Insurance & tax
On average €800-1,500 per year
Parking fees
Often €50-200 per month in cities
Depreciation
Biggest cost factor: about 15-20% per year
Inspection & repairs
Unpredictable costs from wear and tear

Example calculation: 25 km commute

Car costs for a 25 km (one-way) commute over 220 workdays

Car costs for a 25 km (one-way) commute over 220 workdays
ItemAmount
Daily distance (there + back)50 km
Annual kilometers (commute)11,000 km
Fuel costs (7L/100km, €1.70/L)€1,309
Wear & tear (5 cents/km)€550
Parking costs (€100/month)€1,200
Car costs per year (commuting only)€3,059

Deutschlandticket costs

Deutschlandticket costs
ItemAmount
12 months × €63€756
Savings vs. car€2,303

For a typical 25 km commute, the Deutschlandticket saves over €2,300 per year. The savings are even higher if you pay expensive city-center parking fees or have to pay tax on a company car.

Park & Ride: the clever combination

Switching completely to the Deutschlandticket is not always possible. Especially in rural areas, public transport connections are often poor. The solution: Park & Ride combines the best of both worlds.

Drive to the nearest train station and switch to the train there. This way you save fuel costs for the longer stretch and avoid expensive parking in the city – Park & Ride car parks are usually free or cheap.

Advantages of the Park & Ride combination

  1. Flexibility: Car for the first leg, train for the main stretch
  2. Cost savings: Fewer kilometers by car, no expensive city parking
  3. Stress-free commuting: Work or relax on the train instead of sitting in traffic
  4. Environmentally friendly: Significantly reduce CO2 emissions
  5. Time savings: Often faster than driving through the city

CO2 savings: good for the climate

Besides the financial savings, switching to the Deutschlandticket makes an important contribution to climate protection. Public transport emits on average only about 30% of the CO2 of a car per passenger-kilometer.

CO2 comparison per passenger-kilometer

Car (average)
about 147 g CO2 per passenger-kilometer
Regional train
about 55 g CO2 per passenger-kilometer
S-Bahn / U-Bahn
about 45 g CO2 per passenger-kilometer
Bus (local transport)
about 80 g CO2 per passenger-kilometer

CO2 savings for a 25 km commute

CO2 savings for a 25 km commute
ItemAmount
Annual kilometers (there + back)11,000 km
CO2 with car (147 g/km)1,617 kg
CO2 with train (55 g/km)605 kg
Annual CO2 savings1,012 kg

By switching to the Deutschlandticket you can save over 1 tonne of CO2 per year. That is roughly equivalent to a round-trip flight from Frankfurt to Mallorca. Our calculator also shows you your personal CO2 savings.

When is the car still worth it?

Despite the advantages of the Deutschlandticket, there are situations where the car remains the better choice. Honestly: not everyone can or should give up their car entirely.

The car is better when...

  1. Poor public transport connections: Rural areas without regular local transport
  2. Unfavorable working hours: Shift work when no trains run at night
  3. Company car without private use: When the employer covers all costs
  4. Transporting tools/materials: Tradespeople and field staff with equipment
  5. Very short distances: Under 5 km, the bicycle is often the best option

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Frequently asked questions about the Deutschlandticket

Everything important about the Deutschlandticket vs. car comparison

The Deutschlandticket is especially worthwhile for commuters with good public transport connections who travel to work at least 3 days a week. For commutes of 10 km or more and high parking costs at work, the ticket is usually cheaper than a car. Occasional users who take public transport at weekends can also benefit from the subscription.

From January 2026, the Deutschlandticket costs 63 euros per month (previously 58 euros). That is 756 euros per year. With an employer subsidy (job ticket), the price can drop to as low as €34.30 per month.

Besides fuel costs, a car comes with many hidden costs: wear and tear (about 5-8 cents per km), maintenance and repairs, insurance, vehicle tax, inspections, parking fees and depreciation. Many commuters significantly underestimate these costs. Our calculator accounts for all relevant cost factors.

Yes, combining them is often the best solution. With Park & Ride, you drive to the nearest train station and switch there. This way you save on fuel and parking costs in the city while still benefiting from the flexibility of a car for the first part of the journey.

Public transport emits on average only about 30% of the CO2 of a car. For a typical commuter with a 25 km one-way commute and 220 workdays, switching to the Deutschlandticket can save around 1.5 to 2 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Many employers offer the Deutschlandticket as a job ticket. If the employer covers at least 25% of the cost, an additional 5% federal discount applies. This can reduce your share to €34.30. Ask your employer about a subsidy.