Deutschlandticket holders 'must agree to price hike or lose subscription'

Following the decision to hike the cost of Germany's popular €49 ticket, it's decision time for customers: cancel their subscriptions or agree to the higher price next year. 

According to state rail operator Deutsche Bahn, customers who want to keep their Deutschlandticket subscription have until Saturday, November 30th, to sign off on to next year's price of €58 per month. 

"If subscribers do not agree to the politically decided price increase or do not re-register by the deadline, DB will unfortunately have to cancel the Deutschland-Ticket subscription from December 31st, 2024," the rail operator announced. 

The announcement comes after transport ministers agreed to increase the price of the budget monthly travel pass by €9 per month from January 2025. 

The controversial decision was made at a meeting of transports ministers back in September. At the time, politicians said the increase was the only way to ensure the Deutschlandticket would survive in the face of inflation and high operational costs. 

READ ALSO: 'Still great value' - Deutschlandticket price hike divides foreigners in Germany

"The agreement reached at the special conference of transport ministers shows that the federal states want to hold on to the successful Deutschlandticket model and develop it further," said North Rhine-Westphalia transport minister Oliver Krischer (Greens) at the time. 

"With this price, we will be able to keep the ticket attractive and put its financing on a more solid footing."

Previously, the ticket had been plagued by endless debates over its future financing, with federal and state ministers arguing over who should foot the bill. 

Minimal cancellations

Though Deutsche Bahn customers will have to actively opt in to the price rise, not all subscribers will need to the do the same. 

Deutschlandticket subscriptions are not only sold via the national rail operator, but also by numerous regional transport operators around the country - all of whom are handling the transition differently.

At many companies, the cost of the subscription will simply go up automatically at the turn of the year. Meanwhile some providers, such as Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), are asking customers to object if they do not wish to continue their subscription.

READ ALSO: What we know so far about the Deutschlandticket €9 price rise

As a rule, holders will be informed by their ticket provider if they need to take action in any way. If the subscription continues automatically, customers can still cancel it on a monthly basis.

According to Deutsche Bahn, the vast majority of customers do not seem to have been put off by the €9 price increase and have kept their subscriptions. 

Regional monthly travel cards still tend to be more expensive than the Deutschlandticket, which is more flexible and offers transport throughout the country, the rail operator explained.

The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) said it was too early to predict the impact the increase would have on the some 13.1 million Deutschlandticket holders.

According to the association, however, there has not been a wave of cancellations so far.