Auslagenpauschale, Towing Costs, Standgeld: What You Are Entitled To
The Auslagenpauschale (flat-rate expenses) reimburses incidental costs without proof; towing, Standgeld (storage fees) and re-registration are only reimbursed against a receipt, unless you caused the delay yourself.
Does this apply to you? Four items, different rules
Unlike repair costs, the distinction here does not run along "repaired or notional", but along the type of item.
Auslagenpauschale
It is due to you regardless of whether you have the car repaired, and without individual receipts — a feature of road accidents as mass-processed claims (BGH VI ZR 37/11, 08.05.2012).
Towing costs, Standgeld, re-/de-registration costs
These are actual costs owed to third parties. There is no notional calculation here as there is for repair costs: you provide evidence of what actually arose. You are not answerable for a delay you could not influence — courts extend the Werkstattrisiko (repair-shop risk) thinking to these items too (cf. BGH VI ZR 38/22, 16.01.2024; LG Hannover 11 S 56/10 on the processing risk for Standgeld).
Comprehensive-cover case (Kaskofall)
If you settle through your comprehensive insurance, the recovery- and towing-cost rules of your AKB (motor insurance terms) apply. These often cap reimbursement at a contractually named amount. Check your policy before relying on the liability-law principles on this page.
After an accident, small incidental costs almost always arise: towing, storage until assessment or disposal, phone calls and trips, and for a total loss, additionally the re-/de-registration of the replacement vehicle. Insurers frequently cut these items as "too high" or "no longer attributable". How robust that is depends on the particular item.
How high is the Auslagenpauschale, and do I have to collect receipts?
No. That is precisely its purpose: a flat-rate reimbursement without individual proof of phone, postage and travel costs. Under the predominant case law you are entitled to €25; in the Kammergericht Berlin district, courts award €20.
Who bears the risk of a delay in towing and Standgeld?
The party at fault, to the extent the costs actually arose. Towing to a more distant workshop you trust is not automatically a breach of duty, as long as a total loss was not foreseeable ex ante, a long-standing relationship of trust existed, and the extra cost is reasonably proportionate to the amount of damage. The OLG Frankfurt approves a long-distance transport to the owner's home as the most economical solution ex ante (14 U 124/24); the AG Rosenheim recognises extra costs where repair costs are high and there is a long-standing relationship of trust (8 C 90/17).
Honesty requires saying: not every storage period is reimbursable without limit. Several courts cap Standgeld at the cost of a comparable commercial storage option or at the Restwert (residual value); for electric vehicles, the more expensive quarantine rate applies only briefly.
Also known as
- German insurance flat rate expenses after accident
- who pays towing costs Germany accident
- storage fee reimbursement German car insurance
- Standgeld cap insurer Germany
- re-registration cost replacement car after accident
- Auslagenpauschale
The numbers
| Value | Meaning | Source | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Euro | Auslagenpauschale, the standard case | OLG Celle 14 U 152/20; OLG Saarbrücken 4 U 61/13 | Belege 2014–2021, seit über zehn Jahren unverändert |
| 20 Euro | Auslagenpauschale in the Kammergericht (KG) Berlin district | KG Berlin 12 U 264/04; KG 22 U 224/06 | seit 2005 unverändert |
| 64 € / 16 € netto | Standgeld for an electric/hybrid vehicle: the quarantine parking space rate applies only for the first five days, a lower rate after that | LG Koblenz 14 O 169/24 | 04.05.2026 |
| 27 Tage | Storage period fully at the insurer's expense, because its own residual-value marketplace (Restwertbörse) took that long to collect the vehicle | AG Aue-Bad Schlema 3 C 241/23 | 28.02.2024 |
Worked example
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Towing costs, net — claimed / paid | 245.00 € / 245.00 € |
| Standgeld, 12 days at €15.00 — claimed / paid | 180.00 € / 75.00 € (only 5 days recognised) |
| Auslagenpauschale — claimed / paid | 25.00 € / 20.00 € |
| Re-/de-registration of replacement vehicle — claimed / paid | 55.00 € / 0.00 € (struck) |
| Total — claimed / paid | 505.00 € / 340.00 € |
Result: 165.00 € shortfall. The insurer reduced or struck three of the four items. For Standgeld, what matters is who is responsible for the delay in collection — not a flat maximum rate.
What the insurer typically writes
These are paraphrased summaries of typical settlement-letter reasoning, not verbatim quotes from one specific letter.
„Standkosten erstatten wir nur bis zum ersten Abholversuch unseres Aufkäufers. Was danach an Standgebühren anfällt, liegt außerhalb unseres Verantwortungsbereichs.“ (English: "We only reimburse storage costs up to our buyer's first collection attempt. Any storage fees after that are outside our responsibility.")
„Sie hätten das Fahrzeug zu einem günstigeren Abstellplatz umsetzen lassen müssen.“ (English: "You should have had the vehicle moved to a cheaper storage location.")
„Bei einem offensichtlichen Totalschaden war das Verbringen in die weiter entfernte Vertrauenswerkstatt nicht erforderlich.“ (English: "With an obvious total loss, transport to the more distant trusted workshop was not necessary.")
„Die allgemeine Kostenpauschale setzen wir mit 20.00 € an; ein höherer Satz ist nicht mehr zeitgemäß.“ (English: "We set the general expenses flat rate at €20.00; a higher rate is no longer appropriate.")
„An- und Abmeldekosten für ein Ersatzfahrzeug sind Ihre eigene Angelegenheit und keine Unfallfolge.“ (English: "Registration costs for a replacement vehicle are your own affair, not a consequence of the accident.")
How you can respond
If the Auslagenpauschale was cut
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
Sie haben die Auslagenpauschale auf … Euro gekürzt. Nach überwiegender Rechtsprechung steht eine Pauschale von 25 Euro zu, ohne Einzelnachweis. Ich bitte um Nachzahlung der Differenz bis zum …
English translation (for your understanding only — send the German text above, not this one):
Dear Sir or Madam,
you have reduced the Auslagenpauschale to … euros. Under the predominant case law, a flat rate of €25 is due, without individual proof. I ask for payment of the difference by … .
If Standgeld or towing costs were cut
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
zu Ihrer Kürzung der Standkosten/Abschleppkosten in Höhe von … Euro: Auf den Abholzeitpunkt durch den von Ihnen benannten Aufkäufer hatte ich keinen Einfluss. Diese Verzögerung geht nach der Rechtsprechung zu Ihren Lasten. Die Standgebühren bis zur tatsächlichen Abholung am … sind daher vollständig zu erstatten. Ich bitte um Ausgleich bis zum …
English translation (for your understanding only — send the German text above, not this one):
Dear Sir or Madam,
regarding your deduction of the storage/towing costs of … euros: I had no influence over the collection date by the buyer you named. Under case law, that delay is your responsibility. The storage fees up to the actual collection on … are therefore to be reimbursed in full. I ask for payment by … .
Die Versicherung sagt, Sie hätten näher oder günstiger abschleppen lassen müssen — so prüfen Sie das
Abschleppen in eine weiter entfernte Vertrauenswerkstatt ist nicht automatisch pflichtwidrig:
- War im Entscheidungszeitpunkt ex ante ein Totalschaden erkennbar — oder erst im Nachhinein?
- Bestand eine langjährige Vertrauensbeziehung zur weiter entfernten Werkstatt?
- Stehen die Mehrkosten in einem vernünftigen Verhältnis zur Schadenhöhe?
- War der Transport ex ante die wirtschaftlich sinnvollste Lösung, etwa weil ein Verbleib am Unfallort teurer gewesen wäre?
Das OLG Frankfurt billigt einen weiten Transport zum Wohnort als ex ante wirtschaftlichste Lösung (14 U 124/24); das AG Rosenheim erkennt Mehrkosten bei hohen Reparaturkosten und langjähriger Vertrauensbeziehung an (8 C 90/17).
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
Sie beanstanden, dass mein Fahrzeug in die … km entfernte Werkstatt … abgeschleppt wurde. Diese Werkstatt repariert meine Fahrzeuge seit … Jahren, ein Totalschaden war ex ante nicht erkennbar, und der Transport war wirtschaftlich vertretbar. Ich halte die Abschleppkosten für erstattungsfähig.
English translation (for your understanding only — send the German text above, not this one):
The insurer says you should have towed the car closer or more cheaply — here is how to check that
Towing to a more distant trusted workshop is not automatically a breach of duty:
- Was a total loss foreseeable ex ante at the time of the decision — or only in hindsight?
- Was there a long-standing relationship of trust with the more distant workshop?
- Is the extra cost reasonably proportionate to the amount of damage?
- Was the transport, ex ante, the economically sensible solution, for example because leaving the vehicle at the accident scene would have been more expensive?
The OLG Frankfurt approves a long-distance transport to the owner's home as the most economical solution ex ante (14 U 124/24); the AG Rosenheim recognises extra costs where repair costs are high and there is a long-standing relationship of trust (8 C 90/17).
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
Sie beanstanden, dass mein Fahrzeug in die … km entfernte Werkstatt … abgeschleppt wurde. Diese Werkstatt repariert meine Fahrzeuge seit … Jahren, ein Totalschaden war ex ante nicht erkennbar, und der Transport war wirtschaftlich vertretbar. Ich halte die Abschleppkosten für erstattungsfähig.
English translation (for your understanding only — send the German text above, not this one): Dear Sir or Madam, you object that my vehicle was towed to the workshop … , … km away. This workshop has repaired my vehicles for … years, a total loss was not foreseeable ex ante, and the transport was economically justified. I consider the towing costs reimbursable.
Note: this is general guidance on wording, not legal advice for your individual case. Adapt the text to your own situation or seek advice from a lawyer for your specific matter.
What the insurer typically does next
- It pays the balance, if you document the delay and are not responsible for it yourself.
- It asks for evidence of the collection date.
- It relies on a cheaper storage option. See the dedicated section below.
- It sticks to the deduction, especially for the Auslagenpauschale, where amounts are small and rarely settled by a court.
Where you find these items: the Auslagenpauschale does not appear in the report; it is claimed directly against the insurer. Towing costs/Standgeld, where recorded, sit under "incidental costs"; otherwise submit the original receipts directly. For re-/de-registration, the registration office's invoice is what counts.
On the deadline: a liability insurer (Haftpflichtversicherer) is usually allowed a review period of four to six weeks from submission of the complete documents. Set a specific payment deadline. If the insurer does not respond, it falls into default (Verzug, § 286 BGB) and owes default interest. Claims generally become time-barred after three years, counted to the end of the year (§ 195, § 199 BGB).
This reflects German law and German court practice.
Case law
| Court | Case number | Date | Key finding | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGH | VI ZR 37/11 | 08.05.2012 | Flat-rate expenses without individual proof, a feature of road accidents as mass-processed claims. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=BGH&Datum=08.05.2012&Aktenzeichen=VI+ZR+37%2F11 |
| OLG Celle | 14 U 152/20 | 16.06.2021 | €25 is the usual rate in the OLG Celle district, no reduction for lower communication costs. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=OLG+Celle&Datum=16.06.2021&Aktenzeichen=14+U+152%2F20 |
| OLG Saarbrücken | 4 U 61/13 | 08.05.2014 | A flat expenses rate of €25 can be awarded. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=OLG+Saarbr%C3%BCcken&Datum=08.05.2014&Aktenzeichen=4+U+61%2F13 |
| OLG Naumburg | 3 U 37/18 | 08.11.2018 | The 2016 Schwacke car rental price index is confirmed as an estimation basis; the deduction for saved personal expenses is 3 to 5 percent, not the 10 percent often applied. Towing, cleaning and test-drive costs were also awarded. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=OLG+Naumburg&Datum=08.11.2018&Aktenzeichen=3+U+37%2F18 |
| OLG Schleswig | 7 U 15/23 | 07.06.2023 | A pre-litigation settlement letter with concrete payment amounts per damage item can be treated as an acknowledgment of debt (Schuldanerkenntnis) — indirectly relevant where the insurer initially recognizes the flat-rate expenses and later reduces them. | https://dejure.org/2023,13934 |
| KG Berlin | 12 U 264/04 | 24.10.2005 | Berlin's transport-law panels set the flat rate at €20. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=KG+Berlin&Datum=24.10.2005&Aktenzeichen=12+U+264%2F04 |
| KG Berlin | 22 U 224/06 | 10.09.2007 | Confirms the settled €20 line. | Betrag nicht separat geprüft |
| OLG Frankfurt a. M. | 14 U 124/24 | 13.01.2025 | A long-distance transport home was, ex ante, the most economical solution. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=OLG+Frankfurt&Datum=13.01.2025&Aktenzeichen=14+U+124%2F24 |
| AG Rosenheim | 8 C 90/17 | 12.05.2017 | Extra towing costs to the home workshop are reimbursable where a relationship of trust exists. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=AG+Rosenheim&Datum=12.05.2017&Aktenzeichen=8+C+90%2F17 |
| LG Trier | 1 S 123/20 | 14.05.2021 | Transport costs to the home workshop; a switch between notional and actual settlement is permitted. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=LG+Trier&Datum=14.05.2021&Aktenzeichen=1+S+123%2F20 |
| BGH | VI ZR 363/11 | 05.02.2013 | Storage costs are reimbursable, but not above the cost of a comparable commercial storage option. | Standkosten über kanzlei-voigt.de |
| OLG Koblenz | 2 U 217/15 | 09.03.2016 | The Restwert (residual/vehicle value) forms the ceiling for Standgeld. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=OLG+Koblenz&Datum=09.03.2016&Aktenzeichen=2+U+217%2F15 |
| LG Hannover | 11 S 56/10 | 23.03.2011 | The insurer bears the processing risk for a delayed residual-value sale. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=LG+Hannover&Datum=23.03.2011&Aktenzeichen=11+S+56%2F10 |
| LG Chemnitz | 3 S 1/18 | 25.04.2019 | A workshop's right of retention; the Restwert is the ceiling. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=LG+Chemnitz&Datum=25.04.2019&Aktenzeichen=3+S+1%2F18 |
| AG Aue-Bad Schlema | 3 C 241/23 | 28.02.2024 | The residual-value marketplace only collected after 27 days; the insurer bears the full storage fee. | Volltext über IWW |
| LG Koblenz | 14 O 169/24 | 04.05.2026 | Electric/hybrid vehicles: a quarantine parking space is only needed for five days, a lower rate after that. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=LG+Koblenz&Datum=04.05.2026&Aktenzeichen=14+O+169%2F24 |
| BGH | VI ZR 38/22 | 16.01.2024 | Werkstattrisiko applies even for an unpaid invoice — carries the reasoning for this page. | https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=BGH&Datum=16.01.2024&Aktenzeichen=VI+ZR+38%2F22 |
Frequently asked questions
How high is the Auslagenpauschale after an accident?
Predominantly €25, without having to prove individual costs. In the Kammergericht Berlin district, courts award €20.
Who pays towing costs and Standgeld?
The party at fault, to the extent the costs actually arose. Delays in collection you could not influence are their responsibility, not yours.
Who pays for registering a replacement car?
In principle the party at fault, as part of full restoration of the damage. There is no specific court decision on this point, but the principle itself is not disputed.
Do I need to collect receipts for the Auslagenpauschale?
No. That is exactly its purpose: a flat-rate reimbursement without individual proof of phone, postage and travel costs.
How long must the insurer pay Standgeld?
Until actual collection, as long as you are not responsible for the delay. For electric vehicles, only for a limited time at the higher quarantine rate.
Sources
- BGH, Urteil vom 08.05.2012, Az. VI ZR 37/11 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=BGH&Datum=08.05.2012&Aktenzeichen=VI+ZR+37%2F11
- OLG Celle, Urteil vom 16.06.2021, Az. 14 U 152/20 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=OLG+Celle&Datum=16.06.2021&Aktenzeichen=14+U+152%2F20
- OLG Saarbrücken, Urteil vom 08.05.2014, Az. 4 U 61/13 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=OLG+Saarbr%C3%BCcken&Datum=08.05.2014&Aktenzeichen=4+U+61%2F13
- OLG Naumburg, Urteil vom 08.11.2018, Az. 3 U 37/18 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=OLG+Naumburg&Datum=08.11.2018&Aktenzeichen=3+U+37%2F18
- OLG Schleswig, Urteil vom 07.06.2023, Az. 7 U 15/23 — https://dejure.org/2023,13934
- KG Berlin, Urteil vom 24.10.2005, Az. 12 U 264/04 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=KG+Berlin&Datum=24.10.2005&Aktenzeichen=12+U+264%2F04
- KG Berlin, Urteil vom 10.09.2007, Az. 22 U 224/06 — Betrag nicht separat geprüft
- OLG Frankfurt a. M., Urteil vom 13.01.2025, Az. 14 U 124/24 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=OLG+Frankfurt&Datum=13.01.2025&Aktenzeichen=14+U+124%2F24
- AG Rosenheim, Urteil vom 12.05.2017, Az. 8 C 90/17 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=AG+Rosenheim&Datum=12.05.2017&Aktenzeichen=8+C+90%2F17
- LG Trier, Urteil vom 14.05.2021, Az. 1 S 123/20 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=LG+Trier&Datum=14.05.2021&Aktenzeichen=1+S+123%2F20
- BGH, Urteil vom 05.02.2013, Az. VI ZR 363/11 — Standkosten über kanzlei-voigt.de
- OLG Koblenz, Urteil vom 09.03.2016, Az. 2 U 217/15 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=OLG+Koblenz&Datum=09.03.2016&Aktenzeichen=2+U+217%2F15
- LG Hannover, Urteil vom 23.03.2011, Az. 11 S 56/10 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=LG+Hannover&Datum=23.03.2011&Aktenzeichen=11+S+56%2F10
- LG Chemnitz, Urteil vom 25.04.2019, Az. 3 S 1/18 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=LG+Chemnitz&Datum=25.04.2019&Aktenzeichen=3+S+1%2F18
- AG Aue-Bad Schlema, Urteil vom 28.02.2024, Az. 3 C 241/23 — Existenz dejure.org, Volltext über IWW — Volltext über IWW
- LG Koblenz, Urteil vom 04.05.2026, Az. 14 O 169/24 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=LG+Koblenz&Datum=04.05.2026&Aktenzeichen=14+O+169%2F24
- BGH, Urteil vom 16.01.2024, Az. VI ZR 38/22 — https://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Gericht=BGH&Datum=16.01.2024&Aktenzeichen=VI+ZR+38%2F22