9 out of 10 buy protection online
Most people take out this insurance online
Updated on May 19, 2026 – 3:21 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Anyone who wants to buy insurance is increasingly less likely to visit the insurance office around the corner. Older people in particular are particularly internet-savvy.
Goodbye Mr. Kaiser, hello Internet – more and more people are no longer taking out insurance in the insurance agent’s office, but online. This is shown by a survey of 1,004 people by the digital association Bitkom. As a result, almost nine out of ten people (89 percent) have already taken out an insurance contract online. Last year it was 83 percent.
The 50 to 64 year old age group is particularly internet-savvy: almost everyone (99 percent) had already had experience with an online degree. Even among 30 to 49 year olds, the overwhelming majority (98 percent) have already taken out insurance online. In comparison, there are significantly fewer seniors over 65 (64 percent), but even here a majority now uses the online qualification.
The comparison portals Check24 or Verivox are most frequently used. Over half of those surveyed there (57 percent) have already taken out insurance. Legally, the comparison portals act as insurance brokers who finance themselves through commissions for concluding the contract. Many people (49 percent) also take out insurance online via the insurers’ websites.
These insurance policies are taken out online
However, there are big differences in the type of insurance that is taken out online. It turns out that simpler products are particularly popular. 61 percent said they had last taken out pet insurance online. When it comes to travel cancellation insurance, the number is similar at 58 percent. 50 percent of those surveyed also chose to take out their vehicle insurance online.
| Insurance | Proportion of respondents with online degrees |
|---|---|
| Pet insurance | 61 percent |
| Travel cancellation insurance | 58 percent |
| Car insurance | 50 percent |
| International travel health insurance | 45 percent |
| Equipment insurance | 43 percent |
| Legal protection insurance | 38 percent |
| Occupational disability insurance | 35 percent |
| Private pension provision | 34 percent |
| Supplementary health insurance | 32 percent |
| health insurance | 30 percent |
| Accident insurance | 28 percent |
| Personal liability insurance | 23 percent |
| Home contents insurance | 23 percent |
However, more complex insurance products are taken out online much less often. Only 35 percent of those surveyed chose to take out occupational disability insurance online; when taking out a private pension plan, the rate was 34 percent. Household contents and private liability insurance have the lowest online share (23 percent each).
