25% Discount Card for children and teenagers for just €9 as a one-off payment!
Discounts on the German railways.
The overwhelming majority of long-distance trains belong to Deutsche Bahn. And everyone has the opportunity to get a discount on DB tickets. To do this, you will need to purchase a BahnCard. Today we will talk about cards that provide discounts of 25%, 50% and even 100%.
As well as ticket discounts, you will also be able to take advantage of many other advantages of DB and their partners.
- Discounts on regional transport companies, trains and bus companies
- There is the BahnBonus programme, with which you can collect points and spend them on tickets, goods and services from the catalogue.
- Discounts on international routes under the RAIL PLUS programme — check the terms and conditions on the DB website, the programme has changed
- Discounts of up to 25% at car parks near railway stations
- Bike hire discounts
- Car rental discounts
- 10% car insurance discount
- And other benefits...
12-month passes
BahnCard 25
Cost: 62,90 € in the second year of school, 125 € in the first one.
Advantages: A 25% discount on % applies to both Flexpreis and Sparpreis — and can be combined with existing offers.
Who it is suitable for: to all passengers without concessions.
Expiry date: 12 months, auto-renewed. Cancellation must be made no later than 4 weeks before the end date.
BahnCard 50
Cost: 244 € in the second year of school, 492 € in the first one.
Advantages: A 50 % discount on Flexpreis and a 25 % discount on Sparpreis. In other words, the discount on the cheapest tickets is half the advertised amount.
Who it is suitable for: for those who travel regularly and long distances.
Expiry date: 12 months, auto-renewed. Cancellation must be made no later than 4 weeks before the end date.
BahnCard 100
Cost: 4.899 € in the second year of school, 7.999 € in the first one.
Advantages: unlimited travel throughout Germany on long-distance and regional trains.
Who it is suitable for: for those for whom the train is everyday transport.
Expiry date: 12 months, ends automatically. No need to cancel.
My BahnCard 25
Cost: 39,90 € in the second year of school, 81,90 € in the first one.
Advantages: A 25% discount on % applies to both Flexpreis and Sparpreis — and can be combined with existing offers.
Who it is suitable for: young passengers under 27 years old.
Expiry date: 12 months, auto-renewed. Cancellation must be made no later than 4 weeks before the end date.
Meine BahnCard 50
Cost: 79,90 € in the second year of school, 241 € in the first one.
Advantages: A 50 % discount on Flexpreis and a 25 % discount on Sparpreis. In other words, the discount on the cheapest tickets is half the advertised amount.
Who it is suitable for: young passengers under 27 years old.
Expiry date: 12 months, auto-renewed. Cancellation must be made no later than 4 weeks before the end date.
Jugend BahnCard 25
Cost: 7,90 € regardless of class, as a one-off.
Advantages: A 25% discount on % applies to both Flexpreis and Sparpreis — and can be combined with existing offers.
Who it is suitable for: for children and teenagers aged 6 to 18.
Expiry date: 12 months.
3-month passes
Trial BahnCard 25
Cost: 19,90 € in Year 2, 39,90 € in the first one.
Advantages: A 25% discount on both Flexpreis and Sparpreis fares – this can be combined with existing offers. All the benefits of a standard BahnCard 25.
Who it is suitable for: for those who want to try before committing to a year.
Expiry date: 3 months.
Trial BahnCard 50
Cost: 76,90 € in Year 2, 152 € in the first one.
Advantages: A 50 % discount on Flexpreis and a 25 % discount on Sparpreis. In other words, the discount on the cheapest tickets is half the advertised amount.
Who it is suitable for: for those who want to try before committing to a year.
Expiry date: 3 months.
Probe BahnCard 100
Cost: 1.459 € in the second year.
Advantages: unlimited travel throughout Germany on long-distance and regional trains.
Who it is suitable for: for those who want to check if the unlimited pass will pay off.
Expiry date: 3 months.
Senior BahnCard
Cost: 40,90 € (BahnCard 25) and 122 € (BahnCard 50) in second class; in first class – €81.90 and €241.
Advantages: the same discounts as regular cards, but cheaper.
Who it is suitable for: passengers aged 65 and over. The same prices apply to people with severe disabilities.
Expiry date: 12 months, auto-renewed. Cancellation must be made no later than 4 weeks before the end date.
How to work out if a card will pay for itself
You need to calculate not «how much the card costs», but how much you will spend on tickets in a year. The threshold is simple:
- BahnCard 25 it pays for itself if you buy about one year's worth of tickets to the value of 250 € and more. These are two or three long-distance routes.
- BahnCard 50 pays for itself in about 500 € tickets a year — subject to the caveat below.
The main catch with the BahnCard 50. She only offers fifty percent off on the Flexpreis, which is the most expensive, flexible fare. The discount is the same for the Sparpreis, meaning cheap tickets bought in advance. 25 %, as the lower-tier card. Therefore, if you usually buy tickets in advance, the BahnCard 25 for €62.90 will give you the exact same discount as the BahnCard 50 for €244.
A BahnCard 50 makes sense if you frequently buy tickets at the last minute, travel for work, or if the route is expensive on its own.
What people most often forget
- Auto-renewal. The annual pass renews automatically. You need to cancel it. no later than 4 weeks beforehand before the deadline — otherwise you'll pay for another year. The BahnCard 100 doesn't need to be cancelled, it simply expires on its own.
- Trial cards cannot be renewed automatically into an annual one only if you do not confirm this. Check the condition at the time of purchase — with DB it has changed.
- The card is personalised. It cannot be transferred to someone else; the inspector has the right to ask for ID.
- The discount doesn't apply to everything. There are routes and tariffs where the BahnCard is not valid, for example some international tickets and special offers.
What else to read
- Car insurance in Germany — if you think it's cheaper: train or car.
- Travel insurance — what is covered for cancellation and on the way.
- Apps for saving money — other ways to pay less.
Prices and conditions are based on Deutsche Bahn data for August 2026; fares are subject to change. Before purchasing, check the current price on bahn.de. This material is for informational purposes only.
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