Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to choose a DB BahnCard: 25 vs 50 vs 100
DB BahnCard is a discount card with a subscription from Deutsche Bahn (DB) that the company says saves travellers 25 or 50 percent on every journey. [1] [4]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Deutsche Bahn describes the BahnCard as a discount card with a subscription and advertises savings of 25 or 50 percent on every journey. [1] [4]
- BahnCard 25 and BahnCard 50 both take 25 percent off saver offers in long-distance transport; they differ on the flexible fare, where the discount is 25 percent and 50 percent respectively. [1] [4]
- The City-Ticket is not included with BahnCard 25, BahnCard 50 or My BahnCard 50. [1] [4]
- Trial BahnCards run for three months and start at EUR 19.90. [1] [4]
- A BahnCard can be cancelled up to six weeks before the end of its validity period, online, by post or in the customer account. [1] [4]
What does a DB BahnCard discount?
Deutsche Bahn presents the BahnCard as a discount card with a subscription and says it lets travellers save 25 or 50 percent on every journey. [1] [4]
The published discounts are tied to two fare types. BahnCard 25 gives 25 percent off the flexible fare and 25 percent off saver offers in long-distance transport, while BahnCard 50 gives 50 percent off the flexible fare and 25 percent off saver offers in long-distance transport. [1] [4] With both cards the City-Ticket is not included. [1] [4] The difference between the two fares the cards act on is set out in DB saver and flex fares.
BahnCard 25 vs 50 vs 100: how do the cards differ?
Deutsche Bahn lists six BahnCard products and three trial versions, each with a starting price. [1] [4] The table shows the benefits and starting prices Deutsche Bahn listed on 18 October 2026. [1] [4]
| Card | What Deutsche Bahn says it gives | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| BahnCard 25 | 25% off the flexible fare and 25% off saver offers in long-distance transport; City-Ticket not included | EUR 62.90 |
| BahnCard 50 | 50% off the flexible fare and 25% off saver offers in long-distance transport; City-Ticket not included | EUR 244 |
| BahnCard 100 | Flexible travel throughout Germany for one year | |
| My BahnCard 25 | 25% off the flexible fare and 25% off saver fares for long-distance travel | EUR 39.90 |
| My BahnCard 50 | 50% off the flexible fare and 25% off saver offers in long-distance transport; City-Ticket not included | |
| My BahnCard 100 | Flexible travel throughout Germany for one year |
The BahnCard 100 is presented differently from the two percentage cards: Deutsche Bahn describes it as flexible travel throughout Germany for one year, and describes the My BahnCard 100 in the same terms at a lower starting price. [1] [4] The My BahnCard versions of the 25 and the 50 carry the same percentage structure as the standard cards and are listed at lower prices. [1] [4]
Trying a BahnCard for three months
Deutsche Bahn sells trial BahnCards that let a traveller try the card out for just three months. [1] [4] The Trial BahnCard 25 starts at EUR 19.90, the Trial BahnCard 50 at EUR 76.90 and the Trial BahnCard 100 is also available. [1] [4] The Trial BahnCard 100 is described as three months of flexible travel throughout Germany. [1] [4] Deutsche Bahn's own pitch is that the trial card is often worth it from the first journey onwards. [1] [4]
Deutsche Bahn quotes three months for the trial products. [1] [4] If you are still deciding between a card and a single ticket, the trade-offs are covered in rail pass or point-to-point.
How do you cancel a BahnCard?
Deutsche Bahn says a BahnCard can be cancelled up to six weeks before the end of the validity period. [1] [4] The company lists three routes: online through the contact form, by post to BahnCard Service, 60643 Frankfurt, or through the customer account. [1] [4]
Inside the customer account, reached through bahn.de or the DB Navigator app, the BahnCard section shows whether the card can be cancelled, and if cancellation is possible the customer confirms by clicking "Cancel BahnCard". [1] [4]
Exceptions and limits
- Fare scope. The percentage discounts Deutsche Bahn lists for BahnCard 25, BahnCard 50 and the My BahnCard versions apply to the flexible fare and to saver offers in long-distance transport. [1] [4]
- City-Ticket. Deutsche Bahn states that the City-Ticket is not included with BahnCard 25, BahnCard 50 and My BahnCard 50. [1] [4]
- Starting prices. Every figure above is a "from" price; these were the prices shown on 18 October 2026. [1] [4]
- Term. Deutsche Bahn describes the BahnCard 100 and My BahnCard 100 as flexible travel throughout Germany for one year, while the trial cards are three-month products. [1] [4]
- Cancellation deadline. The cancellation option Deutsche Bahn describes runs up to six weeks before the end of the validity period. [1] [4]
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DB BahnCard cost?
As of 18 October 2026, Deutsche Bahn showed starting prices for the BahnCard 25, BahnCard 50 and BahnCard 100, including EUR 244 for the BahnCard 50, with a My BahnCard version at EUR 39.90. [1] [4]
Does BahnCard 50 give 50 percent off saver fares?
No. The 50 percent applies to the flexible fare; on saver offers in long-distance transport the BahnCard 50 gives 25 percent, the same level as the BahnCard 25. [1] [4]
Can I try a BahnCard for three months?
Yes. Deutsche Bahn offers trial BahnCards that let a traveller try the card out for just three months, starting at EUR 19.90 for the Trial BahnCard 25. [1] [4]
Is the City-Ticket included in the BahnCard?
Deutsche Bahn states that the City-Ticket is not included with BahnCard 25, BahnCard 50 and My BahnCard 50. [1] [4]
How do I cancel my BahnCard?
Cancellation is possible up to six weeks before the end of the validity period, through the online contact form, by post to BahnCard Service, 60643 Frankfurt, or in the customer account on bahn.de or the DB Navigator app. [1] [4]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. It covers the BahnCard products Deutsche Bahn lists on its BahnCard pages; the BahnBonus programme and other Deutsche Bahn offers are not covered here.
- Deutsche Bahn, BahnCard: save with every journey, checked 18 October 2026
- Deutsche Bahn (DB Fernverkehr AG), BahnCard: save with every journey, checked 18 October 2026