Ukrainian woman Liudmyla Rusyna, who has lived in Germany for four years, told on TikTok what expenses should be considered before getting a dog. In addition to the local tax, the owner may need a microchip and civil liability insurance, and traveling with a dog to another EU country will require veterinary documents.
How much dog registration, tax and insurance cost in Germany
Requirements for registration, chipping and insurance depend on the place of residence. In Berlin, for example, a dog must be entered in the city register. This entry simultaneously serves as tax registration. The city also requires a microchip and the owner's civil liability insurance.
Dog tax. In Berlin, for the first dog they pay 120 euros per year, for each subsequent one – 180 euros. If a family has two dogs, the annual tax will be 300 euros.
Chipping. According to Rusyna's estimate, installing a microchip costs about 50 euros. The exact price should be checked with a veterinary clinic.
Civil liability insurance. The blogger cited a guideline of 50 euros per year. The policy covers damage that the dog may cause to other people, within the terms of the contract.
"After all, it will help cover the damage if a pet suddenly causes it," Rusyna explained, speaking about insurance.
If we take the Berlin tax rate and the prices cited by Rusyna, tax, insurance and a chip for the first dog will cost approximately 220 euros for the first year. If the chip is already installed, tax and insurance according to this example will come to about 170 euros per year. Food, veterinary appointments and a possible registration fee should be counted separately.
Additional requirements may apply to large dogs. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, if an adult dog reaches 40 cm at the withers or weighs from 20 kg, the owner must report it to the local authority and confirm that they have the necessary knowledge to keep it.
What documents are needed to travel with a dog from Germany
For an ordinary trip from Germany to another EU country, as a rule, you need:
a microchip to identify the dog;
a valid rabies vaccination;
an EU veterinary passport with data on the animal and vaccination.
After the primary rabies vaccination, you usually need to wait at least 21 days. The chip must be installed before vaccination or on the same day, before the vaccination. If both procedures are still ahead, take these requirements for traveling with animals into account when choosing the departure date.
According to Rusyna, getting a passport may cost 30–50 euros, and the package of vaccinations she described – 300–400 euros. To estimate the expenses specifically for the trip, ask the clinic to separately state the cost of the passport, chipping and rabies vaccination. If the route passes through countries where border control applies in Schengen, keep the animal's passport at hand.