From November 2026: Trains, Loans and Deadlines – What’s Changing

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents From November 2026: Trains, Loans and Deadlines – What’s Changing.

On 1 November, the ICE family ticket, initially designed for the summer holidays, will become permanently available. At the same time, 20 November will be a key date for small loans and installment purchases because providers will then have to assess more closely whether their customers can actually afford to repay them.

The change of month also brings a new €2 processing fee for goods ordered online from third countries, a deadline for changing car insurance and specific opening dates for Christmas markets in five cities. The report from ZEIT ONLINE and the article from Handelsblatt bring together these changes for November.

The ICE Family Ticket Costs €99.99

The offer

From 1 November, families will be able to travel permanently with a Deutsche Bahn flat-rate ticket. A return ICE journey costs €99.99. The ticket is valid for up to five people and includes a seat reservation.

Sales begin on 26 October. Originally, the ticket was intended only for the summer holidays. Due to high demand, Deutsche Bahn is now adding it to its range permanently. For a family trip in November, that means the previously limited-time summer offer will be replaced by a permanent ICE flat-rate ticket.

Stricter Rules for Small Loans Apply on 20 November

The affordability check

From 20 November, providers of mini loans and installment purchases must examine more closely whether their customers can afford to repay them. According to the available information, this also affects short-term and small loans of up to €200 as well as interest-free deferred-payment charges.

As a result, one-click purchasing will no longer be quite as straightforward as before. Before completing a purchase, the provider must check whether repayment is affordable. The aim of the stricter rules is to protect consumers better from debt traps.

For an existing installment purchase or a loan of up to €200, 20 November is therefore a specific date. From that point, the new requirements will apply to the provider’s assessment.

Car Insurance Must Be Cancelled by 30 November at the Latest

The switching deadline

For many car insurance contracts, the cancellation deadline expires on 30 November. The cancellation must have been received by the current insurer by the end of that day at the latest. This applies to contracts whose insurance year ends on 31 December.

For your own policy, 30 November is therefore not just a reminder date, but the last day to cancel. Whether the condition of an insurance year ending on 31 December applies to your contract depends on its terms.

Applications for 2027 Open on 1 November

The payroll tax reduction

Anyone with a long commute or substantial training and professional development expenses can apply for a payroll tax reduction. This reduces the monthly tax burden earlier without having to wait for the annual tax return. This does not change the total income tax.

Applications for the current year can still be submitted to the tax office until 30 November. The application period for 2027 begins on 1 November.

Online Imports May Become More Expensive From November

The new processing fee

From November, a new €2 processing fee will apply to products ordered online and brought into the EU. It affects imports from third countries such as China or the USA. Online retailers or importers are responsible for paying the fee.

Companies such as Shein, Temu or AliExpress, which ship large quantities of inexpensive goods to Europe, could be particularly affected. End consumers are not directly obliged to pay the fee. However, experts warn that retailers could pass some of it on through higher product prices.

The First Christmas Markets Open on 20 November

The opening dates

Large and traditional Christmas markets will open before the first weekend of Advent this year. That falls on 28/29 November. In Aachen and Munich, the markets will already begin on 20 November.

The Frankfurt Christmas Market and the Christmas market at Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt will follow on 23 November. The Dresden Striezelmarkt opens on 25 November, while the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt opens on 27 November.