Buy the Bahncard at the counter

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With the Bahncard you save money when traveling with Deutsche Bahn. You can easily buy the chargeable discount card at any major train station that has a service center or a rail travel center. What documents do you need to buy at the counter and what do you have to consider?

With the Bahncard you save money while traveling.
With the Bahncard you save money while traveling.

What you need:

  • Identity card
  • possibly passport photo
  • possibly proof of status as a student, trainee, pupil, pensioner or severely disabled person

Which Bahncard is right for you?

  • First of all, you need to make a choice between the different discount cards offered.
  • With the Bahncard 25 you save 25% of the normal price for a journey every time. You can also use this discount card in conjunction with the so-called saver prices (as of 05/2013). It is particularly worthwhile for occasional drivers who plan a trip a long time in advance.
  • With the Bahncard 50 you always get a 50% discount on the normal price. This card is particularly suitable for those who travel a lot on the spur of the moment, as you only have to pay half the actual fare.
  • If you travel a lot by train, the Bahncard 100 could also be worthwhile for you. Here you have to weigh the price of the discount card against the purchase of individual tickets. With this card, you can travel around the entire Deutsche Bahn network as often as you like without having to buy additional tickets.

This is how buying at the counter works

  • You can buy the Bahncard at the counter in every travel center that you can find at all major train stations. This works without any problems and only takes a few minutes.
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  • After you have decided on a discount card - i.e. 25%, 50% or 100% - you will be given a form that you have to fill out and sign. Mainly your name, address and type of discount card are recorded here. The clerk will compare your data with your personal ID.
  • For the Bahncard 100 you also have to stick a passport photo on a separate field, which you should bring with you when you buy it. You don't need a photo for the other cards.
  • For the discount cards with 25% and 50% there is the possibility to buy them at a reduced price. You are entitled to the discount as a student, pupil and trainee up to the age of 26, also as a pensioner, severely disabled person or if you are a senior over 60 years of age. Children up to and including 17 years of age also receive a discount.
  • Normally, it is sufficient to show proof of entitlement to a discount, e.g. your student ID, at the counter. The clerk will then confirm the authorization on the form.
  • Now you have to decide when the card should be valid. The start date can be chosen arbitrarily and can, for example, be on a day in the middle of the month. It is then valid for exactly one year.
  • You pay for your new card directly at the counter by bank card or cash.
  • If you would like to use the discount card directly, you will be issued a temporary Bahncard with which you can start your journey immediately. The correct plastic card will be sent to you by post within a few weeks.
  • The Bahncard is sold to you as a subscription as standard. This means that a new card and invoice will be sent to you shortly before your card expires if you do not receive your discount card on time - i.e. at least six weeks before the expiry date quit.

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