Repair bonus 2026 in Germany: who pays and what it means for refurbished devices
5 min read
There's no nationwide repair bonus in Germany in 2026. Whether you get money toward fixing your phone or laptop mostly depends on where you're registered.
Is there a nationwide repair bonus?
No. In May 2026 Thuringia tried to push a federal subsidy through the Bundesrat and couldn't find a majority (Deutsche Handwerks-Zeitung, 11 May 2026).
What about the EU? Article 13 of Directive (EU) 2024/1799 only asks member states to take at least one measure promoting repair, not to refund 50% of anything. Germany's implementing law, passed by the Bundestag on 25 June 2026 and in force per the federal government (23 July 2026), gives you rights, not money. For buyers, see our piece on the right to repair for smartphones.
Repair bonus 2026 by state: who pays where?
As of 28 September 2026, per the funding bodies (Bavaria: press report). Details can change.
| State / district | Status | Funding | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saxony (Sachsen) | open | 50%, max. €200 per repair, minimum invoice €115, max. 2 repairs a year, invoices dated from 2 Oct 2025 | SAB |
| Berlin | closed | funds used up, no new applications | IBB |
| Thuringia (Thüringen) | ended | expired on 31 Dec 2025 | Verbraucherzentrale Thüringen |
| Rendsburg-Eckernförde district | local, open | 50%, max. €100, minimum invoice €100, invoices dated from 1 Aug 2026 | AWR |
| Starnberg district | local | 20%, max. €50 per person and year | AWISTA |
| Bavaria | motion only | Greens' motion in the Landtag, no programme known to us | Deutsche Handwerks-Zeitung |
We know of no running programme in other states. Rendsburg-Eckernförde has a catch: per the AWR you apply within four weeks of the invoice date. Leave the invoice in a drawer? You're out of luck.
Reparaturbonus Sachsen: how much and how to apply
The SAB (Sächsische Aufbaubank) pays 50% of eligible costs: €150 on €300, capped at €200 from a €400 invoice, nothing below €115. You apply online. An approved specialist repair business does the repair, and you need your main residence in Saxony and must be 18 or older.
Reparaturbonus Thüringen and Berlin: wait or forget it?
Thuringia's bonus has been over since 31 December 2025. The IBB (Berlin's investment bank) says it'll post an update if the programme continues in 2026, but names no date. Don't count on it: Berlin shows how fast a pot can run dry.
What does this mean for refurbished devices?
Honestly, this is where it gets thin. Whether a refurbished or second-hand purchase is eligible isn't stated in the conditions. Saxony's funding guideline covers repairs of privately used electrical and electronic devices, and the AWR lists smartphones and computers. Ask the funding body first.
Two things do stand out:
Saxony and Rendsburg-Eckernförde only pay to repair a device you already own. None of the programmes above subsidises buying one, refurbished or not.
If your refurbished phone breaks within the statutory warranty (Gewährleistung), the seller comes first. Our refurbished warranty guide explains what warranties add.
New under the law: choose repair for a defect and the statutory warranty is extended once by twelve months, but only for purchase contracts from 31 July 2026, not from the day the law took effect. The Verbraucherzentrale notes that used goods may follow different rules. Details: warranty extension under the right to repair.
Repair or replace?
Our take: the repair bonus 2026 is great if you live in Saxony or the right district. Everyone else, as far as we know, pays the full bill. With an older phone, a refurbished replacement is then worth pricing, which is what we compare on Refurbito. Our Back Market, Refurbed and Rebuy comparison shows which seller suits what.
A nationwide bonus would be fairer. It doesn't look likely in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a nationwide repair bonus in Germany in 2026?
No. Thuringia's federal push failed in the Bundesrat in May 2026, and the new right-to-repair law has no funding.
Which German states currently offer a repair bonus?
As of 28 September 2026, Saxony is the only open state programme we know of. Berlin is closed, Thuringia's ended.
Can I get the repair bonus for a refurbished phone?
The conditions don't say. They fund repairs of devices you already own, not purchases. Ask the funding body first, and report a defect within the warranty period to your seller.
Sources
- couldn't find a majority deutsche-handwerks-zeitung.de
- Directive (EU) 2024/1799 eur-lex.europa.eu
- passed by the Bundestag on 25 June 2026 bundestag.de
- federal government bundesregierung.de
- SAB sab.sachsen.de
- IBB ibb.de
- Verbraucherzentrale Thüringen vzth.de
- AWR awr.de
- AWISTA awista-starnberg.de
- funding guideline revosax.sachsen.de
- purchase contracts from 31 July 2026 verbraucherzentrale.de
