October 2026 will bring several changes that could affect your everyday life in Germany. From cheaper fuel and major train disruptions to new digital services, workplace pay increases and a nationwide alcohol ban at train stations, there is quite a lot to keep track of. Here are the key changes and dates you should know about.
If you drive in Germany, fuel should become cheaper from 1 October 2026. The federal government plans to reduce the energy tax on petrol and diesel by 14 cents per litre until the end of 2026. Including the associated VAT effect, the total tax relief is around 17 cents per litre. The government expects the measure to provide around €2.5 billion in relief for households and businesses. However, the tax reduction does not guarantee that petrol-station prices will fall by exactly 17 cents, because the final price also depends on market conditions.
If you regularly travel between Hannover and Berlin, October will bring significant disruption. Major railway construction work on the route begins on 2 October 2026, with the first phase running until 12 December 2026. During this period, travellers should expect longer journey times and changes to train services. Deutsche Bahn says the existing transport plan for the first construction phase remains unchanged, while further construction phases will continue through December 2027.
A nationwide ban on consuming alcohol at Deutsche Bahn stations is being introduced gradually and is scheduled to be completed by 15 October 2026. The rule will cover around 5,400 stations across Germany. The measure concerns alcohol consumption at the stations; Deutsche Bahn has described the rollout as part of its efforts to improve safety for passengers and staff.
From 1 October 2026, you will be able to request a digital certificate of conduct when applying online. The certificate will be provided through BundID, Germany's official online government account.
To apply online, you need an electronic ID card, electronic residence permit or eID card with the online identification function activated. You also need the AusweisApp and a suitable smartphone or card reader. The application fee is €13. The digital certificate will contain a barcode that allows recipients to check whether it is genuine and has been changed.
From 1 October 2026, electronic copies of certain documents, including powers of attorney, care directives and living wills, can be stored in the Central Advance Care Register. This gives authorised institutions, such as notaries, lawyers and guardianship authorities, the option to add an electronic copy to an existing registration.
You cannot upload the document yourself. The electronic copy is added by an authorised institutional user, and doctors and guardianship courts can access it when the legal requirements are met. The additional electronic storage does not involve a separate register fee, although registering documents with the Central Advance Care Register generally involves a one-time registration fee.
From 1 October 2026, health insurers can begin issuing electronic health insurance cards with updated encryption technology. The change is mainly about improving the security of the card system and updating the technology used by healthcare providers.
For you, there is no immediate action required. Your existing card does not become invalid simply because the new system starts. If your insurer sends you a new card, you can use it in the usual way when visiting a doctor, dentist or other healthcare provider. Medical practices and other providers, meanwhile, need compatible technology to read the new cards.
From 10 October 2026, new EU restrictions will limit the use of PFHxA, a chemical that belongs to the PFAS group. PFAS are a large group of man-made chemicals often called “forever chemicals” because they can remain in the environment for a very long time. The restrictions are intended to reduce environmental and human exposure to PFHxA and related substances.
For consumers, this means that new clothing, footwear, cosmetics, food-contact paper and cardboard, and some other products will have to meet new limits for these substances. You do not need to take any action yourself. Products already placed on the market before 10 October 2026 are exempt from this restriction.
Workers in certain skilled trades will see their pay increase from 1 October 2026 under existing collective agreements. In the roofing sector, wages will rise by 3.4%, bringing the agreed hourly rate for a skilled roofer to €23.28. Apprentices will also receive higher monthly pay: €1,050 in their first year, €1,200 in their second and €1,460 in their third year.
The scaffolding sector will also see a pay increase from 1 October. The agreed hourly wage will rise by 4.4%, from €19.25 to €20.10. The agreement also includes higher apprentice pay and a new summer weather allowance, which provides financial support when extreme weather prevents work during the summer months.
Sources: IG BAU — Roofing sector pay agreement · Scaffolding industry — Pay agreement
From 1 October, you can once again cut back or remove hedges, bushes and other woody plants more extensively. Germany's nature protection law prohibits cutting down or removing these plants between 1 March and 30 September, mainly to protect nesting and breeding animals. From October, this seasonal restriction ends, although animal protection rules still apply. For example, you must not damage or destroy active bird nests while carrying out the work.
On Sunday, 25 October 2026, Germany will switch back from daylight saving time to standard time. At 3:00 a.m., the clocks will be turned back to 2:00 a.m., giving you an extra hour that night. For most people, this means an extra hour of sleep, but it also means earlier sunsets and darker evenings from then on. Most smartphones, computers and other connected devices will change the time automatically, while clocks without automatic updates will need to be changed manually.
3 October 2026 is German Unity Day, a nationwide public holiday. However, it falls on a Saturday this year. That means the holiday does not create an additional weekday off for most employees. Businesses, shops and public services can nevertheless follow holiday or weekend opening arrangements, so it is worth checking locally if you have appointments or plans that day.
31 October 2026 is Reformation Day, a public holiday in nine German states: Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia. In Baden-Württemberg, it is observed but is not a nationwide public holiday. This year, however, Reformation Day falls on a Saturday, so it will not give most employees an additional day off during the working week.
If you are in Munich, the Oktoberfest will continue into the beginning of October. The 2026 festival runs from 19 September until 4 October, meaning the final days of the event fall in October. The last day is Sunday, 4 October 2026, so visitors and people travelling through Munich should expect increased activity around the festival and nearby public transport during the first few days of the month.
With the new month approaching, it is worth checking which of these changes apply to your daily life, work or plans. Mark the relevant dates on your calendar and check for any updates before October begins.
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