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Understanding the German Veterinary Fee Schedule (GOT)
- What it is: A federal regulation that defines how veterinarians must bill veterinary services in Germany.
- Why it matters: Ensures consistent pricing while allowing veterinarians to charge between 1 and 3 times the base rate, depending on the time, effort, and circumstances.
- Scope: Applies to all pets and animals treated by licensed veterinarians.
- Cost factors: Treatment complexity, emergency surcharges, and whether procedures are carried out during nights, weekends, or holidays.
- Transparency: Veterinarians are legally required to follow the GOT; invoices must clearly show the applied multipliers.
- Expat relevance: Helps anticipate veterinary expenses and highlights the value of having adequate pet health insurance.
What is the German Veterinary Fee Schedule (GOT)?
The German veterinary fee schedule (GOT, Gebührenordnung für Tierärzte) is the official framework that regulates the fees veterinarians in Germany are allowed to charge for their services.
It is set by law and overseen by the Federal Veterinary Association (Tierärztekammer), ensuring that treatment costs for animals such as dogs and cats follow transparent rules. The GOT defines a range of fees for every type of medical measure — from routine health checks and vaccinations to complex surgery or emergency care.
As an expert who has studied the German system for many years, I consider the GOT one of the key safeguards for pet owners. Unlike in some countries where veterinary practices can set prices freely, in Germany, the GOT provides a legally binding fee schedule that keeps costs predictable and transparent. This benefits both sides: patients receive fair and standardized medical care, while veterinarians can calculate the money for their work transparently.
From my perspective, the GOT is more than just a list of numbers — it reflects the balance between professional expertise, animal welfare, and economic realities. For expats who love animals and want to take care of their furry friends in Germany, understanding how the GOT works is essential before the first visit to the vet.
How Billing Works under the German Veterinary Fee Schedule
Understanding how veterinary practices calculate prices under the GOT is essential for pet owners. The system is designed to create transparency and fairness, but it can still be confusing — especially for expats who are new to Germany. Fees are not arbitrary: they follow a legally defined framework, yet veterinarians retain some flexibility within the allowed range.
The Basic Principle: Fees Calculated Based on the GOT
The GOT sets official base fees for a wide range of veterinary services. These fees serve as the legal minimum. A veterinarian is allowed to charge between 1 and 4 times the official rate, depending on factors such as the complexity of the treatment, the time required, or the special equipment used.
Factors influencing the final costs
Treatment costs vary from patient to patient. The actual bill depends on several elements:
- Type of treatment: Simple procedures, such as regular checkups, are billed at the basic rate, while complex surgeries may be charged at a higher multiplier.
- Time and urgency: Emergencies, especially those occurring at night or on public holidays, are subject to additional fees under the 2020 GOT amendment, as well as further structural changes introduced with the 2022 amendment.
- Medications and materials: Costs for medications, anesthesia, or laboratory tests are added to the service fees.
- Location: In rural areas, vets often keep their fees lower to remain affordable, while clinics in big cities may charge closer to the maximum.
Emergency service fee
Since the 2020 amendment, vets must add a flat emergency service fee for consultations during defined emergency service times (nights, weekends, and public holidays). This ensures that veterinary practices can maintain availability for emergencies without financial losses.
Transparency for pet owners
By law, veterinarians must transparently list their services and calculate prices in accordance with the GOT. Pet owners are entitled to receive a detailed invoice that shows which treatments and medications were provided, along with the method used to apply the multiplier.
When Higher Fees Apply
The German veterinary fee schedule (GOT) permits veterinarians to apply higher multipliers in certain circumstances. This flexibility ensures fair compensation for complex or urgent work while protecting pet owners with a clear legal framework.
| Multiplier (Factor) | When it Applies | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0× (Basic rate) | Standard daytime appointments | Vaccinations, regular checkups |
| 2.0× (Average rate) | More time-consuming treatments | Minor surgery, complex diagnostics |
| 3.0× (Upper rate) | Intensive care, emergencies, high effort | Complicated wound treatment |
| 4.0× (Maximum rate) | Special cases with exceptional effort, justified in writing | Long surgeries, rare procedures |
Veterinarians in Germany can decide within the GOT framework whether to charge the 1×, 2×, 3×, or even 4× rate, depending on factors such as difficulty, time, and special circumstances. The 1× multiplier is the legal minimum and cannot be undercut; in everyday practice, most treatments are billed at around 1.5 to 2 times the basic amount.
Nights, weekends, and holidays
During nights, weekends, and public holidays, vets may charge higher multipliers and must apply the official emergency service fee. These rules ensure 24/7 availability of veterinary care, but they also significantly increase the cost of treatment.
The only case where the law prescribes a fixed rule is emergency service. Outside regular consultation hours, veterinarians must charge an additional emergency service fee of at least €50 (net) and apply a multiplier of at least 2, with a maximum of 4 in justified cases. A bill in such cases typically consists of the examination itself, necessary medications, and the legally required emergency surcharge. This ensures flexibility for veterinarians while giving pet owners clear, legally defined cost limits.
Emergency Situations and Intensive Treatments
Emergencies, such as life-threatening accidents or sudden illnesses, almost always result in bills exceeding the basic multiplier. Intensive treatments, surgeries, or prolonged monitoring are typically billed at a rate of 2 to 4 times the standard amount.
Specialist procedures
For advanced or highly specialized procedures, such as orthopedic surgery or breed-specific diagnostics, veterinarians may also apply the maximum multiplier. They must document the reason for this in the invoice.
What must be included on a vet’s bill?
Germany’s veterinary law requires full transparency. Pet owners must receive an itemized invoice that clearly explains the calculation under the GOT.
- A clear description of all veterinary services provided
- The applicable GOT fee for each treatment
- The multiplier applied (1×–4×)
- Costs of medications, lab tests, and materials (in addition to the vet service fee)
- The emergency service fee, if relevant
- The final treatment costs, including taxes
This documentation safeguards both veterinarians and pet owners, ensuring that vet fees are compliant with legal requirements and transparent.
Impact on Pet Owners
Understanding the German veterinary fee schedule (GOT) is essential for all pet owners — and even more so for expats who may not be familiar with this kind of regulated system.
On the one hand, GOT serves as a protection, preventing unfair price dumping and ensuring that all animals receive high-quality medical care at a certain level of professionalism. On the other hand, it can also be a challenge because treatment costs are not negotiable and can rise significantly in special situations.
Budgeting for veterinary care
For everyday services such as vaccinations, health checks, or regular checkups, most veterinary practices charge between 1.5 and 2 times the standard rate. This makes the costs relatively predictable. Still, pet owners should always set aside a monthly budget for veterinary care, especially when living with animals prone to breed-specific diseases or chronic conditions.
The financial burden of unexpected emergencies
Where it becomes particularly challenging is in emergencies — such as accidents at night, emergencies on public holidays, or surgeries that require intensive care. In these cases, treatment costs can quickly climb into the hundreds or even thousands of euros, because GOT obliges veterinarians to apply at least the 2× multiplier plus the emergency service fee. For expats moving from countries where veterinary services are cheaper or less regulated, this can come as a shock. Proper financial planning is therefore essential to avoid being caught unprepared.
Role of Pet Health Insurance
How insurance helps manage GOT-based costs
Because GOT regulates all veterinary services, insurance providers calculate their coverage directly on this fee schedule. A good pet health insurance plan ensures that you are reimbursed for treatments at the rate billed by your vet, whether it is a routine visit at 1.5× or emergency care at the 3× or 4× level. In practice, this means insurance acts as a financial safety net when fees escalate.
Typical coverage: routine visits, accidents, surgeries
Most policies cover a wide range of treatments, including vaccinations, regular checkups, diagnostics, medications, surgeries, and even hospitalization at a clinic. Coverage often extends to emergencies as well, which is particularly valuable when fees spike due to night or holiday service.
Exclusions and limits
Like all types of insurance, there are limits. Many policies do not cover pre-existing conditions or have a general waiting period before the insurance starts to pay. Certain services may require a special waiting period, for example, hip dysplasia surgery or other breed-specific treatments.
Additionally, reimbursement is typically capped at a certain multiplier (often 2 or 3 times the basic fee of the GOT), so pet owners should carefully verify whether higher emergency multipliers are also covered.
It is also important to note that services connected to pregnancy and birth in animals are usually excluded, as are neutering or castration procedures that are carried out purely for the prevention of reproduction rather than for medical reasons. Some modern insurers, however, offer exceptions and partially cover these costs, which makes it worthwhile to compare policies in detail.
Top Providers of Pet Health Insurance for Expats
When it comes to navigating veterinary costs under the German veterinary fee schedule (GOT), expats benefit from insurers that combine clear English support with simple, digital processes. 2 providers stand out in this respect: Getsafe and Feather. Both offer pet health insurance for dogs and cats, alongside other useful products for expats, such as liability, dental, or private comprehensive health insurance.
What makes them particularly attractive for international pet owners is the focus on digital management — policies can be signed online, claims submitted via an app, and all documents are accessible in English. This makes communication with the insurer much easier, especially in stressful situations such as veterinary emergencies.
Both companies also offer lifetime coverage once a contract is in place, ensuring pets remain protected regardless of their age.
Getsafe
Getsafe positions itself as a flexible, app-driven insurer. Policies for pet health insurance can be tailored with different levels of reimbursement and deductibles, making it easier for expats to adapt coverage to their budget. The app is central: from telemedicine consultations to submitting invoices, everything runs digitally and in English. For pet owners who value simplicity and fast processing, this is a strong advantage.
Feather
Feather’s strength lies in its clarity and transparency. The company is known for straightforward English-language contracts and a customer-first approach, which appeals to expats who may not be familiar with German insurance jargon. Policies for dogs and cats cover both routine treatments and emergencies, with clear and straightforward waiting periods.
Like Getsafe, all administration is handled online, making the experience smooth and predictable.
Both providers address the main challenges expats face: language barriers, complex paperwork, and the need for flexibility. With digital-first processes, lifetime coverage, and English-speaking support, they offer reliable ways to insure furry companions against the sometimes high costs dictated by the GOT.
Conclusion
The German veterinary fee schedule (GOT) is designed to ensure fair and transparent pricing for veterinary services — however, for pet owners, it can still be complex and costly, especially in emergency situations.
From my perspective as an expert, the system is both a protection and a challenge: it safeguards against arbitrary pricing but also creates significant financial obligations. For expats, language barriers and varying regulations add another layer of complexity.
Pet health insurance is more than a financial buffer; it’s the practical way to turn GOT-based fees into predictable costs — and digital-first providers with clear English support, like Getsafe and Feather, make that protection easy to manage.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
The German veterinary fee schedule (GOT) is a legally binding regulation that sets the price framework for veterinary services across Germany. It ensures transparency and prevents unfair overcharging, while allowing veterinarians to apply multipliers based on case complexity, time, or urgency.
Fees are calculated based on the GOT multiplier system (1× to 4×). The vet decides within this framework, depending on factors like difficulty, treatment time, emergency conditions, or patient behavior. This is why the same treatment may cost more at one clinic than another.
Since the 2020 reform of the GOT and subsequent adjustments in 2022, veterinarians are required to charge an emergency service fee of at least €50 (net) outside regular working hours. Additionally, all treatments provided during emergency service times must be billed at a minimum of the 2× multiplier.
Pet insurance reimburses part or all of the costs for treatments, surgery, medications, and sometimes preventive care. This protects pet owners from high bills in emergencies and makes it easier to budget for regular veterinary care.
Common exclusions include pre-existing conditions, breed-specific diseases, and cosmetic procedures. Many insurers also do not cover pregnancy- or birth-related costs, as well as neutering or spaying, unless medically necessary. Preventive services may be limited or require special tariffs.
Yes. Most insurers apply a general waiting period (typically 1 month) after the contract start date. Some conditions, such as hip dysplasia or dental treatment, may have longer special waiting periods, while accidents are typically covered immediately.
Veterinary fee regulations under the GOT are nationwide, but rules for dangerous breeds, liability insurance, and other animal-related laws vary by state. Pet owners should contact the local veterinary association or the municipal veterinary office to clarify details.