Whether a voucher has expired depends mainly on two questions: what deadline the terms set, and when the statutory limitation period runs out. This guide explains when you can still redeem a voucher and when you may demand the money instead.
Short answer: A gift voucher usually becomes time-barred three years after the end of the year in which it was bought (sections 195 and 199 (1) of the German Civil Code, BGB). A shorter deadline in the small print can be void if it is set too tightly. In that case the three-year period applies. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points in brief
- The statutory limitation period for claims under a voucher is three years (section 195 BGB).
- The period starts at the end of the year in which the voucher was acquired (section 199 (1) BGB).
- Shorter deadlines in the terms can be void if they are set too tightly.
- If a deadline is void, the voucher remains redeemable until the three-year period ends.
- If a deadline ends before the three years have passed, the German Consumer Advice Centre (Verbraucherzentrale) sees a claim to a refund of the value.
- If the provider becomes insolvent, you must file your claim with the insolvency administrator.
Expiry or limitation: what is the difference?
Limitation (Verjährung) is a statutory term. Once the period has run out, the claim can no longer be enforced. Expiry (Verfall) refers instead to a clause in the terms that gives a voucher a shorter deadline. In everyday speech the two words are often used interchangeably, but legally they are different. A voucher can therefore expire even though the limitation period has not yet ended.
How long does the statutory three-year period last?
Section 195 BGB sets the ordinary limitation period at three years. Section 199 (1) BGB determines when it starts: the period begins at the end of the year in which the claim arose and the creditor knows, or without gross negligence would have known, the circumstances and the identity of the debtor. For vouchers, this usually means that the period ends on 31 December of the third year after the purchase.
The German Consumer Advice Centre gives an example: a voucher bought in May 2022 must be redeemed by 31 December 2025 at the latest. The table below works through two purchase dates.
| Purchase date | Start of the period | End of the limitation period |
|---|---|---|
| May 2022 | 31 December 2022 | 31 December 2025 |
| 12 March 2024 | 31 December 2024 | 31 December 2027 |
The table shows the usual case. Which date applies in an individual case depends on when you learned of the relevant circumstances.
When is a shorter deadline void?
Many vouchers carry a note such as “valid until”. The Consumer Advice Centre points out that such limits usually sit in the general terms and conditions, and that a deadline set too tightly is void. As an example it cites a one-year limit at an online shop, which the Higher Regional Court of Munich classed as an unreasonable disadvantage to the customer.
| Situation | Assessment by the Consumer Advice Centre | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline of about one year in the small print | Unreasonable disadvantage (OLG Munich, 17 January 2008, ref. 29 U 3193/07, and 14 April 2011, ref. 29 U 4761/10) | Try to redeem before the three-year period ends and document the date |
| Voucher for theatre or a concert | The deadline follows the season of the production | Check the season and the conditions on the voucher |
| Deadline ends before three years have passed | Claim to a refund of the value, minus the merchant’s lost profit | Demand the refund in writing |
| Limitation has already occurred | According to the Regional Court of Oldenburg (20 August 2013, ref. 16 S 702/12), no money is due, even if the deadline was too short | Check whether you acted in time |
Must the merchant pay out a remaining balance?
According to the Consumer Advice Centre, a merchant does not have to pay out cash. The refund claim covers the value you paid, minus the merchant’s lost profit. Whether a remaining balance is paid out after a partial redemption depends on the conditions, which you should check before buying.
What happens if the provider becomes insolvent?
If the provider becomes insolvent, your claim must be filed in the insolvency schedule. The Consumer Advice Centre notes that the recovery rate is usually well below five percent. If you redeem a voucher early, you are therefore more likely to receive its value as goods or a service than through insolvency proceedings.
Frequently asked questions
Does a voucher become time-barred automatically?
Limitation takes effect after the three-year period has run out, not on a fixed date chosen by the issuer. Check the year of purchase and the terms. If you redeem the voucher in time, or assert your claim in writing before the deadline, you are on the safe side.
Can I still ask for money after the deadline has passed?
That depends on whether the deadline was too short and whether the three-year period is still running. If the deadline is void, the voucher remains redeemable until the limitation period ends. If a deadline ends before that point, a refund claim may exist.
Does the rule also apply to online vouchers?
The statutory rule applies regardless of whether the voucher is issued as a PDF, a code or a card. The date of purchase and the terms are what matter. For online vouchers, save the terms together with the proof of purchase, since they can be changed later.
Does this apply to vouchers received as gifts?
A voucher embodies the claim against the issuer, so the rules are the same for the recipient. The basic rule looks to the year of acquisition. When a gift counts as acquired is something to clarify in your individual case.
Does the rule apply to training vouchers?
No. A training voucher from the Federal Employment Agency is a different type of voucher with its own rules. The article Training Voucher (Bildungsgutschein): Who Qualifies explains who qualifies.
What if the provider does not respond?
Set the provider a reasonable deadline in writing and document every contact. If it still does not respond, consider advice from the Consumer Advice Centre. For a larger claim, a formal payment order (Mahnbescheid) may be an option. The article on receiving a payment order (in German) explains the process.
Why a refund request should be precise
A short, factual message is usually enough. Name the date and value of the voucher, attach the proof of purchase and point to the clause you consider too short. Ask for a refund of the value by a specific date and keep the message in writing, for example by e-mail with a read receipt or by registered letter.
Avoid threats and blame. A clear deadline and an exact description of the facts carry more weight than general accusations. If there is no reply, you can pursue the matter further through the Consumer Advice Centre or a formal payment order.
Signs that a deadline is too short
A deadline is not void merely because it is printed on the voucher. It stands out when it is clearly shorter than the statutory three-year period. Check the following points before relying on an expiry date.
- The deadline is less than three years from the end of the year of purchase.
- The deadline appears only in the small print and is hard to notice at the time of purchase.
- The voucher must be redeemed within a few months, without any apparent reason.
- The terms name no season, no event date and no other traceable reason for the short period.
If several of these points apply, check the Consumer Advice Centre’s information or send a written inquiry to the provider. You can then clarify whether it relies on the deadline and what refund it offers.
What you can do now
- Check the expiry date and the year of purchase on the voucher and in the terms.
- Calculate the three-year period from the end of the year of purchase.
- Redeem the voucher in time or request the service in writing.
- If a deadline seems too short and you want a refund, set the provider a written deadline for its reply.
- Keep the proof of purchase, the terms and all correspondence.
Related articles
- Consumer rights in everyday life: protection against fraud and unfair contracts (in German)
- Right of withdrawal for online purchases (in German)
- Defects in online orders: how to complain correctly (in German)
- Payment order received: deadline, objection and what counts now (in German)
- Training Voucher (Bildungsgutschein): Who Qualifies
Sources:
- Section 195 BGB, regular limitation period (Gesetze im Internet)
- Section 199 BGB, start of the regular limitation period (Gesetze im Internet)
- Gift vouchers: how long they are valid (German Consumer Advice Centre, Verbraucherzentrale), undated page
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
