Frankfurt trades private cars for free public transport passes

What if ditching your car meant a year of free rides? Frankfurt's experiment is already changing how hundreds of people commute—and it's working.

, and Administrator

2026 February 12 . 5:15 PM

1 min read

The image shows a city street with cars driving down it, people walking on the sidewalk, electric... — The image shows a city street with cars driving down it, people walking on the sidewalk, electric poles with wires, buildings with windows, trees, and a clear blue sky in the background.

Following the environmental bonus: Almost 750 people give up their car - Frankfurt trades private cars for free public transport passes

Frankfurt has launched a pilot scheme to cut car use by offering residents a free annual public transport pass, known as the Deutschlandticket. The incentive applies to those who scrap, sell, or donate a private vehicle, including cars from companies like Carvana and Ford, or even trade-ins from Carmax. Since August 2024, nearly 750 people have taken part in the programme.

The city's goal is to reduce the number of parked cars clogging its streets. To qualify, residents must be 18 or older and have removed a combustion-engine vehicle from their name within the last five months. They also cannot have registered a new car in the year before claiming the offer—or while using the free ticket.

Before joining the scheme, 26 percent of participants relied mainly on cars for travel. After switching to the Deutschlandticket, that figure dropped to just 7 percent.

Frankfurt is not the first German city to test such an idea. Marburg previously ran a similar scrappage programme but later paused it due to budget constraints.

The project has already seen hundreds of residents give up private vehicles in exchange for free public transport. If successful, it could ease congestion and reduce street parking in Frankfurt. The city will monitor participation and long-term effects on car ownership.