Germany and Austria face regulatory and cost changes in November

Several regulatory and economic changes are scheduled to take effect in November 2026. In Germany, new consumer protection guidelines for small loans will begin on November 20. Under these EU-wide regulations, providers must conduct creditworthiness checks even for small, short-term loans up to 200 euros, including “buy now, pay later” services.

Additionally, new customs processing fees for packages imported into the EU from third-country retailers, such as Shein and Temu, are set to begin on November 1. For motorists in Germany, November 30 serves as the deadline to notify current car insurance providers if they wish to switch providers by December 31.

In the commercial sector, rising costs for energy, postage, and materials are impacting businesses. For example, one independent publisher announced that due to increased shipping and DHL surcharges, the threshold for free shipping will rise from 30 euros to 70 euros starting November 1.