In 2026, you generally cannot buy a Deutschland-Ticket (D-Ticket) with cash at a ticket machine or counter because it is officially a digital-only subscription. The €49-per-month (price subject to 2026 inflation adjustments) ticket is designed to be a "paperless" recurring contract that requires a SEPA bank transfer or a credit/debit card for monthly billing. However, some local transit authorities (Verkehrsverbünde) in 2026 have introduced a "workaround" for the unbanked: you can visit a physical customer service center and buy a pre-paid chip card for a specific number of months using cash. Once the pre-paid period ends, the card must be topped up again at the service center. For the vast majority of 2026 travelers, the ticket is purchased via the DB Navigator app or the "D-Ticket" app, where it is stored as a dynamic QR code on your smartphone, and cash payments are not accepted through these digital platforms.