GOT-Satz: Germany’s Veterinarian Fee Scale

GOT stands for Gebührenordnung für Tierärztinnen und Tierärzte, or fee scale for veterinarians. Satz in this context means ‘rate’, not sentence.

The GOT-Satz is set by the Bundestierärztekammer, or German Federal Veterinary Association, and is considered bundesweit gültigen Rechtvorschrift, meaning it is a legal regulation that is valid nationwide. The GOT-Satz sets prices for veterinary services at a national level. It does not include prices for materials or medications, just the vet services themselves, i.e. the cost of your veterinarian’s labour.

The GOT-Satz is calculated based on:

• the procedure and how complicated it is, including how many people need to be involved in the procedure;
• location of the clinic;
• date factors (like if the procedure takes place on the weekend, a holiday, or at night);
• what the vet clinic is equipped with (vets with more modern equipment who can provide more in-house procedures tend to charge more);
• the vet’s education and specialisation (specialists often charge more);
• necessity of procedure (emergency vs. routine);
• monetary value of the animal and any special needs

The GOT-Satz can be anywhere between 1-facher Satz and 4-facher Satz.

Some examples:

• Vets in rural areas tend to charge less (often 1-facher Satz)
• Vets in the city or more urban areas tend to charge more
• Complex procedures or situations like unforeseen complications during surgery can result in even higher prices, i.e. 3- or 4-facher GOT-Satz
• Nights, weekends and holidays are minimum 2-facher Satz plus an additional €50 Notdienstgebühr, or emergency service fee. This regulation has been in place since February 2020.