Online - the most convenient route to your ticket 

As of now, holders of BahnCards, a credit card or an ec card can conveniently generate their own tickets at their PCs up to within 10 minutes of departure (though Sparpreis 25 or 50 tickets need to be bought at least 3 days in advance). A quick logon to the online ticket service is all it takes. It applies to almost all routes in Germany given a minimum distance travelled of 51 km.
To generate your online ticket, simply select the travel connection desired and indicate in the booking dialogue window that you would like to print out your online ticket yourself.

Unlike tickets bought over the counter, the online ticket is only valid for you personally in conjunction with your means of identification, details of which are archived when you register and which you also have to carry with you on the train. Online tickets cannot, therefore, be made out in the name of another person.
Your means of identification may be a valid BahnCard, credit card (American Express, MasterCard, Diners Club, Visa) or ec card/Maestro. It needs to be presented when your ticket is inspected on the train. Online tickets are accordingly only valid in conjunction with the BahnCard, ec card or credit card number cited by you at registration. Provisional BahnCards cannot be used as a means of identification.

Online tickets can be paid for by credit card or - upon your having signed up beforehand and assuming both your place of residence and the domicile of your bank are in Germany - direct debit. When the booking is made your credit card is debited with the amount of your online ticket and any online reservation made. The due amount is debited to your account if you pay by direct debit.
The means of identification you select is independent of your method of payment. Hence you can pay by credit card and use your ec card as a means of identification.