Cargo insurance
Carrier's liability covers loss, damage and late delivery under the HGB and CMR, and clients demand it.
Insurance broker / Business types / Transport and logistics
Insurance for couriers, parcel drivers and cargo bike couriers in Germany
A hundred stops a day, parcels left on strangers' doorsteps, a van that is forever double parked. Courier drivers have more chances to cause or suffer damage than almost any other trade. This page shows which cover is required, what your clients ask for and what it costs.
The question almost everyone asks first
I only drive a Sprinter under 3.5 tonnes. Do I still need carrier's liability insurance?
Not by law, as § 7a GüKG only applies above 3.5 tonnes. But under the German Commercial Code (HGB) you are still liable for every consignment, up to around ten euros per kilogram, and without limit in cases of gross negligence. That is why parcel services, forwarders and retail chains almost always write carrier's liability into the contract. For a van it costs about €180 to €380 a year according to a published tariff.
What goes wrong in this trade
- 01
Parcel gone
Left outside the door, handed to a neighbour, grabbed from the open load space: loss is the most common claim in courier work.
- 02
Accidents in city traffic
Manoeuvring, double parking, doors flung open: dents happen almost daily, and injuries to cyclists are especially expensive.
- 03
Valuable consignments
Smartphones, lab samples, original documents: single consignments can be worth thousands of euros, often without you knowing.
- 04
Theft from the vehicle
During deliveries the van stands open or gets broken into. Whole roll cages disappear in broad daylight.
- 05
Deadline missed
A tender or court deadline, a spare part for a machine that has stopped: a delay often costs the customer more than the consignment is worth.
- 06
Knees, backs, black ice
Stairs, heavy parcels, paths nobody gritted: delivery drivers get injured often.
Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.
The insurance you need
Essential
Car insurance
Motor liability is compulsory; for commercial use with many stops, comprehensive cover also pays off.
Strongly advised
Fleet insurance
From three vans, a fleet policy brings all vehicles together on the same terms.
Business liability
Covers damage away from driving, such as a parcel breaking a glass pane at the front door or a customer falling over your trolley.
Accident insurance
Self employed couriers are not automatically covered by the Berufsgenossenschaft; personal accident insurance closes that gap.
Depends on the business
Group accident insurance
Extra accident cover for employed drivers, off duty too.
Occupational disability
For owners who deliver themselves: a knee injury ends the work sooner than you think.
What it costs: example prices
The biggest item is motor insurance for the van, because commercial delivery vehicles have a lot of claims. Carrier's liability is comparatively cheap.
| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo insurance | Carrier's liability per van up to 3.5 tonnes, regional traffic up to 150 km | about €180 to €250 a year |
| Cargo insurance | Carrier's liability per van, Germany wide and up to 40 Special Drawing Rights per kilogram | about €210 to €310 a year |
| Cargo insurance | Surcharge for valuables such as documents up to €5,000 per vehicle | about €275 a year extra |
| Car insurance | Commercial delivery van, liability and comprehensive | about €1,200 to €3,000 a year |
| Accident insurance | Self employed courier, €150,000 disability benefit with progression | about €150 to €350 a year |
For comparison: Carrier's liability for one van costs about as much a year as a courier turns over on one or two good delivery days.
The carrier's liability figures come from a published tariff excluding German insurance premium tax with a €125 excess, as of September 2026. Motor and accident figures are guide values from our own quoting work; they depend heavily on no claims class, region and age.
Our suggestions: three packages
01
Solo
For: Self employed courier with one van or cargo bike
- Cargo insurance
- Car insurance
- Accident insurance
Together about €1,600 to €3,600 a year
Request this package02
Courier firm
For: Three to ten vans with employed drivers
- Cargo insurance
- Fleet insurance
- Business liability
- Group accident insurance
Together about €6,000 to €25,000 a year
Request this package03
Express
For: Express and valuables courier with documents, lab samples and night runs
- Cargo insurance
- Fleet insurance
- Business liability
- Group accident insurance
- Occupational disability
Together priced individually, usually from about €8,000 a year
Request this packageThe worst day on the round
Six things courier drivers really go through, all on one Monday before Christmas. Tap through and see who pays.
Damage so far€39,700
-
Pulling out in the depot, the van scrapes a loading bay and the vehicle next to it.
-
During a drop, two parcels of tablets are grabbed from the open load space.
-
A cyclist hits the opening driver's door and breaks a collarbone.
-
A parcel of hearing aids left outside a front door has vanished.
-
A customer trips over your trolley parked in the hallway.
-
The driver slips on icy steps: knee injury, six weeks off work.
Which package would you have had?
Illustrative amounts before any excess. Whether and how much is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
- Read your contract with the client: many require a specific limit and liability above 8.33 Special Drawing Rights per kilogram.
- Declare valuable consignments such as documents, medicines or electronics to the insurer; otherwise they are excluded or heavily limited.
- Only leave parcels unattended with written permission from the recipient; otherwise you are liable for any loss without limit.
- If you drive for several clients, one carrier's liability policy should cover all jobs, rather than a separate policy per client.
- If you are solo self employed, look at voluntary cover with the Berufsgenossenschaft and personal accident insurance.
- Cargo bike couriers need public liability that covers damage caused by the bike in traffic, because there is no motor liability.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We read your client contracts too
Parcel services and forwarders stipulate limits and liability. As a broker we compare several insurers and make sure your policy fits exactly.
Claims practice from our own settlements
In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves. We know what evidence an insurer wants after a lost parcel.
Van, liability and accident cover together
Motor, carrier's liability and your personal protection all run through us, with one contact.
Family run since 1989
Free for you; the insurer pays our commission. And you can reach us by phone even while you are out on your round.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Is carrier's liability insurance compulsory for couriers?
By law only for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes under § 7a GüKG. Below that, almost every client requires it in the contract.
What does courier insurance cost?
Carrier's liability for a van is about €180 to €380 a year according to a published tariff. Motor insurance usually costs considerably more.
Who is liable if a parcel left at the door is stolen?
Without permission to leave it, usually the courier. Carrier's liability then pays up to the liability limit, provided there was no gross negligence.
Am I insured as a subcontractor for a parcel service?
Usually not under their policy. You need your own motor, carrier's liability and public liability insurance, and often proof of it.
Which Berufsgenossenschaft covers couriers?
The BG Verkehr, the statutory accident insurer for transport. You become a member with your first employee; the solo self employed can insure themselves voluntarily.
Do I need insurance for a cargo bike?
Cargo bikes without a motor or with pedal assistance up to 25 km/h do not need motor liability. For commercial use, though, you need public liability and carrier's liability.
NAMMERT insurance broker
Request quotes for Courier
The recommended covers are already ticked. Change what does not fit; we obtain quotes and come back with a comparison. You can write in English.
Thank you, we have your request.
We will be in touch within one working day. If it is urgent: +49 3375 29 12 77.
Related trades
Do I need goods in transit liability even with just one lorry?
Do I need insurance at all as a forwarder without my own lorries?
Am I liable as a retailer if a product from China injures someone?
Official classification
This page covers the following classes of the German WZ 2025 (identical to NACE at four digits):
- 53.10 Postdienste von Universaldienstleistungsanbietern
- 53.20 Sonstige Post-, Kurier- und Expressdienste
- 53.30 Vermittlungstätigkeiten für Post-, Kurier- und Expressdienstleistungen
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), WZ 2025. All business types
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Boat insuranceNAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker. Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated