Insurance for freight forwarders, warehouse keepers and logistics firms in Germany
As a forwarder you organise transport that others drive and store goods that do not belong to you. If something goes missing you are still liable, often for your subcontractors' mistakes too. This page shows which policies are compulsory, which ones carry your business and what they cost.
Do I need insurance at all as a forwarder without my own lorries?
The Road Haulage Act (Güterkraftverkehrsgesetz) only obliges those who drive vehicles over 3.5 tonnes themselves. But if you work under the ADSp, as almost all forwarders do, you must show liability insurance, otherwise you cannot rely on the ADSp liability limits. And towards your customer you are also liable for the carrier you hired. Without carrier's liability insurance, your business bears that alone.
What goes wrong in this trade
01
Phantom carriers
Fraudsters with stolen identities sign up on freight exchanges, load the goods and vanish. The customer holds you responsible.
02
Cargo theft
Curtain slashers at motorway services and whole trailers stolen: electronics, tyres and drinks are especially sought after.
03
Damage in the warehouse
Forklift accidents, goods stored wrongly, water through the roof: as warehouse keeper you are liable for customers' stored goods.
04
Wrong loading
Poorly secured loads, the wrong temperature in a reefer trailer, mixed up consignments: the damage often happens during loading.
05
Delay and misrouting
A just in time delivery arrives late and the customer's production line stops. Under the German Commercial Code (HGB), exceeding delivery times must be compensated.
06
Cyber attacks and fake emails
Forged bank detail changes from carriers and encrypted forwarding software hit logistics firms particularly often.
Carrier's liability insurance covers your liability as forwarder, carrier and warehouse keeper under the HGB, CMR and ADSp, including the compulsory cover under § 7a GüKG.
Legal expenses for disputes over freight charges, with subcontractors and in employment law.
What it costs: example prices
Carrier's liability is priced per vehicle or by turnover. What matters is vehicle weight, area of operation, whether you agree liability at the HGB level or above, the type of goods and your claims history.
Insurance
Example
Typical range
Cargo insurance
Carrier's liability per vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes, regional traffic, statutory liability
about €180 to €250 a year
Cargo insurance
Carrier's liability per truck and trailer over 7.5 tonnes, Germany and Europe under CMR
about €620 to €800 a year
Cargo insurance
Forwarder without own vehicles, €2 million forwarding turnover, with warehouse
about €2,000 to €6,000 a year
Fleet insurance
7.5 tonne lorry in goods transport, liability and comprehensive
about €2,500 to €5,000 a year per vehicle
Business liability
Forwarder with warehouse and ten staff, €5 million limit
about €800 to €2,000 a year
For comparison: Carrier's liability for an articulated lorry in European traffic costs about as much a year as a single full load over roughly 300 kilometres.
Guide prices excluding German insurance premium tax, as of September 2026.
The per vehicle figures come from a published tariff with a €125 excess,
the motor figures from public comparison data.
Forwarding policies priced by turnover and public liability are guide values from our own quoting
Six cases forwarders really go through, all on one Friday. Tap through and see who pays.
Damage so far€214,500
A carrier booked through a freight exchange does not exist. The load of laptops has vanished.
€85,000 · Paid by: Cargo insurance
A forklift hits a rack in the warehouse and three pallets of customer goods come crashing down.
€14,000 · Paid by: Cargo insurance
Manoeuvring on a customer's premises, your driver damages a roller door.
€6,500 · Paid by: Fleet insurance
A subcontractor emails new bank details. The email was forged and three freight payments are gone.
€19,000 · Paid by: Cyber insurance
The reefer trailer breaks down and a load of dairy products arrives too warm.
€32,000 · Paid by: Cargo insurance
A smouldering fire in the forklift charger damages racking and equipment in the warehouse.
€58,000 · Paid by: Business contents
Which package would you have had?
Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €214,500
Illustrative amounts before any excess.
What is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
Get the compulsory insurance certificate under § 7a GüKG issued for every vehicle over 3.5 tonnes; it must be carried on every journey.
If you agree liability above 8.33 Special Drawing Rights per kilogram, your carrier's liability cover must match that amount.
Check carriers before the first job, for example via the commercial register and proof of insurance; some policies make this a condition of cover.
Warehouse keeper's liability and storage insurance on the customer's behalf are two different things. Find out which your customers expect.
Ask for cover against fraud by fake carriers and forged payment instructions.
Claims must be reported to the insurer within short deadlines; a fixed procedure for claim notifications saves a lot of money in a dispute.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We speak transport law
HGB, CMR, ADSp and the Montreal Convention: as a broker we compare carrier's liability policies from several insurers and make sure the cover matches your contracts.
We handle claims ourselves
In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves, including transit damage to boats. We know which documents an insurer needs after a lost load.
Fleet, warehouse and staff in one place
Carrier's liability, vehicle fleet, warehouse and company benefits are handled together, coordinated without gaps.
Family run since 1989
Our work is free for you; the insurer pays our commission. And we can be reached when the customer calls on a Friday afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
Is carrier's liability insurance compulsory?
For road haulage with vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, yes:
under § 7a GüKG with at least €600,000 per claim.
For forwarders without their own vehicles, the ADSp require liability insurance.
What does carrier's liability insurance cost?
Depending on vehicle and area of operation, about €180 to €800 per vehicle a year.
Forwarders without their own vehicles are usually priced by turnover.
Does carrier's liability also cover the value of the goods?
Only up to the liability limit, within Germany usually 8.33 Special Drawing Rights per kilogram.
Covering the full value needs cargo insurance, which you can offer your customers.
Who is liable for the subcontractor?
Towards your customer, you are.
Your carrier's liability covers that,
and you can recover from the subcontractor if they are insured themselves.
Are goods in the warehouse insured?
Your liability as warehouse keeper is covered by carrier's liability insurance if storage is
included.
The full value of customers' goods is only covered by storage insurance on the customer's behalf.
Do I have to carry the insurance certificate?
Yes.
Drivers must carry proof of goods in transit liability on every journey and show it at roadside
checks.
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