Insurance for hauliers and road carriers in Germany
If you carry goods in lorries over 3.5 tonnes in Germany, you may not even set off without goods in transit liability insurance. On top of that come motor liability, comprehensive cover and the question of what happens after a crash with a full load. This page shows what is compulsory, what makes sense and what it costs.
Do I need goods in transit liability even with just one lorry?
Yes, as soon as you carry goods commercially in a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes gross weight, counting any trailer. The duty under § 7a GüKG applies from the first vehicle, the minimum is €600,000 per event, and the certificate must be on board for every journey. If it is missing at a roadside check you face a fine and problems with your operating licence.
What goes wrong in this trade
01
Accidents with injuries
A lorry involved in a crash can quickly cause damage running into millions. That is what motor liability is for, and its limit should be well above the legal minimum.
02
Cargo damage
A shifting load, an emergency stop, tipping over on a bend: the carrier pays for damaged goods up to the statutory liability limit.
03
Theft on the road
Curtains slashed, diesel siphoned off, the whole trailer gone: motorway services and unsecured car parks are crime scenes.
04
Driving hours and fines
Roadside checks, tachographs, toll back charges: proceedings against drivers and operators cost time and legal fees.
05
Lorry off the road
After an accident the vehicle spends weeks in the workshop. Leasing, driver's wages and jobs keep running.
06
Backs and loading accidents
Drivers climb in and out dozens of times a day, secure loads and couple trailers. Falls and back injuries are common.
Goods in transit and carrier's liability is compulsory under § 7a GüKG and covers your liability for the load under the HGB (German Commercial Code) and CMR.
Six events hauliers know well, all on one Monday. Tap through and see who pays.
Damage so far€128,500
At the motorway services the curtain has been slashed and twelve boxes of power tools are missing.
€9,800 · Paid by: Cargo insurance
A rear end collision in a tailback: the lorry shunts two cars together and a driver is injured.
€68,000 · Paid by: Fleet insurance
The front of your own lorry is wrecked; radiator and cab have to be replaced.
€26,000 · Paid by: Fleet insurance
A load of tiles shifts under emergency braking and a third of it is broken.
€7,200 · Paid by: Cargo insurance
Unloading with the customer's forklift, your driver damages a sprinkler system in the warehouse.
€15,000 · Paid by: Business liability
Fine proceedings for breaches of driving hours are opened and you need a lawyer.
€2,500 · Paid by: Business legal expenses
Which package would you have had?
Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €128,500
Illustrative amounts before any excess.
What is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
Carry the insurance certificate under § 7a GüKG in every vehicle and check after every change of vehicle that it still fits.
Choose a high combined limit for motor liability; €100 million is usual for lorries, and the legal minimum is not enough after a serious crash.
Have third party trailers, swap bodies and containers included in carrier's liability if you haul other people's equipment.
Refrigerated, tanker and silo vehicles and high value goods must be declared to the insurer; otherwise cover is missing when a claim comes.
Park valuable loads only in guarded parking if your policy requires it; many policies make this a condition of cover.
Motoring legal expenses for the business and drivers pay off for roadside checks, tachograph disputes and accidents where fault is unclear.
Why NAMMERT for your business
Compulsory and optional kept clearly apart
Goods in transit liability, CMR, motor fleet and public liability interlock. As a broker we compare several insurers and close the gaps between them.
Losses we know
In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves, including transit damage to boats on low loaders. We know which photos and consignment notes an insurer wants to see.
One contact for lorries and family
Fleet, carrier's liability, driver cover and your personal provision all run through us.
Family run since 1989
Many hauliers are family businesses, just like us. Our work is free for you; the insurer pays our commission.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
When does goods in transit liability become compulsory?
For commercial road haulage with vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight including trailers.
The minimum is €600,000 per event.
What does goods in transit liability cost for a lorry?
According to a published tariff, about €280 to €800 per vehicle a year, depending on weight,
area of operation and level of liability.
Is the load covered by the motor insurance?
No.
Motor liability covers third party losses from the accident, comprehensive covers your lorry.
You are liable for the load as carrier, and carrier's liability covers that.
What does 8.33 Special Drawing Rights per kilogram mean?
It is the statutory liability limit for cargo damage within Germany and under CMR,
around ten euros per kilogram.
You are only liable beyond that if you agreed more or acted with gross negligence.
Does the duty also apply to vans under 3.5 tonnes?
No, goods in transit liability is not required by law there.
But your customers almost always ask for it.
Which Berufsgenossenschaft is responsible?
The BG Verkehr.
Membership of this statutory accident insurer is compulsory as soon as you employ drivers or other
staff; as the owner you can insure yourself there too.
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