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Insurance for motorcycle workshops and dealers in Germany

Motorcycle workshops and dealers in Germany deal with vehicles that are easy to steal, quick to fall over and often ridden on test rides by people who do not know the model. Add client bikes in winter storage, accessories in the shop and mistakes on brakes or chains. Here is what a business should insure and what it costs.

Insurance for motorcycle workshops and dealers

The question almost everyone asks first

Who pays if a customer crashes a new bike on a test ride?

Damage to others is paid by the motor liability behind the red plate. Damage to the demo bike itself is only covered by own damage cover, usually part of the motor trade policy. Check whether test rides by customers are included and what the excess is, and see licence and ID before every ride.

What goes wrong in this trade

  1. 01

    Test ride crash

    A customer underestimates weight or power and the bike goes down at the first bend.

  2. 02

    Theft

    Bikes are lifted or pushed away from yard and showroom, helmets and clothing vanish from the shop.

  3. 03

    Brakes and chains

    A badly fitted brake line or loose axle nut causes an accident after collection.

  4. 04

    Winter storage

    Dozens of client bikes stand together for months; one fire or flood hits them all.

  5. 05

    Falling off the stand

    A bike slips off the paddock stand and damages its fairing and the bike next to it.

  6. 06

    Electric motorcycle batteries

    Damaged high voltage batteries can catch fire days after a crash.

Risk radar
Liability 4Fire and water 4Theft 5Cyber 2Downtime 3Health 3

Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.

The insurance you need

Essential

Business liability

Third party injury and damage, including losses caused by faulty repairs and damage to worked on items.

Fleet insurance

The motor trade policy covers red plates, test rides, demo bikes and, with workshop risk, client bikes.

Strongly advised

Business contents

New bikes, parts, accessories and clothing in the shop against fire, burglary and water damage.

Business interruption

Pays fixed costs and profit if a fire shuts the business in the middle of the season.

Depends on the business

Cyber insurance

If your online shop, booking system and customer data are attacked.

What it costs: example prices

For motorcycle businesses the premium depends heavily on stock in the showroom, the number of red plates and winter storage. Dealers with many new bikes need a higher contents limit.

InsuranceExampleTypical range
Business liabilityWorkshop with two mechanics, €3 million limitabout €400 to €900 a year
Fleet insuranceMotor trade policy with two red plates, customer test rides and workshop riskabout €900 to €2,800 a year
Business contentsShowroom with new bikes, accessories and parts worth €300,000about €1,200 to €3,000 a year
Business interruptionUp to twelve months' downtime, €800,000 turnoverabout €600 to €1,500 a year
Business legal expensesDealer with contract and employment legal coverabout €400 to €900 a year

For comparison: Liability and the motor trade policy for a small workshop cost about as much a year as a set of sports tyres fitted plus a major service.

All premiums are guide values from our quoting work, excluding German insurance premium tax,

as of October 2026.

Minimum limits and red plate rules as in the linked laws.

Sources of the price examples

Our suggestions: three packages

01

Workshop

For: Independent motorcycle workshop with servicing, tyres and one red plate

  • Business liability
  • Fleet insurance
  • Business contents

Together about €1,800 to €4,500 a year

Request this package

02

Dealer

For: Workshop with showroom, new bikes, accessories and test rides

  • Business liability
  • Fleet insurance
  • Business contents
  • Business interruption
  • Business legal expenses

Together about €3,500 to €8,500 a year

Request this package

03

Full cover

For: Franchised dealer with online shop, winter storage and electric bikes

  • Business liability
  • Fleet insurance
  • Business contents
  • Business interruption
  • Business legal expenses
  • Electronic equipment
  • Cyber insurance

Together individual, usually from about €7,500 a year

Request this package

The worst day in the motorcycle workshop

Six things motorcycle workshops and dealers really go through, all on the first warm Saturday in April. Tap through and see who pays.

Damage so far€34,800
  1. The shop door was forced overnight; two helmets and leather suits are gone.

    €4,800 · Paid by: Business contents

  2. A customer crashes a new adventure bike on a test ride.

    €6,500 · Paid by: Fleet insurance

  3. The same crash damages a parked car.

    €2,800 · Paid by: Fleet insurance

  4. A bike slips off the stand onto the client's bike next to it.

    €3,200 · Paid by: Business liability

  5. A customer reports an accident: the brake line was not tightened properly after the service.

    €15,000 · Paid by: Business liability

  6. A customer refuses to pay and claims the engine failure happened in your workshop.

    €2,500 · Paid by: Business legal expenses

Which package would you have had?

Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €34,800

Illustrative amounts before any excess.

What is paid depends on the policy terms.

Practical tips from your broker

  1. Have customer test rides expressly included in the motor trade policy.
  2. Copy licence and ID before every test ride and have a test ride agreement signed.
  3. Set the limit for client bikes by your full winter storage, not by summer.
  4. Secure new bikes overnight with chains or ground anchors; insurers ask about security.
  5. Store damaged electric bikes separately, outdoors or in a fire safe area.
  6. Record torque settings on brakes, axles and chains on the job card.

Why NAMMERT for your business

We know vehicle claims

In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves, on engines, trailers and electrics. We know what evidence an insurer expects.

We compare the small print

As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert compares how several insurers handle test rides, winter storage and theft.

Shop, workshop and personal

Business, red plates and your personal cover with one contact.

Broker since 1989

A family business, not tied to any insurer. Our service is free for you; the insurer pays our commission. We advise in English.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Which insurance is compulsory for a motorcycle workshop in Germany?

Motor liability for your own vehicles and red plates.

Public liability is not required by law, but without it you pay for losses after repairs yourself.

Who pays if a customer crashes on a test ride?

Damage to others is paid by the plate's motor liability,

damage to the bike itself only by own damage cover.

Your policy says whether customer test rides are included.

Are client bikes in winter storage insured?

Only with goods in care cover, for example workshop risk.

Your contents insurance only pays for your own stock and equipment.

What does insurance cost for a motorcycle workshop?

In our quoting work a small workshop with liability,

motor trade policy and contents pays about €1,800 to €4,500 a year.

Do red plates need their own insurance?

Yes.

Under section 41 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance,

motor liability must be in place for red plate journeys.

Are electric motorcycles a special risk?

Yes, because damaged batteries can catch fire.

Declare high voltage work and agree storage rules with the insurer.

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request quotes for Motorcycle workshop

The recommended covers are ticked.

Change what does not fit; we compare quotes, in English.

1Who is it for?
2Which insurance?

Choose as many as you like. For each one, the details an insurer needs for a quote appear below.

Personal

Business

3Details

Business liability insurance in Germany (Betriebshaftpflicht)

For example electrical installation in homes, café with outdoor seating, online shop for furniture

For example work at clients' sites, own products, exports to the US, parent company abroad

Business contents insurance in Germany (Inhaltsversicherung)

For example café with bakery, accounting firm, car repair shop

At purchase price, 0 if no stock

For example flood cover, customer property, tools in vehicles, loss of income

Business interruption insurance in Germany (Betriebsunterbrechungsversicherung)

For example metalworking with eight staff, restaurant, dental practice

Turnover minus materials and goods purchased, your tax adviser will know

For example key machinery, flood, long delivery times

Fleet insurance in Germany (Kfz-Flottenversicherung)

For example leasing, insurer's claims report, foreign trips, renewal date

4Your current policy
5How can we reach you?

Related trades

Bike shop

Bike shop

Am I liable if a customer crashes because of the brakes after a service?

Boat or yacht? NAMMERT has its own cover concepts for boats, arranged by the same broker.

Boat insurance

Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT.

Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act.

Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company.

It does not arrange your contract.

Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated