Insurance for security companies, guarding services and private investigators in Germany
In the German security trade, liability insurance is not a recommendation but a condition of your licence: without proof there is no permit under § 34a of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO). Yet the legal minimum limits are low, and one incident on a club door, a lost site key or a missed patrol can quickly cost more. This page shows what you really need.
Are the legal minimum limits enough for my security liability cover?
For the licence, yes; in practice, usually not. 12,500 euros for financial loss is soon used up if a missed patrol brings a production line to a halt, and 15,000 euros for guarded property barely covers a building site store. Many clients therefore ask for 3 million euros for injury and property damage and 100,000 euros each for financial loss and loss of guarded property. These limits usually cost only a little more.
What goes wrong in this trade
01
Trouble on the door
A guest is injured while being escorted out and accuses the door supervisor of excessive force. Compensation, lawyers and often criminal proceedings follow.
02
Break-in despite guarding
The patrol never happened or was only signed off on paper. After the break-in, the client claims the loss from you.
03
Keys and codes
Site security often means access to everything. A lost key or an alarm code passed on can cost a whole locking system.
04
Mistakes in the control room
An alarm is overlooked and the fire brigade called too late. The consequences are pure financial losses and quickly exceed the minimum limit.
05
Dishonesty in your own team
An employee uses his access to steal from a client. Standard liability insurance does not pay for deliberate acts.
06
Violence against your staff
Assaults, dog bites, night shifts and falls on patrol: the risk of injury for security staff is high.
Protects video equipment and alarm receiving systems against power surges, operating errors and breakdowns.
What it costs: example prices
The premium depends on the activity: site security is cheaper than event security, door supervision or close protection. It is calculated on payroll or turnover and the limits you choose.
Insurance
Example
Typical range
Business liability
Sole trader in site security, legal minimum limits
about 315 to 500 euros a year
Business liability
Small security company, 3 million euros combined, 100,000 euros each for financial loss and guarded property
about 500 to 1,200 euros a year
Business liability
Business with 20 employees, site and event security
about 2,000 to 5,000 euros a year
Business legal expenses
With criminal and employment legal cover, up to ten employees
about 500 to 1,100 euros a year
Group accident insurance
Ten security staff, 100,000 euros disability sum each
about 600 to 1,500 euros a year
For comparison: Security liability cover with sensible limits costs roughly as much per year as three to four night shifts of site security that you bill to a client.
Guide figures excluding German insurance premium tax, as of September 2026.
The entry premiums for security liability come from publicly quoted tariffs; larger businesses,
legal expenses and accident cover are guide figures from our own quoting experience.
Armed close protection and cash in transit are rated individually.
Six things that really happen to security companies, all in one single shift from Friday to Saturday. Tap through and see who pays.
Damage so far€174,500
Copper cable disappears from a building site you guard. The patrol is signed off in the log but never took place.
€14,000 · Paid by: Business liability
At the entrance to a concert, a visitor falls over a barrier your team set up wrongly. Broken jaw.
€12,000 · Paid by: Business liability
A guest is taken to the ground at the club door and reports the officer to the police. Defence in criminal proceedings.
€5,500 · Paid by: Business legal expenses
On patrol an officer loses the master key to an office complex.
€38,000 · Paid by: Business liability
A drunk attacks a security officer. Serious eye injury with permanent loss of sight.
€45,000 · Paid by: Group accident insurance
The control room misses a water alarm in a warehouse. The client's goods stand in water for hours.
€60,000 · Paid by: Business liability
Which package would you have had?
Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €174,500
Illustrative amounts before any excess.
What is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
Go well beyond the minimum limits: 3 million euros combined and 100,000 euros each for financial loss and guarded property are common.
Have every activity named separately: site security, mobile patrols, events, door supervision, reception, control room, investigations.
Check that loss of keys is included, with a limit that suits your sites.
Include damage caused by subcontractors if you bring in outside staff for large events.
Consider fidelity insurance against theft by your own staff; many large clients require it.
Make sure all employees are listed in the national guard register (Bewacherregister) and have completed the required briefing or competence exam. Otherwise you risk trouble with the authorities and a dispute with your insurer.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We know the required limits and the reality
We make sure your proof of insurance for the licence is correct and, as a broker, get quotes from several insurers that meet what your clients demand.
Claims handling we do ourselves
In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves. When a break-in turns into an argument over logs and patrols, we know what insurers look at.
Staff, vehicles and legal cover at a glance
Liability, patrol vehicles, accident cover and legal expenses are handled together, so there are no gaps between the policies.
A family business since 1989
Our advice costs you nothing; the insurer pays our commission. You have a fixed contact person instead of changing call centres.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
Is liability insurance compulsory for security companies in Germany?
Yes.
Anyone who commercially guards the lives or property of others needs a permit under § 34a GewO,
and for that a liability policy with the minimum limits set in § 14 of the Guarding Ordinance.
What are the legal minimum limits?
1 million euros for bodily injury, 250,000 euros for property damage,
15,000 euros for loss of guarded property and 12,500 euros for pure financial loss.
What does security liability insurance cost?
For sole traders in site security it starts at about 315 euros a year.
With limits that match real practice, small businesses usually pay between 500 and 1,200 euros.
Do private investigators also need security liability cover?
Pure investigation agencies do not fall under § 34a GewO and have no obligation.
Public liability with financial loss cover still makes sense,
for example for errors in investigation reports.
Does insurance pay if my employee is accused of violence?
Liability insurance pays justified claims and defends you against unjustified ones.
For defence in criminal proceedings you need legal expenses cover with a criminal law module.
No liability policy pays for deliberate acts.
Does the policy cover subcontractors?
Only if agreed.
Subcontractors need their own permit and their own security liability policy;
ask to see both before they start work.
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