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Childminder liability in Germany: you take on the supervision, and the risk with it

If you look after other people's children as a Tagesmutter or Tagesvater in Germany, the care contract makes you responsible for supervising them. When a child gets hurt or damages something, claims come to you. A standard personal liability policy only covers this if childminding is expressly included.

The question almost everyone asks first

Does my personal liability policy cover childminding?

Only if the policy names day care for children (Kindertagespflege), often with a cap on the number of children and a separate limit. Many policies cover only occasional, unpaid babysitting. Some local authorities insure publicly funded places through their own contract, Hamburg for example, but not privately paid ones. Check both in writing before your first child starts.

Why the childminder is liable, not the child

Under § 832 (2) of the German Civil Code, anyone who takes on supervision by contract carries the same responsibility as the parents. If a child in your care damages a third party's property, the law presumes your supervision fell short. You are cleared only if you prove that you supervised properly or that the damage would have happened anyway.

Children under seven are not liable themselves under § 828 of the Civil Code. So when a toddler scratches a neighbour's car, the claim almost always goes to the person in charge. How closely you must watch depends on the child's age and the situation, and courts look at each case on its own.

Statutory accident cover is not liability cover

When a child in day care is injured, statutory accident insurance usually pays for treatment and rehabilitation. This applies under § 2 (1) no. 8a SGB VII if the childminder is suitable under the child and youth welfare code, in practice with a permit or placement through the youth office (Jugendamt). Without the youth office involved, this cover can be missing.

Property damage, harm to third parties and defending unjustified claims remain a matter for liability insurance. Self-employed childminders must also register for their own statutory accident cover with the BGW, the accident insurer for health and welfare services. A private accident policy does not replace that.

What the local authority pays for

Under § 23 SGB VIII the youth office refunds proven contributions to suitable accident insurance and half of pension contributions. The law does not list liability insurance. Some authorities pay it as part of running costs, some have a group contract, others leave it to you.

In Hamburg, publicly funded day care comes with liability cover for both childminder and child, while purely private arrangements are excluded. If you offer both kinds of places, you need your own cover for the private ones. Ask your youth office for the actual terms.

What is covered

  • Injury, property damage and resulting financial loss that children in your care cause to others, where you are accused of failing to supervise
  • Harm that you or members of your household cause to the children
  • Defence against unjustified claims, including in court
  • Damage to the children's belongings, such as glasses or a pushchair, depending on the policy
  • Care in your own home, the parents' home or rented rooms, depending on the policy
  • Lost keys belonging to the parents or to rented premises, depending on the policy

What is not covered

  • Damage to your own property, unless specifically included
  • Accidents while using a car, which belong to motor liability
  • Caring for more children than the policy allows
  • Damage caused on purpose
  • Your own injuries, which fall under the BGW

Who needs it

  • Childminders with a care permit from the youth office, at home or in rented rooms
  • Childminders who take privately paid children alongside funded places
  • Groups of childminders sharing premises (Großtagespflege)
  • Nannies who regularly care for children in one family's home

Who does not need it

  • Grandparents and neighbours who babysit now and then without pay: personal liability usually covers this
  • Childminders whose local authority confirms in writing that every place is fully covered

Wheel of misfortune

Spin the wheel of bad luck

Six things that really happen. The wheel picks yours and shows who pays.

See all six cases
  1. Child falls off the slide, treatment via accident insurance, plus a dispute over supervision. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Statutory accident insurance pays treatment. If the parents claim you failed to supervise, liability cover defends or pays.
  2. Toddler scratches a neighbour's car, around €500 to €2,500. Budget policy: pays in part, Strong policy: pays. The child is not liable, nor are you if you supervised properly. Strong policies pay anyway up to a limit, basic ones only if you are liable.
  3. Parents' keys lost, four figures with a master key system. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays. Other people's keys are often missing from basic cover. Good policies include the parents' keys and those of rented rooms.
  4. Child's glasses broken, around €150 to €600. Budget policy: pays in part, Strong policy: pays. Children's belongings are not in every policy. Strong policies name them.
  5. Water damage in rented rooms, four to five figures. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays in part. Personal liability rarely covers rented premises. Shared-premises contracts include it, often with a separate limit.
  6. Car crash with children aboard, up to six figures. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: does not pay. Damage while using a car belongs to motor liability. Childminder liability does not pay here.

What it costs

Childminding is usually added to a personal liability policy, less often insured as a separate contract. The extra premium depends mainly on how many children you look after and where.

What drives the premium

  • Number of children cared for at the same time
  • Place of care: your home, the parents' home, rented rooms
  • Shared premises with other childminders
  • Sum insured and excess
  • Extras such as lost keys, children's belongings, damage to rented rooms

We give no reference prices because insurers calculate the extra very differently and many authorities pay part of it. Your premium is fixed only in the quote.

The policy levels on the market

01

Basic

Childminding as an add-on to personal liability with a lower separate limit and few children. Covers the core risk but often leaves out keys, children's belongings and rented rooms.

02

Comfort

Full personal liability limit, up to five children, your home and the parents' home, parents' keys included. Suits most childminders.

03

Shared premises

Separate contract or professional liability with rented rooms, damage to those rooms, stand-ins and helpers included.

How to recognise a good policy

CriterionMinimum standardStrong policyWhy it matters
Paid childminding occasional babysitting only paid day care with a permit expressly covered Many personal liability policies only mean helping out now and then.
Sum insured separate lower limit for childminding full personal liability limit A seriously injured child can lead to claims in the millions.
Number of children two or three as many as your permit allows Caring for more than agreed can put all cover at risk.
Place of care your own home only also the parents' home and rented rooms Many childminders work in more than one place.
Damage by children under seven only if you are liable also without liability, up to a limit Otherwise the neighbour is left with the bill and relations suffer.
Stand-ins and helpers not covered stand-ins, household members and helpers covered Someone steps in when you are ill or on holiday.

Insurers on the German market

Many liability insurers in Germany cover childminding as an add-on to personal liability, some as a separate contract. How far cover goes is set in each policy's wording, not its name.

InsurerBackground
Haftpflichtkassemutual insurer focused on liability, sells through brokers
VHVbroker-focused insurer with modular personal liability
InterRiskbroker insurer based in Wiesbaden
Ammerländermutual insurer from Lower Saxony, sells through brokers
R+Vcooperative insurer, sold through local banks and brokers
Allianzagents and brokers
Gothaeragents and brokers

From the BaFin register

127

127 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance.

(Allgemeine Haftpflicht)

Show all 127 names from the register
  • ADAC Versicherung AG
  • ADLER Versicherung AG
  • AGILA Haustierversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Allcura Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Allianz Direct Versicherungs-AG
  • Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE
  • Allianz Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Alte Leipziger Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Ambra Versicherung AG
  • AMMERLÄNDER VERSICHERUNG Versicherungsverein a.G. (VVaG)
  • andsafe Aktiengesellschaft
  • ARAG Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • AXA Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • BA die Bayerische Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Badischer Gemeinde-Versicherungs-Verband
  • Baloise Sachversicherung Aktiengesellschaft Deutschland
  • Barmenia Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • BavariaDirekt Versicherung AG
  • Bayerische Hausbesitzer-Versicherungs-Gesellschaft a.G.
  • Bayerischer Versicherungsverband Versicherungsaktiengesellschaft
  • BD24 Berlin Direkt Versicherung AG
  • BGV-Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Concordia Versicherungs-Gesellschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Continentale Sachversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Cosmos Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • DA Deutsche Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • DARAG Deutschland AG
  • Debeka Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft Sitz Koblenz am Rhein
  • Delvag Versicherungs-AG
  • DEVK Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • DEVK Deutsche Eisenbahn Versicherung Sach- und HUK-Versicherungsverein a.G. Betriebliche…
  • DFV Deutsche Familienversicherung AG
  • Dialog Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Die Haftpflichtkasse VVaG
  • DOCURA VVaG
  • ERGO Direkt Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • ERGO Reiseversicherung AG
  • ERGO Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Euro-Aviation Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • EUROPA Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Fahrlehrerversicherung Verein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Feuersozietät Berlin Brandenburg Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • GARANTA Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Gemeinnützige Haftpflichtversicherungsanstalt Kassel
  • Generali Deutschland Versicherung AG
  • Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Gothaer Versicherungsbank VVaG
  • Great Lakes Insurance SE
  • GRUNDEIGENTÜMER-VERSICHERUNG Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • GVO Gegenseitigkeit Versicherung Oldenburg VVaG
  • GVV Direktversicherung AG
  • GVV-Kommunalversicherung, Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Haftpflichtgemeinschaft Deutscher Nahverkehrs- und Versorgungsunternehmen Allgemein (HDNA) VVaG
  • Hamburger Feuerkasse Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • HanseMerkur Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG
  • HDI Global SE
  • HDI Global Specialty SE
  • HDI Haftpflichtverband der Deutschen Industrie Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • HDI Versicherung AG
  • Helvetia Schweizerische Versicherungsgesellschaft AG Direktion für Deutschland
  • Helvetia Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • HUK-COBURG Haftpflicht-Unterstützungs-Kasse kraftfahrender Beamter Deutschlands a.G. in Coburg
  • HUK-COBURG-Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • HUK24 AG
  • Hübener Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • IDEAL Versicherung AG
  • INTER Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Interlloyd Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • InterRisk Versicherungs-AG Vienna Insurance Group.
  • ISSELHORSTER Versicherung V.a.G.
  • Itzehoer Versicherung/Brandgilde von 1691 Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Janitos Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • KRAVAG-LOGISTIC Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Landschaftliche Brandkasse Hannover
  • LBN Versicherungsverein a.G. (VVaG)
  • Lifestyle Protection AG
  • Lippische Landesbrandversicherung AG
  • Lucura Versicherungs AG
  • LVM Landwirtschaftlicher Versicherungsverein Münster a.G.
  • Mannheimer Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Markel Insurance SE
  • Mecklenburgische Versicherungs-Gesellschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • MVK Versicherung VVaG
  • MÜNCHENER VEREIN Allgemeine Versicherungs-AG
  • Neodigital Versicherung AG
  • Newline Europe Versicherung AG
  • nexible Versicherung AG
  • NV-Versicherungen VVaG
  • NÜRNBERGER Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • NÜRNBERGER BEAMTEN ALLGEMEINE VERSICHERUNG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
  • OKV - Ostdeutsche Kommunalversicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Ostangler Brandgilde, Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (VVaG)
  • Pallas Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Provinzial Nord Brandkasse Aktiengesellschaft
  • Provinzial Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • PVAG Polizeiversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • R+V Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • RheinLand Versicherungs Aktiengesellschaft
  • Rhion Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • S DirektVersicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SAARLAND Feuerversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SHB Allgemeine Versicherung VVaG
  • SIGNAL IDUNA Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Sparkassen-Versicherung Sachsen Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Stuttgarter Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SV SparkassenVersicherung Gebäudeversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • TRIAS Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Uelzener Allgemeine Versicherungs-Gesellschaft a.G.
  • Union Reiseversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • uniVersa Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Versicherer im Raum der Kirchen Sachversicherung AG
  • Versicherungskammer Bayern Versicherungsanstalt des öffentlichen Rechts
  • Versicherungsverband Deutscher Eisenbahnen-Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Verti Versicherung AG
  • VHV Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • VHV Vereinigte Hannoversche Versicherung a.G.
  • VOLKSWOHL-BUND SACHVERSICHERUNG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
  • VPV Allgemeine Versicherungs-AG
  • Waldenburger Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • WGV-Versicherung AG
  • WWK Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Württembergische Gemeinde-Versicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Württembergische Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Würzburger Versicherungs-AG
  • Zurich Insurance Europe AG
  • Öffentliche Feuerversicherung Sachsen-Anhalt

Source: BaFin company database, 18 September 2026; EU insurers without a German office excluded.

Legal basis and sources

Products and add-ons

Personal liability with childminding

Day care included in your own personal liability policy. The usual route for childminders working at home.

Separate childminder liability

A contract just for the childminding activity, independent of personal liability.

Professional or business liability

For shared premises, with damage to rented rooms and helpers.

Myth or truth

True or false?

Five things people say about this insurance. Guess first, then see the answer.

If a child is hurt, that is for the accident insurer, not my liability policy.

This is false.

Only in part: statutory accident insurance pays treatment if you count as suitable. Property damage, harm to others and defending claims stay with liability cover.

As a childminder I can be liable for damage a child causes to others.

This is true.

True, if you are blamed for poor supervision. By contract you take on supervision under § 832 (2) of the Civil Code, and a breach is presumed at first.

My personal liability covers any care of other people's children.

This is false.

False: many policies cover only occasional unpaid babysitting. Paid day care has to be expressly included, often with a cap on children.

Without the youth office involved, children may have no statutory accident cover.

This is true.

True: cover under § 2 (1) no. 8a SGB VII requires a suitable childminder. If you work without a permit or placement, clarify this first.

The youth office always refunds my liability premium.

This is false.

No: § 23 SGB VIII expressly names only accident insurance and pension contributions. Each local authority decides how to treat liability.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming personal liability covers childminding without reading the clause
  • Believing statutory accident insurance also pays liability claims
  • Taking more children than the permit and policy allow
  • Relying on the local authority contract when private places are not included
  • Forgetting to register with the BGW

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

How many children may I look after?

The care permit under § 43 SGB VIII covers up to five children present at the same time,

sometimes fewer.

State law can allow more if you have a teaching qualification.

The permit is valid for five years.

Your insurance should cover at least as many children as your permit.

Who pays if a child is injured in my care?

Treatment and rehabilitation are usually paid by statutory accident insurance if you count as a

suitable childminder.

If the parents say you failed to supervise, or if property is damaged,

liability insurance steps in and also defends unjustified claims.

Is a toddler liable for damage they cause?

No.

Children under seven are not liable under § 828 of the German Civil Code,

so claims go to the person supervising.

Good policies also pay small amounts where you did nothing wrong,

to keep the peace with neighbours and parents.

Will the youth office refund my liability premium?

§ 23 SGB VIII names accident insurance and half of pension contributions, not liability.

Whether liability is paid through running costs or a group contract depends on your local

authority.

Ask your youth office for the details.

Do I need to register with an accident insurer?

Yes, if you are self-employed and look after children from several families.

You register with the BGW within one week of starting.

A private accident policy does not replace this.

Am I covered when I care for children in the parents' home?

Not under every policy.

Some cover only your own home.

If you work in both places, the policy should name both,

ideally with damage to the parents' home and their keys.

Why use a broker?

Because the differences lie in clauses few people read: paid activity, number of children,

place of care, keys.

We check them on your behalf and compare them with your local authority's contract.

The insurer pays our fee.

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