Electronic equipment insurance in Germany: all risks cover for your business technology
German businesses insure computers, tills, phone systems, medical and measuring devices through a dedicated Elektronikversicherung. It covers almost any sudden damage, including accidental damage, short circuits and power surges, which a standard contents policy leaves out. Think of it as the engineering counterpart to property cover.
Why do I need electronic equipment insurance if I have contents insurance?
Because German contents cover only pays for named perils: fire, burglary, water from pipes and storm. Most damage to technology comes from something else: a power surge from the grid, a short circuit, coffee spilled on a keyboard, a dropped tablet or an operating error. Electronic equipment insurance covers these on an all risks basis, usually at replacement value.
All risks shifts the burden of proof
Most German property policies list what they cover. Electronic equipment insurance works the other way round: any unforeseen physical damage is covered unless an exclusion applies, and the insurer has to prove that it does. For a business owner this makes claims simpler.
The main exclusions are wear and tear, defects known when the policy started, intent, and damage for which the manufacturer, supplier or repairer is liable under warranty. The model conditions published by the GDV (ABE 2020) set the framework, and individual insurers improve on them.
Hardware yes, data only with an add-on
The basic cover replaces or repairs the device. Restoring data, reinstalling software and buying new licences needs a separate data and software section, which usually pays only if insured physical damage to the storage medium caused the loss.
Ransomware and hacking do not damage hardware, so they fall outside this policy. Cyber insurance fills that gap. Many firms need both, and neither replaces the other.
Blanket cover or itemised list
Small offices often insure all stationary office and communication equipment under one blanket sum without a list, and new devices are automatically included up to that sum. Practices and laboratories usually list each expensive device with its replacement value.
Portable devices such as laptops, tablets and measuring kits can be covered off-site, often worldwide. Check the rules for theft from vehicles: many policies require a locked boot and limit cover at night.
What is covered
Operating errors, clumsiness and negligence
Power surges, induction and short circuits, also without lightning
Water, moisture and spilled liquids
Drops, breakage and impact
Fire, lightning, explosion, storm and water from pipes
Burglary, robbery, vandalism and sabotage
Design, material and manufacturing defects after the warranty expires
Portable equipment away from the premises, if included
Data and software restoration, if included
What is not covered
Wear and tear
Damage the manufacturer, dealer or repairer is liable for
Defects known at the start of the policy
Data loss without physical damage, such as ransomware
Intentional damage
Theft from unlocked vehicles, depending on the policy
Who needs it
Medical and dental practices with diagnostic equipment
Offices and agencies that depend on computers and servers
Retail and hospitality with till systems
Businesses with measuring, testing and control technology
Anyone whose leasing contract requires cover
Who does not need it
Businesses with a few inexpensive devices they can replace from reserves
Wheel of misfortune
Spin the wheel of bad luck
Six things that really happen. The wheel picks yours and shows who pays.
Cost:
Budget policy Strong policy
See all six cases
Toddler topples the office monitor, around €300 to €1,500. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Clumsiness by anyone, including visitors, is a typical insured event under all risks cover.
MacBook left behind on the ICE, full price of a new device. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: does not pay. Leaving a device behind is loss, not theft or damage. No electronic equipment policy pays for that.
Laptop taken from a locked boot at night, around €1,000 to €3,000. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays in part. Office cover stops at the door. With portable devices included, many insurers pay, often with night time limits.
Power surge kills the NAS, around €500 to €5,000. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Surges from the grid, even without lightning, are exactly what this insurance is for.
Restoring data after a fire, technician costs, often four figures. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays. Basic cover replaces hardware. Data and software restoration needs its own section.
Ransomware locks every PC, five to six figures with downtime. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: does not pay. Encrypted data is not physical damage. Cyber insurance handles that.
What it costs
The premium is a rate on the sum insured, which is the replacement value of the equipment. Portable devices cost considerably more to insure than stationary ones. A higher deductible lowers the premium.
What drives the premium
Replacement value of the equipment
Type of technology: office IT, medical, measuring and control
Share of portable devices and off-site cover
Deductible
Data, software and extra costs sections
Environment, such as dust, heat or humidity
There are no reliable published price comparisons for business electronics cover in Germany. Your premium is known once we have a quote.
The policy levels on the market
01
Blanket office cover
One sum for all stationary office and communication equipment, no list, new devices included.
02
Extended blanket cover
Adds portable devices worldwide, data and software, extra costs and a lower deductible.
03
Itemised cover
Each device listed at replacement value, plus electronics business interruption and extra costs. For practices and labs.
How to recognise a good policy
Criterion
Minimum standard
Strong policy
Why it matters
Replacement value
current value after a few years
replacement value for the whole service life
Electronics lose value quickly, but a replacement costs the full price.
Portable devices
on premises only
worldwide, including locked vehicles
Laptops and tablets usually break or disappear on the move.
Data and software
not included
restoration of data, programs and licences with its own limit
Reinstalling practice or inventory software can cost more than the hardware.
Extra costs
not included
rental equipment, overtime and express charges
The business has to keep running until the replacement arrives.
Warranty cases
excluded with no advance payment
insurer pays first if the manufacturer disputes liability
Otherwise you argue with the manufacturer while work stands still.
Deductible
fixed amount per claim
selectable, separate rule for theft of portables
The deductible decides whether small claims are worth reporting.
Insurers on the German market
Electronic equipment insurance belongs to the engineering lines in Germany. It is offered by large property insurers and specialists, often as part of commercial packages. This list is a market overview.
Insurer
Background
Allianz
engineering lines for businesses
AXA
electronics standalone and in packages
HDI
Talanx group, schemes for practices and professions
One sum for stationary office and communication technology.
Itemised equipment policy
For expensive single devices such as X-ray, ultrasound or lab analysers.
Portable electronics
Laptops, tablets, cameras and measuring devices off-site.
Data and software insurance
Restoration of data and programs after insured damage to storage media.
Extra costs and electronics BU
Replacement equipment or lost income while the technology is down.
Myth or truth
True or false?
Five things people say about this insurance. Guess first, then see the answer.
Scratches on a screen that still works are covered.
This is false.
Usually not. Cosmetic damage that does not affect function is a standard exclusion.
A warranty claim and this insurance can pay out for the same fault.
This is false.
No, the manufacturer or dealer is liable first, and the insurer will not pay twice. Good policies pay in advance and recover the money from the manufacturer.
Damage an angry employee causes on purpose can still be covered.
This is true.
Yes, sabotage and intent by third parties are insured. Only intent by the owner and senior management is excluded.
Rodents chewing through cables are an insured event.
This is true.
Generally yes, since all risks cover pays for any sudden physical damage not excluded. Animal bites are not among the usual exclusions.
Every German insurer uses the same GDV conditions, so policies are all alike.
This is false.
No, the GDV model conditions are non-binding templates. Insurers change and extend them, and those differences decide claims.
Common mistakes
Thinking contents insurance covers accidental damage and short circuits
Covering laptops only on the premises
Never updating the sum after buying new medical equipment
Forgetting data restoration and software licences
Treating electronics and cyber insurance as interchangeable
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Is a power surge covered?
Yes, that is one of the main reasons for the policy.
Unlike contents insurance, it also pays for surges from the grid without a lightning strike.
Is a dropped laptop covered?
Yes, drops and breakage are typical insured events.
Away from the office this applies only if portable devices are included.
Does electronic equipment insurance cover hacking?
Generally no, since there is no physical damage.
Encrypted or deleted data is a matter for cyber insurance.
What if the device is still under warranty?
The manufacturer or dealer has to pay first.
Good policies pay in advance if the manufacturer disputes the claim and then recover the money
themselves.
Does my leasing company require this insurance?
Often yes.
Leasing contracts for office, medical or measuring equipment usually require the lessee to insure
the device at replacement value.
Lessors may offer their own cover, which is worth comparing with an independent policy.
Do I have to list every device?
Not with blanket cover, where one sum applies to all devices of a type.
With itemised cover every device is listed, and new ones must be reported.
Are older devices replaced at full value?
That depends on the policy.
Better policies pay replacement value as long as the device is in use.
Others switch to current value after some years or for models no longer manufactured.
Is the phone system covered?
Yes, telephone and communication systems are classic insured items, as are alarm systems,
tills and network equipment, provided they are included in the sum insured.
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