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Liability insurance for security companies in Germany: the licence condition and what lies beyond it

Anyone in Germany who guards the life or property of others as a business needs a licence under § 34a of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO), and the licence requires liability insurance with the minimum limits of the Security Services Ordinance (BewachV). Those limits satisfy the licensing office. They say little about what a contract with a logistics park, a venue or a construction site actually exposes you to.

The question almost everyone asks first

Is liability insurance compulsory for security companies in Germany?

Yes. A licence under § 34a GewO is only granted with proof of liability insurance, and § 14 BewachV sets the minimum limits per occurrence: EUR 1 million for bodily injury, EUR 250,000 for property damage, EUR 15,000 for loss of guarded property and EUR 12,500 for pure financial loss. The policy must cover the liability risks of the guarding business and stay in force for as long as you operate.

Minimum limits are a licensing threshold, not a risk assessment

The figures in § 14 BewachV give licensing authorities a uniform yardstick. They are low for real contracts: EUR 15,000 for missing guarded property barely covers one night's theft of copper cable from a building site, and EUR 12,500 for financial loss disappears quickly when an alarm that was never passed on halts a client's production.

Industrial, logistics and public sector clients therefore write higher limits into their guarding contracts and ask for the certificate before the first shift. If you set your limits by your largest client, you avoid renegotiating the policy each time you win a tender.

Guarded property and keys

Standard German business liability policies largely exclude damage to third party property in the insured's care, custody or control. For a guarding firm, that care is the product it sells. A security company policy must therefore expressly include loss of and damage to guarded property, ideally including vehicles on guarded car parks.

Keys matter just as much. A mobile patrol often carries master keys, access cards and transponders for dozens of sites. If the bunch goes missing, every affected locking system may have to be replaced and the client may bill for extra guarding in the meantime. The key loss limit should match the largest master key system on the route.

Omissions, force and personal rights

Many claims arise from what did not happen: a patrol that was signed off but never walked, a fire alarm left unanswered in the control room. The client's resulting loss is often pure financial loss, which is where policy wordings differ most.

Door supervisors, event stewards and store detectives also deal with people. Refusing entry, holding a shoplifter until the police arrive or searching bags sits between self defence, the citizen's arrest right and assault. Good policies expressly cover claims for false imprisonment and infringement of personal rights, and they address guard dogs and defensive equipment.

What is covered

  • Bodily injury and property damage to clients, visitors and passers by
  • Loss of and damage to guarded property, within the agreed limit
  • Loss of third party keys, access cards and transponders, if included
  • Pure financial loss, at least up to the statutory minimum
  • Defence against unjustified claims, including in court
  • Personal liability of employed guards while on duty
  • Damage caused by guard dogs and permitted defensive equipment, depending on the policy
  • Claims arising from detaining or searching people, depending on the policy

What is not covered

  • Intentional damage and knowing breaches of duty
  • Theft by your own staff from a client, which needs fidelity insurance
  • Contractual penalties and liability beyond the law, unless agreed
  • Cash, securities and jewellery as guarded property, unless expressly included
  • Damage from using registered motor vehicles, covered by motor liability
  • Your own equipment, vehicles and office contents

Who needs it

  • Security firms providing site, plant or construction site security
  • Mobile patrol services that hold client keys
  • Event security and stewarding companies
  • Door supervision at bars and clubs
  • Store detective services and alarm receiving centres
  • Founders applying for a licence under § 34a GewO

Who does not need it

  • Companies that only guard their own premises with their own staff do not need a § 34a licence; correctly described business liability is enough

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. Copper cable gone despite patrols, often five figures. Budget policy: pays in part, Strong policy: pays. If a patrol was missed, the firm is liable. Minimum cover pays for missing guarded property only up to EUR 15,000.
  2. Patrol keys with master keys lost, five to six figures for new locks. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays. Key loss is a separate extension. Without it the firm pays for replacing every affected locking system.
  3. Guest falls while being escorted out, thousands, six figures with lasting harm. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Bodily injury from an insured service is the core case. The insurer checks whether the force used was lawful.
  4. Fire alarm left in the control room, downtime often six figures. Budget policy: pays in part, Strong policy: pays in part. The client's downtime is pure financial loss. Minimum cover pays EUR 12,500, and strong policies still set their own limit.
  5. Guard steals from a client, depends on the loot. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: does not pay. Intent is never covered by liability insurance. Only fidelity insurance pays the client.
  6. Store detective holds wrong person, damages and legal fees. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays. False imprisonment and personal rights claims are often not addressed in basic wordings, but strong trade schemes include them.

What it costs

There is no single price, because the premium depends heavily on which services the firm offers. Construction site security with two guards and stewarding at large events are very different risks. A reliable figure needs your services, payroll and the limits your clients require.

What drives the premium

  • Services, especially door supervision, events, cash in transit and close protection
  • Payroll, turnover or number of guards
  • Limits for guarded property, keys and financial loss
  • Use of guard dogs and defensive equipment
  • Subcontractors and agency staff
  • Claims history

We do not quote example premiums because policies for different service mixes are hard to compare. Your premium is set in the quote we obtain from your details.

The policy levels on the market

01

Statutory minimum

Exactly the limits in § 14 BewachV. Enough for the licence, rarely enough for industrial or public sector contracts.

02

Security trade scheme

Higher combined limit, raised limits for guarded property, keys and financial loss, guard dogs included. The usual route for small and medium firms.

03

Bespoke programme

For cash in transit, control rooms, airports or critical sites, with limits set by the client, fidelity cover and contractual liability.

How to recognise a good policy

CriterionMinimum standardStrong policyWhy it matters
Limits above the statutory minimum the § 14 BewachV limits millions for injury and property, guarded property and financial loss well above the minimum Clients ask for more, and one warehouse theft exceeds EUR 15,000.
Guarded property loss up to the statutory minimum loss and damage with a separate high limit, including guarded vehicles Custody of other people's property is the job itself.
Key loss small sublimit for third party keys keys, cards and transponders including consequential costs One lost patrol bunch can trigger several lock replacements.
Financial loss from omissions up to EUR 12,500 separate limit for missed patrols and unforwarded alarms A client's downtime is usually pure financial loss.
List of services site security and patrols every service actually provided named, with cover for new ones Unlisted door supervision or event work may not be covered.
Personal rights and detention not addressed expressly included, also discrimination allegations Store detectives and stewards detain and search people routinely.
Fidelity cover not included employee theft from clients included or as a separate policy Liability cover never pays for intent, yet the client wants compensation.

Insurers on the German market

Not every insurer is keen on guarding risks; many write them only through trade schemes or specialist carriers. The list shows companies offering commercial liability in Germany and says nothing about whom we work with or who will accept your risk.

InsurerBackground
Haftpflichtkassemutual insurer focused on liability, sold through brokers
Markelspecialty insurer based in Munich, broker only
Gothaercommercial clients via agents and brokers
VHVcommercial business mainly through brokers
HDIpart of the Talanx group
R+Vinsurer of the German cooperative banks
Allianzcommercial schemes via agents 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

Security company liability (§ 34a GewO)

The compulsory cover with guarded property, keys and financial loss, matched to your services.

Fidelity insurance

Pays clients for theft or embezzlement by your own staff, which liability cover excludes as intent.

Criminal defence legal expenses

Prosecutors often investigate guards after an incident with injuries. Liability cover does not pay defence counsel.

Group accident cover

Tops up statutory accident insurance for guards working alone at night or facing confrontation.

Myth or truth

True or false?

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

The statutory minimum limits are enough protection.

This is false.

False, they satisfy the licensing office. EUR 15,000 for guarded property and EUR 12,500 for financial loss are quickly exhausted.

No liability insurance, no licence under § 34a GewO.

This is true.

True, proof of cover is a condition of the licence and must be maintained throughout.

If a guard steals from a client, the liability policy pays.

This is false.

False, intentional acts are excluded. The client's loss is a matter for fidelity insurance.

The insurer also pays to fight unjustified claims.

This is true.

True, defending unfounded claims is part of every liability policy.

Any business liability policy works for a guarding firm.

This is false.

False, it must expressly cover guarding and include the statutory limits, guarded property among them.

Common mistakes

  • Buying only the statutory minimum and renegotiating with every larger contract
  • Not declaring door supervision, events or store detective work
  • Leaving the key limit unchanged when sites with master key systems are added
  • Deploying staff without the required instruction or examination
  • Signing contractual liability the policy does not cover
  • Using subcontractors at large events who hold no security liability cover of their own

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

What minimum limits does German law require?

Per occurrence EUR 1 million for bodily injury, EUR 250,000 for property damage,

EUR 15,000 for loss of guarded property and EUR 12,500 for pure financial loss,

as set out in § 14 BewachV.

Industrial and public sector clients usually require more.

Does ordinary business liability satisfy the licensing office?

Only if it expressly covers guarding and includes the § 14 BewachV limits,

guarded property and financial loss among them.

General business liability usually excludes property in your care and therefore does not meet the

requirements.

Who pays if a guarded site is burgled?

First the client's own property insurer,

which then seeks recovery from the security firm if a failure can be shown,

such as a missed patrol.

Your liability insurer pays justified claims within the guarded property limit and defends

unjustified ones.

Is a lost master key covered?

Only if key loss is included, and only up to the agreed limit.

Without it, the security firm pays for replacing the locking systems itself.

Sites with central master key systems justify a high limit.

Are subcontractors covered by my policy?

Your policy covers your liability towards the client for their mistakes.

The subcontractor's own liability needs its own security company policy,

so ask for the certificate before deployment.

Can an injured person claim directly against my insurer?

Only in limited cases, for example if the security firm is insolvent or cannot be traced.

Otherwise the claim goes against the firm, and the insurer handles it and pays if liability exists.

Why use a broker for security company liability?

Because the differences lie in guarded property, keys, financial loss and the list of services,

not in the insurer's name.

We put your guarding contracts next to the wording and show you where the limits fall short.

NAMMERT insurance broker

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Personal

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3Details

Security company liability insurance

For example construction site security, mobile patrols with keys, event stewarding,

door supervision

For example limits your clients require, subcontractors, previous claims

4Your current policy
5How can we reach you?

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