Do I really need personal liability insurance in Germany?
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An insurance broker in Germany, explained for newcomers
In Germany, an insurance broker (Versicherungsmakler) is legally on the customer's side, not the insurer's. We compare policies from several insurers, explain the small print in plain English and help when you make a claim. You pay the same premium as buying direct, because the broker is paid by the insurer.
The question almost everyone asks first
How much does insurance cost in Germany?
It depends on a handful of facts: where you live, your age, your job, previous claims, the sum insured and the excess you choose. With those, quotes can be compared fairly. The cheapest quote is rarely the best value, though, because a policy that excludes your actual risk costs you everything when it matters. That is why a broker asks what you need first and prices it second.
Every type of insurance we place
Personal insurance in Germany
Liability and legal
Is dog liability insurance compulsory in Germany?
Do I need legal expenses insurance in Germany?
Do I need property owner liability if I live in my own house?
Do I need separate insurance for my oil tank?
Is hunting liability insurance compulsory in Germany?
Do I need horse liability insurance in Germany if it is not compulsory?
Home and property
Do I need contents insurance as a renter in Germany?
Is buildings insurance mandatory in Germany?
Is flood insurance included in German home insurance?
Does my German buildings insurance cover my solar panels?
What insurance do I need to build a house in Germany?
Do I need glass insurance in Germany?
Do I need phone insurance in Germany?
On the move
Can I use my no-claims bonus from abroad in Germany?
Is my bike covered by my German contents insurance?
Which travel insurance do I need if I live in Germany?
Do I need insurance to fly a drone in Germany?
What motorcycle insurance do I need in Germany?
What insurance does my motorhome actually need in Germany?
Health
Is pet insurance worth it in Germany?
Should I choose public or private health insurance in Germany?
What does German public health insurance not cover?
Is dental insurance worth it in Germany?
Do I need private long-term care insurance in Germany?
I have statutory health insurance in Germany. Do I still need travel medical insurance?
Does my horse need surgery insurance?
Income and family
Do I need private accident insurance if I already have health insurance in Germany?
Do I need occupational disability insurance if I have just moved to Germany?
How much term life cover do I need in Germany?
Who pays for a funeral in Germany?
Is basic abilities insurance a good substitute for occupational disability insurance?
Does my child need disability insurance in Germany?
Retirement
Should I take out a German private pension if I might leave Germany?
Insurance for companies and the self-employed
Liability and legal
Is business liability insurance compulsory in Germany?
Do I need professional indemnity insurance to work in Germany?
Can I be personally liable as managing director of a German GmbH?
What does business legal expenses insurance cover in Germany?
Premises and assets
Is business contents insurance required in Germany?
Do I need buildings insurance for a commercial property in Germany?
What does business interruption insurance pay in Germany?
Why do I need electronic equipment insurance if I have contents insurance?
Isn't machinery already covered by my business contents insurance?
Do I need my own contractors all risks policy if the client already has one?
Do I need cargo insurance if the haulier is liable anyway?
From how many vehicles can I get fleet insurance in Germany?
Digital and financial risks
Do I need cyber insurance for my company in Germany?
Is trade credit insurance worth it for a German subsidiary or SME?
Employees
Do German employers have to offer a company pension?
Is company health insurance in Germany a tax-free benefit?
Do my employees in Germany need group accident insurance if the Berufsgenossenschaft already…
Nothing found. Write to us anyway, we also place unusual risks. Request quotes
Three tools for the decision
Ten life situations, sorted honestly
Find your case, see which policy pays
Who it suits and what to check
How far in advance each contract has to be cancelled, with a date calculator
What it costs, when it is worth it, how to cancel: answers with prices and worked examples.
Why use an insurance broker instead of a comparison site in Germany?
Why use an insurance broker instead of a comparison site? Because two policies at 98 euros a…
271 trades from bakery to wind farm, each with example prices and packages.
All 487 insurers supervised by BaFin in Germany: where to send a cancellation, how to report a claim, complaint figures and licensed lines.
Insurance questions by topic
Life stages: what to insure and when
From the first job to retirement: what matters at each stage of life. 47 questions
Insurance by occupation: what your job needs
Teachers, police, nurses, pilots: what your job needs on top. 37 questions
Special insurance: covering the unusual
Quad bikes, classic cars, gold, cosmetic surgery: what else you can insure. 62 questions
New risks: AI, robots and what comes next
AI, robots, deepfakes: who pays for the risks of tomorrow. 35 questions
What a broker costs, may do and does for you. 23 questions
Do the maths
Calculator: 15
The liability clock: what one accident can cost
Personal liability
Pay it yourself or claim? The no-claims calculator
Car insurance
Your income gap if you can no longer work in your job
Occupational disability
How much cover does your family need?
Term life insurance
The right sum insured in ten seconds
Contents insurance
The limb table: what an accident pays
Accident insurance
Long-term care
Implant: what you are left with
Dental insurance
Cargo insurance
How much turnover one bad debt costs
Trade credit insurance
Business interruption
Cyber insurance
Is your sum insured enough? The underinsurance test
Buildings insurance
The pension gap: what is missing each month
Private pension
Underinsured business contents? The sum test
Business contents
How many insurers compete in each class
From the BaFin register
Insurers under German federal supervision with a licence for the class. The more there are, the more a comparison pays off.
Source: BaFin company database, 18 September 2026; EU insurers without a German office excluded. Download as CSV (CC BY 4.0)
What a broker does for you
We compare for you, not for an insurer
A tied agent sells one company's products. A broker has to look at a wide enough range of the market and justify the recommendation. We show you what we compared and why one policy fits better.
We review what you already have
Newcomers often sign up for whatever the bank or employer suggested in the first weeks. We check those contracts for gaps and overlaps, for example two liability policies after moving in together.
We are on your side when you claim
German policies have strict reporting duties and deadlines. We help you file, check the settlement against the wording and push back when the insurer pays less than it owes.
We handle cancellation and switching
German contracts renew automatically unless cancelled in time. We track notice periods, cancel old policies on the right date and make sure there is no gap in cover.
What people ask next
Do I actually need this insurance?
Insure first what could ruin you: liability towards others, which is unlimited under German law, loss of income through illness, and your home if you own it. Small losses you can pay yourself do not need a policy. Our life situation guide shows what matters for you.
What exactly is covered?
The policy schedule and the general terms (Versicherungsbedingungen) decide, not the brochure. Look at exclusions, limits on specific losses and your duties as policyholder, known as Obliegenheiten. We translate the German terms before you sign.
Will the insurer really pay?
If the loss is covered and you met your duties, yes. Disputes usually start in three places: wrong answers on the application, late reporting, and exclusions nobody read. All three can be avoided at the start.
Does a broker cost extra?
No, not normally. The broker's commission, called Courtage, is built into the premium and paid by the insurer. Brokers in Germany are not allowed to pass commission on to customers as a discount, so the price of a given policy is the same.
How do I get out of an old contract?
Most German policies run for a year and renew automatically unless cancelled three months before the end. You can also cancel after a premium increase and after a claim. We find the earliest date and cancel only once new cover is in place.
How it works
Tell us what you need
Use the form on the relevant insurance page, call or email. A few details are enough to start, and we work in English.
Clarify the risk
We ask what would really happen in a loss and look at any policies you already hold, including ones from your home country that may still run.
Compare quotes
We request offers from several insurers and set them side by side, with the differences in cover explained, not just the price.
Sign and switch
You decide. We submit the application, check the policy document for errors and cancel old contracts on time.
Ongoing support
We stay your contact, adjust cover when your life changes, for example when you buy a home or leave Germany, and support you through every claim.
How brokers are paid in Germany
Commission is the norm. The insurer pays the broker out of the premium you would pay anyway. You do not receive a separate bill, and the premium for a given policy is the same as through an agent or online.
The alternative is fee-based advice. A Versicherungsberater registered under § 34d(2) of the Trade Regulation Act is paid only by the client and may not keep payments from insurers. This mostly makes sense for large pension or life contracts, where net-of-commission versions exist.
Before any contract we tell you in writing how we are paid. German law requires this in the initial information document, and it belongs in an honest relationship.
What a broker cannot do
Some insurers sell only direct and do not work with brokers, for example HUK24 and Allianz Direct. We cannot arrange those policies. We still mention them where relevant so you see the whole market.
We are not lawyers or tax advisers. We explain policy terms and represent you towards the insurer. Legal action and the tax treatment of pensions, including what happens when you leave Germany, belong with those professions.
We cannot promise a price before the insurer quotes, and the insurer decides whether to accept you, especially where health questions apply.
For boat and yacht insurance we are also an underwriting agency (Assekuradeur): we design our own cover concepts and handle claims through to the insurer, and these contracts are arranged through our brokerage as well. It is a different role, so we say so.
The first question for each type
What people want to know first, answered in a few lines.
Personal liability
Do I really need personal liability insurance in Germany?
More on this: Personal liabilityContents insurance
Do I need contents insurance as a renter in Germany?
More on this: Contents insuranceBuildings insurance
Is buildings insurance mandatory in Germany?
More on this: Buildings insuranceNatural hazard cover
Is flood insurance included in German home insurance?
More on this: Natural hazard coverSolar panel insurance
Does my German buildings insurance cover my solar panels?
More on this: Solar panel insuranceSelf-build insurance
What insurance do I need to build a house in Germany?
More on this: Self-build insuranceCar insurance
Can I use my no-claims bonus from abroad in Germany?
More on this: Car insuranceBicycle and e-bike
Is my bike covered by my German contents insurance?
More on this: Bicycle and e-bikeTravel insurance
Which travel insurance do I need if I live in Germany?
More on this: Travel insuranceDrone insurance
Do I need insurance to fly a drone in Germany?
More on this: Drone insuranceDog and horse liability
Is dog liability insurance compulsory in Germany?
More on this: Dog and horse liabilityPet health insurance
Is pet insurance worth it in Germany?
More on this: Pet health insuranceLegal expenses insurance
Do I need legal expenses insurance in Germany?
More on this: Legal expenses insuranceAccident insurance
Do I need private accident insurance if I already have health insurance in Germany?
More on this: Accident insuranceOccupational disability
Do I need occupational disability insurance if I have just moved to Germany?
More on this: Occupational disabilityTerm life insurance
How much term life cover do I need in Germany?
More on this: Term life insuranceFuneral insurance
Who pays for a funeral in Germany?
More on this: Funeral insurancePrivate pension
Should I take out a German private pension if I might leave Germany?
More on this: Private pensionPrivate health insurance
Should I choose public or private health insurance in Germany?
More on this: Private health insuranceSupplementary health
What does German public health insurance not cover?
More on this: Supplementary healthDental insurance
Is dental insurance worth it in Germany?
More on this: Dental insuranceLong-term care
Do I need private long-term care insurance in Germany?
More on this: Long-term careProperty owner liability
Do I need property owner liability if I live in my own house?
More on this: Property owner liabilityOil tank liability
Do I need separate insurance for my oil tank?
More on this: Oil tank liabilityHunting liability
Is hunting liability insurance compulsory in Germany?
More on this: Hunting liabilityHorse liability insurance
Do I need horse liability insurance in Germany if it is not compulsory?
More on this: Horse liability insuranceGlass insurance
Do I need glass insurance in Germany?
More on this: Glass insuranceGadget insurance
Do I need phone insurance in Germany?
More on this: Gadget insuranceMotorcycle insurance
What motorcycle insurance do I need in Germany?
More on this: Motorcycle insuranceMotorhome insurance
What insurance does my motorhome actually need in Germany?
More on this: Motorhome insuranceTravel medical
I have statutory health insurance in Germany. Do I still need travel medical insurance?
More on this: Travel medicalHorse surgery insurance
Does my horse need surgery insurance?
More on this: Horse surgery insuranceBasic abilities
Is basic abilities insurance a good substitute for occupational disability insurance?
More on this: Basic abilitiesChild disability
Does my child need disability insurance in Germany?
More on this: Child disabilityBusiness liability
Is business liability insurance compulsory in Germany?
More on this: Business liabilityProfessional indemnity
Do I need professional indemnity insurance to work in Germany?
More on this: Professional indemnityD&O insurance
Can I be personally liable as managing director of a German GmbH?
More on this: D&O insuranceBusiness legal expenses
What does business legal expenses insurance cover in Germany?
More on this: Business legal expensesBusiness contents
Is business contents insurance required in Germany?
More on this: Business contentsCommercial buildings
Do I need buildings insurance for a commercial property in Germany?
More on this: Commercial buildingsBusiness interruption
What does business interruption insurance pay in Germany?
More on this: Business interruptionElectronic equipment
Why do I need electronic equipment insurance if I have contents insurance?
More on this: Electronic equipmentMachinery breakdown
Isn't machinery already covered by my business contents insurance?
More on this: Machinery breakdownContractors all risks
Do I need my own contractors all risks policy if the client already has one?
More on this: Contractors all risksCargo insurance
Do I need cargo insurance if the haulier is liable anyway?
More on this: Cargo insuranceFleet insurance
From how many vehicles can I get fleet insurance in Germany?
More on this: Fleet insuranceCyber insurance
Do I need cyber insurance for my company in Germany?
More on this: Cyber insuranceTrade credit insurance
Is trade credit insurance worth it for a German subsidiary or SME?
More on this: Trade credit insuranceCompany pension (bAV)
Do German employers have to offer a company pension?
More on this: Company pension (bAV)Company health insurance
Is company health insurance in Germany a tax-free benefit?
More on this: Company health insuranceGroup accident insurance
Do my employees in Germany need group accident insurance if the Berufsgenossenschaft already…
More on this: Group accident insuranceQuestions and answers
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a broker and an insurance agent in Germany?
An agent (Versicherungsvertreter) works for one or a few insurers and sells their products.
A broker (Versicherungsmakler) acts for the customer and must base advice on a sufficient range of
offers.
German courts describe the broker as the customer's trustee.
Can I get advice in English?
Yes.
Contracts and policy terms are usually in German and the German version is legally binding,
but we explain them in English and handle correspondence with insurers for you.
Is a broker liable for bad advice?
Yes.
Under § 63 of the Insurance Contract Act an intermediary who breaches advice duties must
compensate the resulting loss.
Every broker must hold professional indemnity insurance to be licensed.
How can I check whether a broker is licensed?
Search the German intermediary register at vermittlerregister.info.
It shows whether someone is registered as broker, agent or fee-based adviser.
Our registration number is on this page.
Can I move existing policies to a broker without cancelling them?
Yes.
You sign a broker mandate, and the insurer then services the contract through the broker.
Premium, cover and term stay exactly the same.
Can a German broker handle policies I keep from my home country?
We can review them and tell you whether they still work in Germany.
Often they do not, for example home or motor cover tied to an address abroad.
We cannot service contracts with insurers that are not active in Germany.
What happens to my policies if I leave Germany?
It depends on the policy.
Contents cover usually ends when you give up your German home and move abroad,
other contracts run on until their normal end date unless the terms say otherwise.
Private health insurance and long-term contracts need careful handling.
Talk to us before you go.
Does NAMMERT only insure boats?
No.
For boats and yachts we have our own cover concept.
As a broker we cover individuals and businesses in all common lines,
from personal liability to company pensions.
One request for everything
Pick the types, give the details insurers need, get a comparison.
Boat or yacht? NAMMERT has its own cover concepts for boats, arranged by the same broker.
Boat insurance