Yes. If you drive someone else's car with the keeper's permission, you are insured under its motor liability cover (Kfz-Haftpflicht), because in Germany insurance follows the car, not the driver. Damage to others is covered. Damage to the borrowed car is only paid by its full cover (Vollkasko), and the keeper loses part of the no claims bonus. Your own motor and personal liability cover do not help.
What an accident in someone else's car can cost keeper and driver.
Example
Typical range
Deductible of the keeper's full cover
usually 300 to 1,000 euros
Front parking knock, headlight and bumper, by model
nearly 3,000 to almost 8,000 euros
Extra premium after a downgrade over several years
about 200 to 800 euros
Adding a named driver
about 0 to 30 percent surcharge depending on age
Repair costs from a motoring club survey, February 2026.
Deductible, extra premium and surcharge are guide values from our quoting practice, October 2026.
Worked example
Sister's car against a bollard
A man borrows his sister's car and, while parking, hits a bollard and then a parked car. His sister's car has full cover with a 500 euro deductible.
Damage to the parked car
2,000 euros, paid by the sister's liability cover
Damage to the sister's car
3,000 euros, full cover pays 2,500 euros
Deductible
500 euros, brother or sister as agreed
Brother's own policies
0 euros
All injured parties get their money. The downgrade hits the sister's policy, so agree before the trip.
Insurance follows the car
In Germany the vehicle is insured, not the person at the wheel. The model terms AKB 2015 expressly list the driver alongside keeper and owner as co-insured persons. If you drive someone else's car with the keeper's permission, damage to other cars, property and people is covered.
This applies even if you are not named as a driver in the keeper's contract. For the keeper that may mean a premium adjustment; for the injured party nothing changes.
Who pays for damage to the borrowed car
Motor liability cover never pays for the insured car itself. If you crash someone else's car, only its full cover pays for the car, minus the deductible. The keeper's policy is downgraded, and he pays more afterwards.
If the car has no full cover, the keeper bears the loss or claims it from you. Under section 823 of the German Civil Code (BGB) you are liable if you damaged the car negligently. Agree before the trip who bears the deductible and the downgrade.
Damage
Who pays
Another person's car or injuries
liability cover of the car you drive
The borrowed car itself
its full cover, otherwise you towards the keeper
Your own injuries if you were at fault
driver protection in the keeper's policy, if any
Your own motor insurance
does not pay, it covers your car
Your personal liability insurance
does not pay, car use is excluded
Why your own policies do not help
Your own motor insurance belongs to your vehicle. It does not step in when you drive someone else's car, not even for the keeper's deductible. Your no claims class therefore stays the same, but the keeper's does not.
Personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) excludes damage caused by using a motor vehicle. If you reverse a friend's car into his garage, it will not pay.
Check first: driver group, age, licence
Many policies calculate the premium by the group of drivers, for example drivers aged 25 or over. If you drive anyway, injured parties stay protected, but the keeper may face a recalculation. Our page on accidents with an unregistered driver explains the details.
Without a valid licence it is different: the injured party is paid, but the insurer can reclaim up to 5,000 euros from you and from the keeper under the motor liability cover.
When you need nothing extra
If you only drive someone else's car occasionally and it has full cover, everything is usually settled once you have discussed the deductible with the keeper. Separate cover for driving other people's cars is rare for private individuals in Germany.
If you drive regularly, have yourself added to the policy. It costs a little more premium but saves arguments after an accident.
Step by step
Before driving, ask whether the car has full cover and how high the deductible is.
Check whether the policy sets a driver group or minimum age.
Agree who bears the deductible and downgrade.
After an accident, tell the keeper straight away; he reports it to his insurer.
Truthfully state that you were driving.
Checklist
Keeper's permission
Valid licence for the vehicle class
Driver group and age in the policy fit
Full cover and deductible known
Agreement on downgrade and deductible
Common mistakes
Assuming your own motor insurance covers any car
Naming the keeper as driver in the claim
Borrowing an expensive car without full cover and not discussing liability
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Am I insured if I drive without permission?
No.
Under the model terms only someone driving with the keeper's knowledge and consent is an
authorised driver.
Without permission you are personally liable.
Will I lose my own no claims bonus?
No.
The policy of the car you drove is downgraded.
Does my personal liability insurance pay the deductible?
No.
Damage caused by using a car is excluded there.
What about a rental car?
The rental company's insurance applies.
See our rental car page for what to look out for.
Can I take someone else's car abroad?
Yes, motor liability applies in the Green Card countries.
Ask the keeper whether his comprehensive cover applies there too.
Who pays if I am injured and it was my fault?
The car's liability cover pays the driver nothing.
Help only comes from driver protection in the keeper's policy or your own accident insurance.
