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Are my partner and children covered by my personal liability insurance?

In short

In a family or couple tariff, yes: spouses or registered partners and your own children are covered, children usually until the end of their first education. Unmarried partners often need to be named in the policy and live at the same address. A single tariff covers nobody but you.

Are my partner and children covered by my personal liability insurance?

What it costs

What moving from a single to a family tariff costs, based on published tariff examples.

ExampleTypical range
Single, cover of EUR 10 to 50 millionabout EUR 40 to 120 a year
Couple or family with childrenabout EUR 60 to 180 a year
Family tariff, example from a tariff calculationabout EUR 78 to 120 a year
Very good family tariffs in a consumer testfrom about EUR 48 a year, average around EUR 99

Guide values as of September 2026 from publicly quoted tariff examples and test results. Your premium depends on cover and deductible; we obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Couple moves in together, both have a single tariff

How combining pays off when both were insured separately.

Her single tariffabout EUR 60
His single tariffabout EUR 55
Together so farabout EUR 115
One joint couple or family tariffabout EUR 70 to 90

Savings of around EUR 25 to 45 a year, and a later child is covered without a new policy.

Who belongs in a family tariff

Covered are the people the tariff names. Common are spouses or registered partners, your own children, and stepchildren, adopted and foster children. Many tariffs also include parents who live permanently in your household.

For unmarried couples, many insurers require both to be registered at the same address (Anmeldung) and the partner to be named in the policy. If the name is missing, cover can be disputed in a claim.

PersonUsual status in a family tariff
Spouse or registered partnercovered
Unmarried partner in the householdcovered, often only if named in the policy
Child at school, in training or a first degreecovered
Child in a gap between education stagesdepends on the tariff, often up to a year
Adult child who has finished educationusually no longer, needs an own policy
Au pair or household helponly in some tariffs

What international couples should check

In the UK or US, liability cover often comes bundled with home or renters insurance. In Germany personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) is a separate policy, so moving in together does not automatically extend anything.

If you are not married, or your marriage abroad is not yet registered in Germany, make sure your partner is named in the policy. If only one of you is registered at the shared flat, ask the insurer whether that is enough. Policy documents are usually in German, so ask for the exact wording on who counts as covered.

How long children stay covered

What usually counts is not age but the first education: school, apprenticeship, bachelor's and often a master's that follows directly. Gaps such as a voluntary social year or federal volunteer service are included in good tariffs.

Cover through the parents ends with the end of the first education or with marriage. Many insurers let it run on for a while so that an own policy can start without a gap. A child studying abroad usually stays covered as long as the education continues, but check the tariff's rules for longer stays outside Germany.

Damage within the family

If your child knocks over your TV, liability insurance does not pay. It only covers damage to third parties, and covered people are not third parties to each other. Your own things fall under contents insurance, where the damage is covered there.

There is one exception for personal injury: if a health insurer or employer claims costs back, many tariffs pay that claim.

When you do not need a family tariff

If you live alone without children, the single tariff is cheaper. If your partner already has a good policy, one of the two is enough for now; you can cancel the other at the end of its term once the joint one is in place. Two policies do not pay a claim twice.

Step by step

  1. Check your policy schedule (Versicherungsschein) for single, couple or family tariff.
  2. If you are not married, have your partner added by name.
  3. Check until when children are covered under your tariff.
  4. Spot duplicate policies in the household and cancel one at the end of its term.
  5. When your child finishes education, take out an own policy in time.

Checklist

  • Partner named in the policy if not married
  • Children covered until the end of their first education, including gaps
  • Damage by children too young to be liable (under seven) covered with a high sub-limit
  • Recourse claims by social insurers for injuries between relatives covered
  • Follow-on cover for children after their education ends

Common mistakes

  • Keeping the single tariff after moving in together and assuming your partner is included
  • Paying for two policies in one household when one would do
  • Missing the end of your child's education and leaving them suddenly uninsured

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Is my boyfriend or girlfriend automatically covered?

Not always. Many tariffs require a shared address and the name in the policy. A short call to the insurer clears it up.

Until when are children covered through their parents?

Usually until the end of their first school or vocational education, as long as they are not married. The exact end is in the tariff.

Are visiting grandchildren covered?

As a rule not through your policy. Their parents' liability insurance is responsible for damage they cause.

Does it pay if my child breaks my partner's phone?

No. Damage between covered people is excluded, because no outside person has been harmed.

What happens after a separation?

The policy stays with the policyholder. The other partner needs an own one; many tariffs keep cover running for a while after the separation.

Is a family tariff worth it without children?

For couples usually yes: one joint policy costs less than two single tariffs.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request a quote: Personal liability

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4Your current policy
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Related questions

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker. Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated