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Can I get liability insurance despite a Schufa entry or personal insolvency?

In short

Often yes: I can get liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) despite a Schufa entry or personal insolvency, because you pay the premium in advance and the insurer only pays after a claim. There is no right to be accepted, unlike motor liability. Choose annual payment by direct debit. Private liability for one person costs about EUR 40 to 120 a year.

Can I get liability insurance despite a Schufa entry or personal insolvency?

What it costs

What private liability costs in Germany if you pay annually in advance.

ExampleTypical range
Private liability for one person, at least EUR 10 million coverabout EUR 40 to 120 a year
Private liability for a family or coupleabout EUR 60 to 180 a year
Excess per claim in private liabilityEUR 0 to 250

Guide values from published market overviews, as of 2026.

Whether an insurer adds a surcharge or a credit check is up to that insurer.

Worked example

Single person during the good-conduct period of insolvency

A man in personal insolvency has a protected account and a negative Schufa entry. He is looking for basic private liability.

First insurerrefuses after a credit check
Second insureraccepts with annual payment
Premiumabout EUR 60 a year, paid once in advance
Paymentdirect debit from the protected account

He is covered, and because the annual premium is collected on time, there is no gap due to late payment.

Why liability insurance despite a Schufa entry usually works

With a loan, the bank lends you money. With private liability it is the other way round: you pay the premium upfront and the insurer pays later. A negative entry at Schufa, Germany's main credit agency, is therefore a smaller risk for the insurer.

Still, every insurer decides for itself whether and how to check creditworthiness. A duty to accept your application only exists for motor liability under Section 5 PflVG, not for private liability.

Payment: where the real traps are

The danger is not the Schufa entry but a premium that does not arrive. If the first premium is still unpaid when a claim occurs and you were warned of the consequences, the insurer is free from liability under Section 37 VVG.

For later premiums, Section 38 VVG requires a payment deadline of at least two weeks. Once it expires, claims after that date are not paid and the insurer may cancel. An annual payment from a protected account (P-Konto) is therefore safer than twelve small instalments.

Personal insolvency and liability insurance

During personal insolvency, liability insurance remains especially important. Damage you cannot pay would become a new debt, and personal injury claims can quickly reach very high amounts.

There is a special rule for injured parties: once insolvency proceedings are opened over your assets, they may claim directly from your insurer under Section 115 VVG. Your neighbour gets paid without becoming part of your insolvency.

If an insurer refuses

A refusal by one insurer does not mean that all will refuse. Do not send applications everywhere; first clarify which policies accept without a strict credit check or with advance payment.

As a broker, Norman Nammert can submit applications to several insurers and choose the right payment method. The commission is paid by the insurer, so it costs you nothing.

Step by step

  1. Check whether you are already covered through a partner.
  2. Plan the annual premium and pay it from your protected account.
  3. Apply to an insurer without a strict credit check.
  4. Pay the first invoice at once and keep proof.
  5. After a refusal, do not apply everywhere at random.

Checklist

  • Bank account or basic account for direct debit
  • Annual payment chosen
  • Cover of at least EUR 10 million
  • Rental damage included if you rent
  • First premium paid on time

Common mistakes

  • Cancelling liability insurance during insolvency to save money
  • Choosing monthly instalments and letting a debit bounce
  • Answering application questions wrongly to be accepted
  • Going without liability insurance after one refusal

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Do insurers check Schufa for liability insurance?

Some do, some do not.

Each insurer decides; no law requires it.

Can an insurer refuse me because of debts?

Yes.

A duty to accept only exists for motor liability, not for private liability.

Can my partner's policy cover me?

Yes.

Spouses and registered partners are covered under the model terms;

unmarried partners if they are named in the policy.

What happens if I miss a premium?

The insurer sets a deadline of at least two weeks.

After that it pays no new claims and can cancel.

I have no bank account. What now?

Under Section 31 ZKG you are entitled to a basic account.

The direct debit can then run through it.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request a quote: Personal liability

We compare insurers and come back to you, in English.

Free; the insurer pays our fee.

1Who is it for?
2Which insurance?

Choose as many as you like. For each one, the details an insurer needs for a quote appear below.

Personal

Business

3Details

Personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht)

For example work keys, a drone, a small boat, documents in English

4Your current policy
5How can we reach you?

Related questions

Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT.

Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act.

Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company.

It does not arrange your contract.

Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated

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