Insurance broker / Insurance questions / Personal liability

Do I need personal liability insurance in Germany?

In short

Yes, almost every adult living in Germany should have it. If you damage someone else's property or injure a person, you are liable without limit, with injuries often for decades. Personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) usually costs only EUR 40 to 120 a year. You only do not need your own if a parent's or partner's policy already covers you.

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Do I need personal liability insurance in Germany?

What it costs

What the cover costs, based on published tariff examples.

Example	Typical range
Single, cover of EUR 10 to 50 million	about EUR 40 to 120 a year
Family with children	about EUR 60 to 180 a year
Very good family tariff without deductible	from about EUR 48 to 80 a year
Extensive tariff with EUR 250 to 300 deductible	about EUR 80 to 95 instead of EUR 120 to 145

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

Worked example

Cyclist injures a pedestrian

A moment of inattention, and without insurance you carry the consequences yourself.

Treatment and rehabilitation	quickly five figures
Lost earnings and compensation for pain	often six figures
Personal liability premium	about EUR 40 to 120 a year

With insurance, the insurer pays and fights unjustified claims. Without insurance you are liable yourself.

Why the risk is so big

Anyone who negligently harms someone else must pay for the damage. There is no upper limit. In a bike accident with a seriously injured person, treatment, lost earnings and a pension can quickly add up to millions.

Without insurance that can mean wage garnishment for many years.

What is different if you come from abroad

In the UK and US, liability cover is usually part of your home or renters insurance. In Germany it is a separate policy, and your contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) does not include it. Many newcomers assume they are covered when they are not.

Landlords often ask for proof of personal liability insurance before you move in. Policies from home rarely cover you once you live here, so a German policy is the safe choice. Most German policies also cover you on trips abroad, and some for longer stays, which helps if you visit family for several weeks.

Parents' policies at home do not extend to international students in Germany. That only works with a German family policy.

When you do not need a separate policy

Children are usually covered through their parents, often also during their first training or degree. Couples can share one policy.

If you are already covered, a second policy means paying twice without more protection.

Situation	Own policy needed?
Child in first training, covered by German parents' policy	usually no
International student in Germany	yes
After training with your own income	yes
Couple with a joint policy	no, one is enough
Single	yes

What it does not cover

Damage to your own property, damage caused with a car, motorbike or motorboat, and damage at work are not included. There are separate policies for these.

Damage caused on purpose is never covered.

Step by step

Check whether you are already covered by a parent's or partner's German policy.
If not, choose a policy with at least EUR 10 million cover.
Combine policies when you move in with a partner.
Take out your own policy when your training or degree ends.

Checklist

Existing cover through parents or partner clarified
Cover of at least EUR 10 million
Cover if the other side cannot pay you (Forderungsausfalldeckung) included
Cover for stays abroad checked
No duplicate policies in the household

Common mistakes

Believing you are always careful and therefore need no cover
Assuming contents insurance includes liability like at home
Forgetting to take out your own policy after starting work
Paying for two policies in the same household

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Is personal liability insurance mandatory in Germany?

No. It is voluntary, but considered one of the most important private policies.

Do international students need their own policy?

Usually yes, because a parent's policy abroad does not cover them in Germany. Student tariffs are often cheap.

Do retired people still need it?

Yes. The risk of harming someone does not end with your working life.

What if I have no assets?

Then you are liable with your future income. Claims from a court judgment can be enforced for up to 30 years.

Does it pay for damage to my own things?

No. That is what contents insurance is for.

Can I get the documents in English?

Some insurers offer English documents or service. The German terms count in a claim, so ask us if a clause is unclear.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request a quote: Personal liability

We compare several insurers and come back with a proposal. Free for you; the insurer pays our fee. You can write in English.

1Who is it for?

Personal My company

2Which insurance?

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

Personal

Business

Please review all my existing policies

3Details

Personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht)

Who should be covered? * Year of birth of the oldest person * Do you work in the public sector? Liability claims in the last five years * What matters to you For example work keys, a drone, a small boat, documents in English

4Your current policy

Current insurer Policy ends on What matters more to you?

5How can we reach you?

Name * Email * Phone Postcode Town Preferred contact Anything else we should know