Does German personal liability insurance cover you abroad?

Cover abroad is included in the premium. What a tariff costs, based on published tariff examples and test results.

Personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) travels with you. It pays if you damage the sink in a hotel, knock someone over while skiing or step on a stranger's phone on the beach. Good tariffs also cover damage to a rented holiday flat.

Claims are judged under the law of the country where the damage happens. That can mean higher demands than in Germany.

For many newcomers the most common trip abroad is a visit home. The German policy covers you there just like any other holiday destination, as long as Germany stays your main residence.

It works the other way round too: a liability policy from your home country usually ends or loses its cover once you register your address in Germany (Anmeldung). Take out a German policy when you arrive rather than relying on the old one.

When you leave Germany for good, your German cover normally ends with the move. Arrange a policy in your new country first, then end the German one. Many insurers let you end the contract early when you move abroad permanently, usually with proof of deregistration (Abmeldung).

What matters is whether the stay is temporary. A semester abroad, work and travel or a year as an au pair is usually covered as long as you keep your residence in Germany. The allowed length is stated in the tariff.

Cars are not covered by personal liability insurance. The top-up cover for rental cars (Mallorca-Deckung) only pays if the rental car's liability limit is too low and tops it up. It usually applies in Europe.

Boats are only covered to a limited extent: usually rowing boats and pedal boats, small sailing boats up to a sail area stated in the tariff and sometimes small motor boats up to a certain engine power. If you charter a yacht or own a motor boat, you need separate boat liability insurance.

In the US and Canada many tariffs count lawyers' and court fees towards the sum insured. A high sum insured is especially useful there.

For holidays and stays of up to a year, a current tariff is almost always enough. Extra travel liability insurance would mean paying twice. You only need to check for long stays outside Europe, rental cars and boats.