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Is glass insurance worth it in Germany?

In short

For many tenants, probably not. Glass insurance (Glasversicherung) costs about EUR 40 to 65 a year for a 70 to 90 square metre flat, and the windows are often covered by your landlord's insurance. It makes sense if you own a ceramic or induction hob, large glass furniture or a glass shower screen, or if you own a home with lots of glass.

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What it costs

Guide figures from published tariff examples and trade prices in Germany.

Example	Typical range
Glass insurance, flat of 70 to 90 m²	about EUR 40 to 65 a year
Cheap tariff, 80 m², no deductible	from about EUR 38 a year
New ceramic hob including fitting	about EUR 250 to 500
New ceramic hob, basic model without fitting	about EUR 150 to 200

As of September 2026. The premium depends on your address, living space and the items included. The number of years until cover pays for itself is a guide value from our quoting practice.

Worked example

Tenant, 75 square metres, induction hob

She wonders whether to add glass cover to her contents insurance. The landlord's buildings insurance covers the windows, and her liability policy excludes glass in rented property.

Glass insurance per year	about EUR 50
Premiums over ten years	about EUR 500
New induction hob with fitting	about EUR 400
New glass shower screen	several hundred euros

One claim in ten years roughly evens out the premiums. With two glass items at risk it is more likely to pay off, without a glass hob probably not.

What glass insurance pays

It pays when glass breaks, no matter who caused it, unless it was intentional. It covers the new glass, fitting, emergency glazing and disposal of the shards.

It has to be a real break. A crack counts, a scratch or double glazing that has gone cloudy does not. In Germany it is usually an add-on to contents or buildings insurance, not part of the basic cover.

Item	Covered by glass insurance?
Windows and glass doors of the flat	yes
Mirrors, display cabinets, glass table	yes
Glass shower screen	yes
Ceramic or induction hob	mostly yes, in some tariffs as an extra
Aquarium, terrarium	only for an extra premium
Phone, tablet, TV	no
Glasses, drinking glasses, vases	no

Why tenants often do not need it

Windows and the front door belong to the building. If glass there breaks without your fault, for example in a storm, it is your landlord's matter. If a burglar smashes a window, many contents tariffs already pay for that.

It is different if you break a window yourself. Then you are liable to your landlord. Many personal liability policies (Privathaftpflicht) exclude glass damage to rented property, though. So check your liability policy first before adding glass cover.

When it pays off

The most common expensive glass claim in a flat is the hob. A pan drops, the glass cracks, and replacing it quickly costs EUR 250 to 500. At EUR 40 to 65 a year, one such claim equals roughly four to twelve years of premiums.

For owners with a conservatory, large window fronts or glass balustrades, cover is more worthwhile. There glass insurance is added to buildings insurance, not to contents.

The honest calculation

Most people can pay for a new hob out of pocket. If you have savings for such cases and cook carefully, you are often better off without glass insurance.

If you have a high-end induction hob, a large glass shower or children playing ball indoors, you get peace of mind for little money. Both choices are sensible.

Step by step

List the glass items you own: hob, furniture, shower screen, mirrors.
Check your personal liability policy for glass damage to rented property.
If you own the home, clarify whether glass cover belongs to buildings or contents insurance.
Compare the price of the add-on with replacing your most expensive glass item.
Only add it if a break would really hurt your budget.

Checklist

Ceramic or induction hob explicitly included
Emergency glazing and disposal covered
No double glass cover in contents and buildings insurance
Aquarium only insured if you have one
Deductible fits the premium

Common mistakes

Insuring windows as a tenant that your landlord already covers
Assuming phone displays or TVs count as glass for the policy
Adding glass cover to contents when you own the house and it belongs to buildings insurance
Reporting scratches and being surprised by the rejection

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Is glass breakage included in German contents insurance?

Usually not. Glass insurance is a separate add-on to contents or buildings insurance.

Does glass insurance pay for a cracked ceramic hob?

In most tariffs yes, in some only if explicitly included. Check the policy before you sign.

Who pays if I break a window as a tenant?

You are liable to your landlord. Whether your personal liability policy steps in depends on the tariff; many exclude glass in rented property. Then glass insurance helps.

Are phone screens covered?

No. Screens of phones, tablets and TVs are excluded; there are separate gadget policies for them.

Can I cancel just the glass cover?

Usually yes, as an add-on at the end of the policy year. Your contents cover stays in place.

Can I get the policy terms in English?

Some insurers offer English documents, many do not. The German terms apply in a claim, so ask us if a clause is unclear.

Sources

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Request a quote: Contents insurance

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3Details

Contents insurance in Germany (Hausratversicherung)

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