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What does personal liability insurance cover in Germany?

In short

German personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) pays when you are at fault for injury, property damage or financial loss to someone else. It also checks whether a claim is justified and fights unfair ones, in court if needed. Good tariffs add lost keys, damage to your rented flat and damage caused by small children.

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What does personal liability insurance cover in Germany?

What it costs

What a tariff with these benefits costs, based on published examples.

Example	Typical range
Single, EUR 10 to 50 million cover	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
Comprehensive 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 cover and deductible; we obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Lost master key for your rented flat

An everyday case that gets expensive without the right extra.

Replacing the building's locking system	often several thousand euros
With lost key cover	paid up to the agreed limit

Without this extra you pay yourself. Check the limit for keys in your policy, especially in flats with a central locking system.

The three types of damage

Personal injury is the most expensive: medical costs, lost earnings, compensation for pain and suffering (Schmerzensgeld) and in the worst case lifelong pensions.

For property damage the insurer usually pays the current value (Zeitwert), meaning what the item was worth when it was damaged, not the price of a new one.

Type of damage	Example
Personal injury	you knock over a pedestrian on your bike
Property damage	you drop your host's TV during a visit
Resulting financial loss	lost earnings of the injured person
Damage to rented property	water damage to the parquet in your rented flat

What is different if you come from abroad

In the UK, liability cover is often part of home insurance, and in the US it comes with renters insurance. Germany sells it as a separate policy, and it is one of the most common policies here. Many landlords, flat shares and employers expect you to have it, although it is not required by law.

German law makes you liable for damage you cause through carelessness, with no upper limit. A cheap policy that costs a few euros a month protects you against claims that could otherwise follow you for years, even after you leave Germany.

The underrated part: defence

Not every claim is justified. The insurer checks fault and amount and fights excessive demands. If it goes to court, the insurer pays the costs.

This works like built-in legal cover for that one case.

What good tariffs add

Modern tariffs also pay for damage while doing someone a favour, for example helping a friend move, for lost keys that belong to others and for borrowed or rented items.

Cover for unpaid claims (Forderungsausfalldeckung) protects you the other way round: if someone without insurance damages your things and cannot pay, your insurer steps in.

Step by step

Find your policy and check the sum insured.
Check whether keys, rented property and favours are included.
Read the limits and deductibles for each extra.
If there are gaps, compare a newer tariff.

Checklist

Personal injury, property damage and financial loss covered with at least EUR 10 million
Lost keys with a sufficient limit
Damage to your rented flat
Damage while doing favours included
Cover for unpaid claims included

Common mistakes

Admitting liability yourself before the insurer has checked the claim
Not knowing that only the current value is paid
Taking lost key cover for granted
Assuming a UK or US home policy still covers you in Germany

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Does liability insurance pay the new price?

Usually not. It pays the current value of the damaged item.

Does it cover damage to borrowed items?

Only if the tariff includes it explicitly. Older policies often do not.

Does it cover damage my children cause?

Yes, if the children are liable. Children under seven are usually not liable, and good tariffs still pay up to a limit.

Is it required by law in Germany?

No. But it is very common, and many landlords and flat shares expect it.

Does it help against unfair claims?

Yes. Fighting unjustified claims is a core part of the cover.

Does it apply abroad?

Usually worldwide for temporary stays. The allowed length is in your policy.

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?

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2Which insurance?

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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