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What insurance does a GmbH need in Germany?

In short

What insurance does a GmbH need in Germany? Compulsory are statutory accident insurance with the trade association (Berufsgenossenschaft) once you have staff, and motor liability for company vehicles. Almost every GmbH also needs business liability insurance, often EUR 60 to 450 a year. For the managing director, who is personally liable to the GmbH, D&O insurance is worth considering.

What insurance does a GmbH need in Germany?

What it costs

What typical GmbH insurance costs.

ExampleTypical range
Business liability, small businessabout EUR 60 to 200 a year
Business liability, tradesusually EUR 200 to 450 a year
Contents, small office up to EUR 25,000from about EUR 80 to 150 a year
Contents, shop up to EUR 100,000about EUR 200 to 500 a year
Cyber, small companyfrom about EUR 300 to 800 a year
D&O, small GmbH, EUR 1 millionabout EUR 500 to 1,500 a year

Guide values from published examples, October 2026.

The D&O figure is a guide value from quoting practice, as providers publish no flat prices.

Worked example

Software GmbH, 6 employees, office in Leipzig

Two shareholders, one is managing director.

Trade associationcompulsory, premium by payroll
Business liability with financial lossabout EUR 400 to 800
Office contentsabout EUR 100 to 150
Cyberabout EUR 500 to 800
D&Oabout EUR 600 to 1,000

About EUR 1,600 to 2,750 a year excluding the accident insurance premium.

What limited liability does and does not do

Only company assets are liable for GmbH debts (section 13 of the GmbH Act). That protects shareholders' private assets, not the GmbH itself. A large claim can wipe out capital and reserves. The managing director (Geschäftsführer) is personally liable to the company for breaches of duty (section 43 GmbHG).

What is compulsory

Employees are insured by law against workplace accidents (section 2 SGB VII); the company pays (section 150 SGB VII). The GmbH must register with the accident insurer within one week of starting; a timely trade registration counts (section 192 SGB VII). Every registered company vehicle needs motor liability insurance.

There is no general duty to hold business liability insurance, but some trades such as security services must prove it, and clients and landlords often require it.

What almost every GmbH needs

Which policies you need depends on the business.

InsuranceCoversFor whom
Business liability (Betriebshaftpflicht)injury and property damage to othersalmost every GmbH
Financial loss liabilitymoney lost through professional errorsconsulting, planning, IT
Contents insurancefittings, stock, machinesGmbH with office, shop or store
Cyber insuranceattacks, data loss, downtimeGmbH with customer data
D&O insurancepersonal liability of managementGmbH with lenders, partners, staff

The managing director's own cover

A shareholder managing director is usually not insured by law against accidents but can join voluntarily (section 6 SGB VII). D&O insurance covers personal liability under section 43 GmbHG. When converting from a sole trader, the GmbH is a new policyholder; transfer all policies before it starts trading. Norman Nammert arranges cover as an insurance broker (Versicherungsmakler).

Step by step

  1. Count staff and vehicles: they trigger compulsory cover.
  2. Register with the accident insurer within one week.
  3. Clarify risk: property damage, financial loss or both.
  4. Check contents, cyber and D&O.
  5. Put all policies in the GmbH's name.

Checklist

  • Accident insurer notified
  • Motor liability for all vehicles
  • Business liability with suitable limit
  • Financial loss covered if you advise
  • Director's voluntary accident cover checked

Common mistakes

  • Thinking limited liability replaces insurance
  • Leaving sole-trader policies unchanged
  • Overlooking the director's liability

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Is business liability compulsory for a GmbH?

Not in general, only in some trades.

Clients often require it.

Are shareholders personally liable?

As a rule no; only company assets are liable.

Is the managing director personally liable?

Yes, to the GmbH for breaches of duty.

Does a one-person GmbH need D&O?

Less urgently while there are no loans, partners or staff.

Is the shareholder director covered for accidents?

Usually not automatically; voluntary cover is possible.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request a quote: Business 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

Business liability insurance in Germany (Betriebshaftpflicht)

For example electrical installation in homes, café with outdoor seating, online shop for furniture

For example work at clients' sites, own products, exports to the US, parent company abroad

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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