Insurance broker / Insurance questions / Personal liability

When does personal liability insurance not pay in Germany?

In short

Personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) does not pay for damage caused on purpose, damage to your own things, damage caused with a car, motorbike or motorboat, or damage at work. Damage among family members on the same policy is usually excluded too. Most of these gaps can be closed with other policies.

Request a quote +49 3375 29 12 77

When does personal liability insurance not pay in Germany?

What it costs

A modern policy closes many old gaps and, according to published examples, costs:

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

Helping a friend move, an expensive mirror breaks

You help a friend move house, and an expensive mirror breaks.

Older policy without favour damage clause	often no payment
Modern policy with favour damage	payment up to the agreed sum

Whether it pays depends on the policy. A look at the terms saves trouble.

The most common exclusions

If you cause damage on purpose, you get no cover. If you are not liable at all, the insurer does not pay either, it defends you against the claim instead.

Wear and tear often leads to disputes: normal signs of use in a rented flat are not an insured loss.

Case	Instead
Car, motorbike, motorboat	motor or boat liability insurance
Your own things damaged	contents or own-damage car cover
Damage at work	professional or business liability
Dog or horse	animal owner liability insurance
Intent	no cover possible

What is different if you come from abroad

If you are used to US renters insurance, note that German personal liability insurance is a separate policy and has its own list of exclusions. Dogs are the classic surprise: cats are usually included, dogs need their own policy.

Freelancers and people with a side job should know that anything done for money is excluded. Damage while driving a car, including a rental car, is a matter for the car's motor insurance, though some policies add top-up cover for rental cars abroad. The exclusions are listed in the German terms, usually in a section called Ausschlüsse or Nicht versichert.

Damage within the family

If you damage something that belongs to your partner and you are both on the same policy, the insurer usually does not pay. This stops families from settling damage among themselves through the insurer.

Some policies make exceptions, for example for injuries to people. That is in the terms.

When the policy is too old

Many cases that are covered today were missing from older policies: borrowed items, lost keys, favours or damage caused by children under seven.

Reporting a claim too late or admitting liability yourself can also put the cover at risk.

Step by step

Read the exclusions section of your policy terms.
Check whether vehicles, animals or side jobs apply to you.
Add the missing policies where needed.
Always report damage at once and do not admit liability yourself.

Checklist

Favour damage included
Borrowed and rented items covered
Damage caused by children under seven included
Own policy for dog, horse, car or boat
Claim reported in time

Common mistakes

Saying at the scene that you will pay for everything
Believing a boat with an engine is covered by personal liability insurance
Trying to settle damage between partners through the joint policy
Assuming a freelance job is covered like private life

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Does it pay for gross negligence?

Yes, gross negligence is covered in personal liability insurance. Only intent is excluded.

Is my dog covered?

Small pets such as cats usually yes, dogs and horses no. They need animal owner liability insurance.

Does it pay for damage I cause with a rental car?

No, damage while driving a car belongs to motor insurance.

What about a sailing boat without an engine?

Small boats without an engine are included in some policies. Larger boats or boats with an engine need boat liability insurance.

Does it pay if I report the claim late?

That can cost you the cover. Report every claim within a week if possible.

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