Phone insurance
Who it suits
People who carry an expensive smartphone everywhere, rely on it for work and would rather not pay for a replacement out of pocket.
When it is less likely to pay off
With a cheaper or older phone, or if you could easily pay for a repair yourself. Over two years the premiums can come close to the phone's current value.
What to check
Check whether simple theft is covered or only burglary and robbery, how high the excess is and whether screen and water damage are paid in full.
Alternative or addition
Put money aside for a replacement and use a sturdy case. Burglary at home is usually covered by contents insurance. Contents insurance
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Extended warranty on electronics
Who it suits
Expensive appliances you expect to keep for many years, such as a washing machine or a large TV, when you want repair costs to stay predictable.
When it is less likely to pay off
During the first two years, when the seller is liable for defects by law anyway. For cheap devices the premium is often high compared with the remaining value.
What to check
When cover starts, whether wear and handling errors are included and whether a write-off pays the current value or the new price.
Alternative or addition
Use your statutory rights against the seller and add surge damage to your contents policy. Contents insurance
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Glasses insurance
Who it suits
People with expensive varifocal or special lenses, and children who break glasses often.
When it is less likely to pay off
When premiums over the term come close to the price of new glasses, or benefits are capped at a small amount.
What to check
Maximum payout per claim, the excess, whether loss is covered and whether your optician already includes breakage cover.
Alternative or addition
Keep a spare pair, or check a supplementary health plan that includes glasses. Supplementary health
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Glass insurance
Who it suits
Homes with a conservatory, large glass fronts, glass showers or an expensive ceramic or induction hob.
When it is less likely to pay off
With ordinary windows and no glass hob, a break is rare and usually cheap to fix.
What to check
Whether both building glass and furniture glass are covered, whether hobs are included and whether emergency glazing is paid.
Alternative or addition
Add it as an option to your contents or buildings policy rather than as a separate contract. Contents insurance
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Travel luggage insurance
Who it suits
Frequent travellers with valuable luggage, sports gear or camera equipment, and long trips with a lot of baggage.
When it is less likely to pay off
When the away-from-home cover in your contents policy already includes burglary and robbery on trips, and you carry valuables in hand luggage.
What to check
Limits for valuables and electronics, rules for unattended luggage and luggage left in a parked car.
Alternative or addition
Check your contents policy first, or add luggage as part of travel insurance. Travel insurance
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Payment protection on loans (Restschuldversicherung)
Who it suits
Borrowers whose family could not keep up the repayments after death, long illness or job loss.
When it is less likely to pay off
When the premium is financed with the loan and makes it noticeably more expensive, or when you already have term life and disability cover.
What to check
For a consumer loan it may only be signed at least one week after the loan agreement (section 7a(5) German Insurance Contract Act). Use that week to check exclusions for existing conditions and waiting periods, and to compare prices.
Alternative or addition
Term life with a decreasing sum and separate disability cover. Term life insurance
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Card protection insurance
Who it suits
People with many cards who want one call to block them all and help with lost keys or documents.
When it is less likely to pay off
If misuse is your only concern: before you block a lost card your liability is limited by law to 50 euros unless you were grossly negligent, and after blocking you are not liable (section 675v German Civil Code).
What to check
What it offers beyond the blocking service, such as key emergency help or replacing ID documents, and whether it renews automatically.
Alternative or addition
Keep the German blocking number 116 116 at hand and never store the PIN with the card.
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Passenger accident cover in motor insurance
Who it suits
Drivers who want a fixed accident benefit for themselves in the car, for example because they have no personal accident policy.
When it is less likely to pay off
For passengers it adds little, because their losses are generally paid by the car's motor liability insurance, even if the driver caused the accident.
What to check
The disability and death benefit amounts, and whether they apply per seat or as a lump sum for all occupants.
Alternative or addition
Driver protection (Fahrerschutz) as part of the motor policy and personal accident cover that applies around the clock. Accident insurance
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Hospital daily cash
Who it suits
Self-employed and privately insured people who want to cushion running costs during a hospital stay, and families who face extra travel or childcare costs.
When it is less likely to pay off
For employees the hospital stay is rarely the main gap: the employer continues salary for up to six weeks of illness, then the health fund pays sick pay.
What to check
From which day and for how long it pays, and whether a recovery payment after discharge is included.
Alternative or addition
For more comfort, a supplementary plan for a private room and senior physician. For income, daily sickness cover. Supplementary health
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Funeral insurance
Who it suits
Older people who want their funeral settled and their relatives spared the cost.
When it is less likely to pay off
When young and without dependants, because over decades you often pay in more than is paid out.
What to check
The waiting period, accidental death cover in the first years, how long you pay premiums and whether the sum matches today's funeral costs.
Alternative or addition
Savings in your own account or, if someone depends on you, term life. Term life insurance
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Education or endowment policies for children
Who it suits
Parents who deliberately want saving and life cover in one contract with a fixed payout date, and who are sure to keep it to the end.
When it is less likely to pay off
If you may leave Germany or want flexibility. Costs fall mainly in the early years, so cancelling early returns less than you paid in.
What to check
Total costs, guaranteed benefits, premium waiver if the earner dies and the surrender value in the first years.
Alternative or addition
A separate savings plan and term life for the main earner. Term life insurance
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Roadside cover
Who it suits
Drivers without automobile club membership and anyone who often drives abroad.
When it is less likely to pay off
When you already have breakdown help, towing and repatriation through a club membership. Then you pay twice for the same service.
What to check
Services abroad, a hire car after a breakdown, bringing the car home and whether caravans and trailers are included.
Alternative or addition
Keep one of the two, whichever is cheaper and covers more. Roadside cover usually comes as an option to motor insurance. Car insurance
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International health plan
Who it suits
Frequent travellers and people living partly abroad who want cover outside Germany as a supplement to German health insurance.
When it is less likely to pay off
As your only cover while living in Germany. Health insurance is compulsory for residents, and many travel or expat plans do not meet the German requirements because of limits, exclusions or fixed terms.
What to check
Whether the plan is recognised as German-compliant cover, how long it runs, and what limits apply to existing conditions.
Alternative or addition
Statutory insurance or a German-compliant private plan, with international cover added on top. Private health insurance
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