# Angler insurance in Germany: check what you already have first > For most recreational anglers in Germany the key cover already sits in personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht): it pays when a hook, a cast or a knocked over barbecue harms someone else. Many angling clubs and state associations add group cover for their members. The gaps are your own tackle, a boat with an engine and injuries you suffer yourself. Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-angler-insurance.php Updated: 2026-11-13 ## Do I need special insurance to go fishing in Germany? For harm to others, usually not. German personal liability insurance covers the risks of everyday private life, and fishing as a hobby is part of that. Check two things though: whether you fish from a boat, because boats with an engine or sail are normally excluded from personal liability, and what your club already insures through its state association. Your own tackle and your own injuries need separate cover. ## At a glance - **Liability when fishing:** normally covered by personal liability insurance - **Fishing licence:** an exam under state law (Fischereischein), not insurance - **Association cover:** many state angling associations hold framework contracts for clubs - **Fishing boat:** without engine often in personal liability, with engine usually not - **Own tackle:** only via contents or tackle insurance ## What German personal liability already covers at the water A spinner hits a walker in the eye while you cast, your landing net falls onto a parked car, a campfire during night fishing spreads to a hut. These are liability claims from private life, which is exactly what Privathaftpflicht is for. According to the German consumer advice centres, even gross negligence is covered; only intent is excluded. So before buying a separate angler liability policy, read the terms of the one you have. Look at the limit, at borrowed items such as a friend's rod, at lost third party keys for a barrier or clubhouse, and at damage to waters, for example from groundbait or fuel. ## Clubs and state associations: what group cover does Many German state angling associations have framework contracts for their clubs, often liability cover for the club and its volunteers, sometimes group accident cover for members. The German anglers federation (DAFV) advises clubs to ask their state association before buying their own policy. Association cover usually does not replace your personal liability insurance. It mainly protects what happens on behalf of the club: work parties at the water, club competitions, youth events, water wardens. Ask your association for its information sheet to see what applies to you as an individual. ## Where the gaps are: boat, tackle, your own injury A rowing boat or inflatable without an engine is included in many German personal liability policies. As soon as there is an engine, even a small electric one, or a sail, you usually need separate boat liability insurance. This is the most common gap for anglers who fish from a boat. Your tackle counts as household contents. At home it is insured against burglary and fire, at the water or in the car only partly or not at all. If you own expensive gear or a fish finder, look at tackle insurance. No liability policy pays for your own fall on a slippery bank; that is what accident insurance is for. ## What is covered - Injury to others from a cast, hook, weight or line - Damage to other people's property at the bank, on jetties and to vehicles - Defence against unjustified claims by water owners or leaseholders - Damage from barbecues, tents and campfires during night fishing, depending on the policy - Rowing boats and inflatables without engine in many personal liability policies - Your own injuries when fishing via accident insurance - Tackle against theft and breakage via tackle insurance ## What is not covered - Intentional damage - Boats with engine or sail under personal liability, as a rule - Your own tackle under any liability policy - Commercial fishing and paid guiding under a private policy - Fines for fishing without licence or permit - Simple theft at the water under contents insurance, as a rule ## Who needs it - Anglers in Germany without personal liability insurance - Anglers who fish from a boat with an engine - Owners of expensive rods, reels and fish finders - Club officials and water wardens who want to clarify association cover - Anglers who often fish alone at remote waters and think about accident cover ## Who does not need it - A separate angler liability policy if your personal liability already includes fishing and your boat without engine ## What it costs Liability when fishing usually costs nothing extra because it sits in personal liability insurance. Boat liability, tackle insurance and accident cover cost money, and the premium depends on the scope. **What drives the premium:** - Existing personal liability and its limit - Fishing boat with or without engine - Value of rods, reels, fish finder and accessories - Accident cover: base sum and benefits - Territorial scope for fishing trips abroad _We give no price ranges because angler cover is mostly built from parts of other policies and reliable market prices are not published. Your premium is fixed only in the quote._ ## The policy levels on the market - **Check your liability policy:** Your existing personal liability covers harm to others. Costs nothing extra if the limit, borrowed items and keys are right. - **Liability plus accident:** Adds accident insurance for your own injuries at the water, including rescue costs. For anglers who often fish alone. - **Full cover with tackle and boat:** Adds tackle insurance for rods, reels and fish finder, plus boat liability for a boat with an engine. ## How to recognise a good policy | Criterion | Minimum standard | Strong policy | Why it matters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Liability limit | a few million € combined | 10 million € or more | A hook in a child's eye can have lifelong consequences. | | Borrowed items | excluded | included with its own limit | Otherwise a friend's broken rod is your problem. | | Third party keys | private keys only | club and barrier keys too | A locking system at a club site is expensive. | | Damage to waters | not addressed | water and environmental damage included | Fuel from an outboard or large amounts of groundbait can pollute water. | | Boats | rowing boats without engine | small engines up to a power limit too | Even an electric motor can take a boat out of personal liability. | | Territorial scope | Europe | worldwide, also for longer trips | Fishing trips to Norway, Ireland or Canada are popular. | | Tackle theft | burglary at home only | also at the water and from the car | Tackle is usually stolen at the water. | ## Insurers on the German market Liability when fishing is part of personal liability insurance at almost every German property insurer. The same companies offer accident and contents cover; association contracts run through individual insurers and specialist brokers. The list is a market overview. - **Allianz**: personal liability and accident, insurance partner of the German anglers federation - **Haftpflichtkasse**: mutual insurer specialised in liability, sold via brokers - **VHV**: personal liability and accident, broker focus - **InterRisk**: personal liability and accident, broker insurer - **Die Bayerische**: liability, accident and contents, brokers and direct - **Gothaer**: part of Barmenia Gothaer since 2025, agents and brokers - **HDI**: part of the Talanx group, private and business customers 167 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance. (Allgemeine Haftpflicht, Unfall, Summenversicherung, Hagel-, Frost- und sonstige Sachschäden). Source: BaFin company database, 2026-09-18; EU insurers without a German office excluded. ## Typical claims and who pays - **Spinner hits a walker's eye** (from a doctor's visit to six figure injury claims): A classic private liability claim. Personal liability pays; what matters is a high enough limit. - **Borrowed rod breaks** (around 100 to 800 €): Borrowed items are often excluded in basic policies. Strong policies include them up to a limit. - **Electric boat hits a jetty** (around 1,000 to 10,000 €): With an engine a boat is usually not a personal liability matter. Some policies include small motors, otherwise you need boat liability. - **Tackle stolen from the car** (value of rod, reel and fish finder): Liability never pays for your own gear. Tackle insurance covering theft from a vehicle replaces it. - **Fall on a slippery bank** (lasting harm, rescue): Your own injuries are not a liability claim. Only accident insurance pays. - **Fine for fishing without permit** (fine under state law): No insurer pays fines. Carry your licence and permit before the first cast. ## Myth or truth - „German personal liability pays even if I act with gross negligence when fishing." ✔ As a rule, yes. Privathaftpflicht also covers gross negligence; only intent is excluded. - „Holding a fishing licence means I am automatically insured." ✘ Wrong. The Fischereischein proves you passed the state exam. No insurance comes with it. - „A rowing boat without engine is often already in personal liability." ✔ Right, many policies include boats without engine or sail. With an engine it usually looks different. - „Club members do not need their own liability insurance." ✘ Mostly wrong. Association contracts mainly protect the club, its volunteers and events. Your private liability stays with your own policy. - „Contents insurance pays for a rod stolen at the water." ✘ Usually not. Away from home contents insurance pays only partly and mostly not for simple theft without a break in. ## Common mistakes - Buying separate angler liability although personal liability already covers fishing - Assuming the boat with an electric motor is covered - Believing the club insures every member for everything - Leaving expensive tackle in the car and relying on contents insurance - Confusing the fishing licence with insurance ## FAQ ### Does my German personal liability pay if I injure someone with a hook? As a rule, yes. Fishing as a hobby is one of the everyday private risks that Privathaftpflicht covers. Only intent is excluded. Check that the limit is high enough for serious bodily injury. ### Is my fishing boat covered by personal liability? Rowing boats and inflatables without an engine are included in many policies. If the boat has an engine, even a small electric one, or a sail, you usually need separate boat liability. The terms of your own policy decide. ### Am I insured through my angling club? Partly. Many state associations have framework contracts that mainly protect the club, its volunteers and events, some also group accident cover for members. Your private liability when fishing usually stays with your own personal liability policy. ### Is the German fishing licence a form of insurance? No. The Fischereischein proves you passed the fishing exam under state law. To fish you also need a permit from the owner of the water (Erlaubnisschein). Neither document insures you. ### Who pays if my rod is stolen at the water? Never liability insurance. Contents insurance pays only partly away from home and usually not for simple theft without a break in. For tackle at the water there are dedicated tackle or sports equipment policies. ### What if I fall into the water myself? Statutory or private health insurance pays for treatment. If lasting harm remains, only private accident insurance pays. Good policies also cover search and rescue costs. ### Am I covered on a fishing trip abroad? Personal liability usually applies across Europe, good policies worldwide, often with a time limit for longer stays. Hired boats abroad are frequently not covered by personal liability. ### Can the owner of the water claim damages from me? Yes. Owners and leaseholders of a water can claim damages if you harm banks, jetties or the fish stock. Report such claims to your liability insurer; it checks them and defends unjustified ones. ## Legal basis and sources - [Insurance Contract Act (VVG, German)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/vvg_2008/) - [BaFin company database (licensed insurers)](https://portal.mvp.bafin.de/database/InstInfo/) ## Request quotes We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-angler-insurance.php#anfrage --- 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. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.