# Insurance for agricultural contractors in Germany

> An agricultural contractor works with machines worth as much as a family home on other people's fields, under time pressure and often late into the night. A stone in the forage harvester, a field fire during combining or slurry in a stream, and the bill quickly runs to six figures. This page explains what insurance is compulsory in Germany, what it costs and where gaps appear.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-agricultural-contractor.php  
Updated: 2026-10-14

## Isn't motor liability enough for my machines?

No. Motor liability is designed for damage caused by using the vehicle, for example on the road. But if the forage harvester throws stones at a car in the field, spray drifts onto a neighbouring crop or slurry runs into a ditch, you need public liability with environmental cover. Both policies have to fit together so that nothing falls between driving and working.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** Motor liability for tractors, trailers and self propelled machines used on public roads, with at least €7.5 million for injury and €1.3 million for property damage
- **Statutory accident insurer:** Agricultural and forestry contractors belong to agricultural accident insurance (section 123(1) no. 3 of Social Code VII); the insurer is the SVLFG
- **Crop protection:** Anyone applying plant protection products needs a certificate of competence (section 9 of the Plant Protection Act); doing it for others must be notified to the authority beforehand (section 10)
- **Biggest risk:** Damage to your own large machines and liability for damage to other people's land, crops and waters
- **Often forgotten:** Damage caused by a machine working in the field is not automatically a matter for motor liability; public liability must include it expressly

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Breakdown at harvest:** A foreign object destroys the cutterhead and feed rollers of the forage harvester. In the middle of the maize harvest the machine is out for weeks.
- **Field fire:** An overheated bearing on the combine sets dry straw alight. The fire spreads to neighbouring fields and a wood edge.
- **Slurry and spraying:** A hose bursts and slurry runs into a stream. Or spray drifts onto a vegetable crop next door.
- **Road accidents:** Wide machines, dusk and narrow country roads: collisions with cars and motorbikes are serious.
- **Seasonal drivers:** Seasonal staff work long shifts on dangerous machines. Injuries are common.
- **Theft of technology:** GPS receivers, terminals and diesel are stolen overnight from the field edge or the shed.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 5, Fire and water 4, Theft 3, Cyber 2, Downtime 5, Health 4

## The insurance you need

- **Car insurance** (Essential): Motor liability is required by law for tractors, trailers and self propelled machines on public roads. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-car-insurance.php
- **Business liability** (Essential): For damage while working on other people's land, with environmental liability and environmental damage cover for slurry, diesel and crop protection products. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Machinery breakdown** (Strongly advised): Machinery breakdown cover pays for operating errors, foreign objects and fire on harvesters, combines and sprayers. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-machinery-breakdown.php
- **Fleet insurance** (Strongly advised): With several vehicles, a fleet policy brings tractors, self propelled machines and vans together with one renewal date. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-fleet-insurance.php
- **Commercial buildings** (Strongly advised): For the machinery shed and workshop against fire, storm and hail; a shed full of machines is a major fire risk. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-commercial-buildings.php
- **Business contents** (Depends on the business): For tools, spare parts, diesel and technology in the shed, including burglary. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Business interruption** (Depends on the business): Replaces lost contribution and running costs if insured damage interrupts the season. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-interruption.php
- **Occupational disability** (Depends on the business): If you drive the machines yourself, you live off your health; statutory accident insurance covers only accidents at work and occupational diseases. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-occupational-disability.php

## What it costs: example prices

Premiums depend on machine values, types of work, turnover and claims history. Contractors who spread slurry or spray crops pay more for liability than a pure mowing service.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Contractor with three staff, harvesting and slurry, with environmental damage cover, €5 million limit | about €1,200 to €3,000 a year |
| Machinery breakdown | Forage harvester worth €450,000, machinery breakdown with excess | about €3,500 to €7,000 a year |
| Car insurance | Large tractor, liability and partial cover | about €350 to €900 a year |
| Commercial buildings | Machinery shed with workshop, rebuild value €600,000 | about €900 to €2,000 a year |
| Business interruption | Loss of a forage harvester during the season, three month indemnity period | about €800 to €2,500 a year |

For comparison: Machinery breakdown cover for a forage harvester costs about as much a year as a set of new chopping knives.

_All prices are guide figures from our own quoting practice, 2026, excluding German insurance premium tax. Your premium depends on your machinery, work and claims history. Legal points come from the linked statutes._

- [Pflichtversicherungsgesetz, Anlage: Mindestversicherungssummen](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflvg/anlage.html)
- [SGB VII § 123: Landwirtschaftliche Unternehmen](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_7/__123.html)
- [Pflanzenschutzgesetz § 9: Sachkunde](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflschg_2012/__9.html)
- [Pflanzenschutzgesetz § 10: Anzeige bei Tätigkeit für andere](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflschg_2012/__10.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Starter** (Side business with tractor, mower and baler): Car insurance, Business liability, Machinery breakdown. Together: about €1,500 to €3,500 a year
- **Harvest business** (Contractor with forage harvester or combine and seasonal staff): Fleet insurance, Business liability, Machinery breakdown, Commercial buildings, Business interruption. Together: about €9,000 to €25,000 a year
- **Full service** (Business with harvesting, slurry, crop spraying, earthworks and winter service): Fleet insurance, Business liability, Machinery breakdown, Commercial buildings, Business contents, Business interruption. Together: priced individually, usually from about €25,000 a year

## The worst day for an agricultural contractor

Six losses agricultural contractors really face, all on one day of the maize harvest. Tap through and see which policy steps in.

- 06:40: On a country road the wide forage harvester clips an oncoming car on a bend. (€14,000, Paid by: Car insurance)
- 09:15: A stone in the swath wrecks the cutterhead and shear bar of the harvester. (€38,000, Paid by: Machinery breakdown)
- 11:30: A stone thrown by the harvester smashes the rear window of a car on the farm track. (€1,800, Paid by: Business liability)
- 14:00: A slurry tanker leaks on a neighbouring field and slurry runs into a drainage ditch. (€22,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 17:20: Without the harvester, three haulage teams stand idle and jobs slip by days. (€12,000, Paid by: Business interruption)
- 23:30: A short circuit in the workshop sets the machinery shed on fire. (€160,000, Paid by: Commercial buildings)

**Damage so far:** €247,800

## Practical tips from your broker

- Make sure the policy states that damage caused by the machine's work, such as stones thrown while mowing, is covered under public liability.
- Name every activity: crop spraying, slurry, earthworks and winter service must be included expressly.
- Check environmental liability and environmental damage cover separately; a slurry spill can cost far more than you might expect.
- Insure large machines at new value and work out whether a higher excess on breakdown cover pays off.
- Keep your drivers' certificates of competence current and notify the authority before spraying for others.
- Remove GPS receivers and terminals in the evening; many policies only pay for theft from the field with a special clause.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **No gap between driving and working:** We lay motor liability, public liability and machinery breakdown side by side so no loss falls between the policies.
- **Independent comparison:** Norman Nammert acts as an insurance broker. We approach insurers that cover farm machinery and compare terms and price.
- **Business and private in one place:** Machines, shed, farm and pension all sit with us, with one contact person.
- **Family run, brokering since 1989:** Our work is free for you; the insurer pays our commission.

## FAQ

### Which insurance is compulsory for an agricultural contractor?

Motor liability for vehicles on public roads, with at least €7.5 million for injury, €1.3 million for property damage and €50,000 for pure financial loss. Statutory accident insurance comes on top.

### Which Berufsgenossenschaft covers agricultural contractors?

Under section 123 of Social Code VII, agricultural and forestry contractors belong to agricultural accident insurance. The insurer responsible is the SVLFG.

### Do I need permission to spray crops for customers?

Anyone applying plant protection products needs a certificate of competence. If you do it for others, you must notify the competent authority before you start.

### What does insurance for a forage harvester cost?

Machinery breakdown cover for a harvester worth €450,000 is about €3,500 to €7,000 a year, depending on excess and claims history.

### Who pays if slurry runs into a stream?

Public liability with environmental liability is designed for that, and environmental damage cover for clean up of water and soil. Both must include slurry spreading.

### Are my seasonal workers covered for accidents?

Employees are covered by statutory agricultural accident insurance. Group accident insurance can top up the benefits.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-agricultural-contractor.php#anfrage

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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.