# Insurance for market traders, market stalls and itinerant trade in Germany

> A market stall goes up in an hour, yet it stands right in the crowd: customers squeeze past, the wind catches the parasol, and the stock rides along in the van every day. This page explains which insurance market traders, weekly market sellers and itinerant traders in Germany really need, what it costs and what people tend to forget.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-market-stall-and-itinerant-trade.php  
Updated: 2026-10-14

## The market organiser wants proof of liability insurance. Is my personal liability policy enough?

No. Personal liability (Privathaftpflicht) only covers your private life, not selling at a stall. You need business liability (Betriebshaftpflicht) that names market trading and your products. If you sell food, make sure product liability is included, for example if a customer falls ill after eating your sausage.

## At a glance

- **Permit:** Selling goods away from a fixed business address usually requires an itinerant trade card (Reisegewerbekarte) under section 55 of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)
- **Markets:** Weekly markets and fairs are approved by the authority under section 69 GewO at the organiser's request, with subject, times and location
- **Biggest risk:** Customers tripping over weights, crates or cables, or wind blowing a parasol or gazebo onto passers by
- **Basic cover from:** about 80 euros a year for public liability of a small stall, a guide figure from our quoting work
- **Often forgotten:** Stock left in the van overnight, and chilled goods after a power cut

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Trip hazards:** A parasol weight, a cable to the chiller, a fruit crate: a customer falls and breaks a wrist.
- **Wind and weather:** A gust lifts the gazebo and the frame hits a parked car or a passer by.
- **Food that makes people ill:** A customer reacts to cheese, fish or pastries and claims doctor's costs and lost earnings.
- **Theft:** Tools, stock or the cash box vanish while you set up, or the van is broken into overnight.
- **Chiller failure:** A power cut or a broken unit, and the chilled stock can no longer be sold.
- **Accident on the way:** Five in the morning on the way to market: a crash with a loaded van costs vehicle, stock and trading days.

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

## The insurance you need

- **Business liability** (Essential): Pays when customers or passers by are hurt at your stall and, with product liability, when your goods harm someone. Without it you are liable with your private assets. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Car insurance** (Strongly advised): Sales vans and delivery vans need compulsory motor liability; comprehensive cover protects the vehicle and its fittings. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-car-insurance.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): Covers stall, equipment and stock against fire, storm and burglary, depending on the policy also on the road and in storage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Cargo insurance** (Depends on the business): For goods on the way to market that are damaged or stolen in the vehicle. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cargo-insurance.php
- **Business interruption** (Depends on the business): Replaces lost profit when you cannot trade after insured damage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-interruption.php
- **Electronic equipment** (Depends on the business): For till, card reader and scales, including drops and moisture. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-electronic-equipment.php
- **Accident insurance** (Depends on the business): For you personally if you fall while setting up or packing away, on top of statutory accident insurance. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-accident-insurance.php

## What it costs: example prices

Premiums for small stalls are modest. They depend on turnover, product range, staff and the value of stall, stock and vehicle. Food costs more than clothing or crafts.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Sole trader selling clothing or crafts, 3 million euros limit | about 80 to 180 euros a year |
| Business liability | Fruit, cheese or meat with product liability, two helpers | about 150 to 350 euros a year |
| Business contents | Stall, chiller counter and stock worth 20,000 euros | about 150 to 400 euros a year |
| Car insurance | Sales van up to 3.5 tonnes with partial comprehensive cover | about 500 to 1,200 euros a year |
| Electronic equipment | Till system, card reader and calibrated scales | about 60 to 150 euros a year |

For comparison: Public liability for a small market stall costs about as much a year as two pitch fees at a weekly market.

_All prices are guide figures from our own quoting work in 2026, excluding German insurance premium tax. Your premium depends on products, turnover and claims history._

- [Trade Regulation Act, section 55: itinerant trade card](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gewo/__55.html)
- [Trade Regulation Act, section 69: approval of markets](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gewo/__69.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Small stall** (sole trader with a gazebo and goods that need no chilling): Business liability, Business contents. Together: about 230 to 580 euros a year
- **Fresh food stall** (fruit, cheese, meat or fish with chiller counter and helpers): Business liability, Business contents, Electronic equipment, Business interruption. Together: about 450 to 1,100 euros a year
- **Sales van** (trader with their own sales vehicle at several markets): Business liability, Car insurance, Business contents, Cargo insurance, Accident insurance. Together: about 1,000 to 2,500 euros a year

## The worst market day

Six things market traders really go through, all on one Saturday. Tap through and see who pays.

- 05:10: On the way to market the van slides into a bollard; bumper and load are damaged. (€4,200, Paid by: Car insurance)
- 07:30: While setting up, a crate of fruit falls off the stack and several hundred euros of stock are ruined. (€600, Paid by: Business contents)
- 10:20: A customer trips over the parasol weight and breaks her wrist. (€9,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 12:45: A gust tears the gazebo up and the frame scratches a parked car. (€2,800, Paid by: Business liability)
- 14:00: The card reader drops into a puddle and stops working. (€450, Paid by: Electronic equipment)
- 16:30: A customer gets in touch: after yesterday's fish he spent two days ill in bed. (€3,500, Paid by: Business liability)

**Damage so far:** €20,550

## Practical tips from your broker

- Get written confirmation that your business liability covers market trading and your product range, and keep a copy at the stall.
- Ask the organiser or market office which limit they require before you book a pitch.
- Weigh down parasols and gazebos properly and pack away when a storm warning is issued.
- Check whether stock left in the van overnight is covered; some policies attach conditions to it.
- If you sell food, keep delivery and chilling records; they help with any liability claim.
- Declare family members and helpers who work with you so the cover applies to everyone.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We know small businesses:** As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert asks several insurers for quotes and makes sure market trading, products and goods in transit are really in the policy.
- **Stall, van and private in one place:** Liability, sales van, home and pension sit together with us; one call is enough, in English or German.
- **Family run since 1989:** Our work is free for you; the insurer pays our commission.

## FAQ

### Do I need business liability as a market trader?

It is the most important cover, because you are personally liable for harm to customers and passers by. Organisers can ask for proof; whether they do, and for what limit, is in their terms.

### What does liability for a market stall cost?

As a guide from our quoting work, about 80 to 180 euros a year for clothing or crafts, and about 150 to 350 euros with food and product liability.

### Do I need an itinerant trade card?

Anyone selling goods without a fixed business address usually needs a Reisegewerbekarte under section 55 GewO. There are exceptions; your local trade office (Gewerbeamt) can tell you which apply.

### Is my stock in the van insured?

Only if the policy says so. Contents or goods in transit cover can include stock on the road, often with conditions for overnight.

### Who pays if a storm damages my stall?

Damage to your own stall is paid by contents cover with storm; damage to other people's cars or injuries by business liability.

### Am I covered for accidents at work?

Employees and helpers are covered by statutory accident insurance. For yourself, private accident insurance or voluntary membership of the Berufsgenossenschaft (statutory accident insurer) is worth considering.

## 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-market-stall-and-itinerant-trade.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.