# Insurance for drain cleaning and sewer services in Germany

> The cable machine cracks an old cast iron pipe, the jetter pushes waste water into the flat next door, the CCTV camera gets stuck in the sewer. In drain cleaning and sewer services in Germany, the expensive damage almost always happens at the customer's property. Here is what is compulsory, which insurance carries the typical losses and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-drain-cleaning.php  
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Does my liability insurance pay if the cable machine breaks the pipe?

Only if damage to worked items is expressly included. The pipe is the thing you are working on, and basic policies exclude exactly that. Consequential damage, such as water in the flat below, is usually covered. Look for a worked items clause with a sufficient limit.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** Motor liability for every vehicle, by law at least €7.5 million for injury, €1.3 million for property damage and €50,000 for pure financial loss
- **Trade law:** Drain and sewer cleaning is a craft related trade under Annex B, Section 2, No. 15 of the Crafts Code (HwO); you must notify the chamber of crafts without delay when you start or stop (§ 18 (1) HwO)
- **Biggest risk:** Damage to the pipe you work on and water damage from backflow while jetting
- **Basic cover from:** about €350 a year for public liability for a sole trader, a guide value from our quoting work
- **Often forgotten:** Damage to the pipe you are working on is only covered in many policies with a specific clause

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Broken pipe:** An old pipe cannot take the cable machine. Then walls or floors have to be opened.
- **Backflow while jetting:** High pressure pushes waste water out of a ground floor drain, damaging floors, furniture and screed.
- **Camera in the sewer:** The inspection camera jams in the sewer and can only be recovered damaged.
- **Emergency driving:** At night, in a hurry, through narrow gateways: vans and jetting trucks cover many kilometres under time pressure.
- **Invoice disputes:** Emergency rates and extra work quickly lead to complaints and payment claims.
- **Germs and injuries:** Sewage, sharp edges and heavy equipment make infections and accidents part of the job.

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

## The insurance you need

- **Car insurance** (Essential): Motor liability is compulsory for every vehicle. Jetting and suction bodies should be insured at their value under comprehensive cover. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-car-insurance.php
- **Business liability** (Strongly advised): Not compulsory, but essential: with damage to worked items, pipe damage, rented property and environmental damage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Electronic equipment** (Strongly advised): For CCTV camera, locators and laptop, including damage down the sewer. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-electronic-equipment.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Strongly advised): For invoice disputes, warranty claims and road accidents. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **Machinery breakdown** (Depends on the business): For jetters, suction units and large cutters against breakdown and operating errors. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-machinery-breakdown.php
- **Accident insurance** (Depends on the business): Adds a lump sum on permanent disability if you are not voluntarily insured with the statutory accident insurer as an owner. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-accident-insurance.php
- **Fleet insurance** (Depends on the business): From three vehicles a fleet policy bundles vans and jetting trucks. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-fleet-insurance.php

## What it costs: example prices

Insurers rarely publish prices for drain cleaning. The premium depends on turnover, staff, limit of indemnity and whether damage to worked items is included.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Sole trader, €3 million limit, worked items up to €50,000 | about €350 to €700 a year |
| Business liability | Firm with five staff and sewer rehabilitation, €5 million limit | about €1,000 to €2,500 a year |
| Car insurance | Van up to 3.5 tonnes, business use, third party and comprehensive | about €1,000 to €2,000 a year |
| Electronic equipment | CCTV camera and locator worth €30,000 | about €500 to €1,100 a year |
| Business legal expenses | Small firm with contract, employment and traffic legal cover | about €400 to €900 a year |

For comparison: Public liability for a small drain cleaning firm costs about as much a year as two or three emergency call outs.

_All premiums are guide values from our quoting work, excluding German insurance premium tax, as of October 2026. The motor liability minimums are set in the Compulsory Insurance Act, the trade classification in Annex B of the Crafts Code._

- [Handwerksordnung, Annex B](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hwo/anlage_b.html)
- [Handwerksordnung § 18: notification duty](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hwo/__18.html)
- [Pflichtversicherungsgesetz, Annex: minimum sums insured](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflvg/anlage.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Sole trader** (Drain cleaner with one van and a camera): Car insurance, Business liability, Electronic equipment. Together: about €1,900 to €3,800 a year
- **Small firm** (Three to ten staff, jetting truck and CCTV surveys): Fleet insurance, Business liability, Electronic equipment, Machinery breakdown, Business legal expenses. Together: about €6,000 to €15,000 a year
- **Sewer services** (Sewer cleaning and rehabilitation for councils and businesses): Fleet insurance, Business liability, Electronic equipment, Machinery breakdown, Business legal expenses, Accident insurance. Together: tailored, usually from about €12,000 a year

## The worst day in drain cleaning

Six things drain cleaners really go through, all in one shift with emergency calls. Tap through and see who pays.

- 07:30: The cable machine cracks an old cast iron pipe inside a wall; the bathroom has to be opened. (€6,800, Paid by: Business liability)
- 10:10: While jetting, waste water floods a ground floor shop through a floor drain. (€14,500, Paid by: Business liability)
- 13:45: The camera jams in a house connection and is destroyed during recovery. (€11,000, Paid by: Electronic equipment)
- 17:20: Reversing in a courtyard, the van damages a gate. (€2,900, Paid by: Car insurance)
- 20:00: A customer refuses to pay the emergency invoice and threatens a lawyer. (€1,800, Paid by: Business legal expenses)
- 23:30: The jetter pump fails after an operating error. (€7,500, Paid by: Machinery breakdown)

**Damage so far:** €44,500

## Practical tips from your broker

- Have damage to worked pipes included in your liability policy with a sufficient limit.
- Film pipes before using a cable machine or cutter, so the prior condition is documented.
- Insure the camera under electronic equipment cover, including damage down the sewer.
- Give emergency prices in writing before you start, which prevents most disputes.
- Notify the chamber of crafts of your business, as § 18 HwO requires.
- Consider a fleet policy from three vehicles.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We read the worked items clause:** For drain cleaners, what decides is whether damage to the worked pipe is covered. As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert compares the wording of several insurers for you.
- **Vehicles, equipment and business together:** Jetting truck, camera, liability and your personal insurance all run through one contact.
- **Broker since 1989:** A family business, not tied to any insurer. Our service is free for you; the insurer pays our commission. We advise in English.

## FAQ

### What insurance is compulsory for drain cleaners in Germany?

Motor liability for every vehicle. Public liability is not required by law, but property managers and commercial clients often ask for it.

### Do I need a master craftsman certificate?

Drain and sewer cleaning is listed in Annex B, Section 2 of the Crafts Code as a craft related trade. You must notify the chamber of crafts when you start.

### What does public liability cost for a drain cleaner?

For a sole trader about €350 to €700 a year with worked items included, for firms with staff about €1,000 to €2,500, as guide values from our quoting work.

### Is the CCTV camera covered by contents insurance?

Only on your premises and against fire, burglary or water. On site and down the sewer you need electronic equipment cover.

### Who pays for backflow damage while jetting?

Your public liability, if you caused the damage. Consequential damage to floors and furniture is usually included.

## 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-drain-cleaning.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.