# Insurance for land surveyors and surveying firms in Germany

> A boundary point ten centimetres out, a setting out error that puts a house too close to the boundary, a level mistake on a sewer: surveying errors often only show once the concrete is poured. In Germany, publicly appointed surveyors (ÖbVI) must insure their liability under state law, and so must self-employed engineers on the chamber list. This page explains what a surveying firm should insure and what it costs.

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

## How much cover do I need as a surveyor in Germany?

It depends on the state and your role. For publicly appointed surveyors the state sets scope and amount, partly by regulation. For engineers on the chamber list, Brandenburg for example requires 1.5 million euros for bodily injury and 300,000 euros for property and financial loss, with a run-off period of at least five years. If you set out large buildings, choose a much higher sum for property and financial loss.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** Publicly appointed surveyors must insure liability claims from their work appropriately under state law, in Brandenburg under section 8 (3) of the ÖbVI act
- **Chamber list:** Self-employed engineers on the engineering chamber list must also insure; Brandenburg requires at least 1.5 million euros for bodily injury and 300,000 euros for property and financial loss (section 10 BbgIngG)
- **Biggest risk:** Errors in setting out, boundary determination and levelling that lead to demolition or redesign
- **Basic cover from:** around 600 euros a year for professional indemnity in a small firm, a guide value from our quoting experience
- **Often forgotten:** Total stations, GNSS receivers and drones in the field need their own equipment cover

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Setting out errors:** A building or slab is built on wrong coordinates and has to be moved or demolished.
- **Boundary errors:** A boundary point is set wrongly and the fence or garage ends up on the neighbour's land.
- **Levels and falls:** A level error on a sewer or slab causes backflow, rework and delay.
- **Instruments in the field:** Total stations, GNSS receivers and scanners cost five figures and get knocked over, run over or stolen.
- **Drone flights:** A survey drone can crash onto people, cars or roofs.
- **Roads and sites:** Survey crews work next to traffic and on building sites, where accidents and damage to third party cables happen.

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

## The insurance you need

- **Professional indemnity** (Essential): Compulsory under state law for publicly appointed surveyors and engineers on the chamber list; covers bodily injury, property damage and financial loss from survey errors. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-professional-indemnity.php
- **Electronic equipment** (Strongly advised): Equipment cover replaces total stations, GNSS receivers and scanners after falls, theft and water, including in the field. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-electronic-equipment.php
- **Drone insurance** (Strongly advised): Drone flights need their own aviation liability cover; professional indemnity usually does not cover a crash. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-drone-insurance.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): Office furniture and equipment in the office against fire, burst pipes and burglary. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Fleet insurance** (Depends on the business): With several survey vehicles, one fleet policy bundles liability and comprehensive cover. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-fleet-insurance.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Depends on the business): Survey data, cadastral and client data are digital; an attack stops the office. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Depends on the business): For fee disputes and conflicts with employees. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php

## What it costs: example prices

The premium depends on fee income, activities, sum insured and deductible. Setting out for buildings and civil engineering costs more than site plans alone.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional indemnity | Small firm, site plans and boundary surveys, 1.5 million and 300,000 euros | around 600 to 1,400 euros a year |
| Professional indemnity | Firm with eight staff, setting out for buildings, 3 million and 1 million euros | around 2,500 to 6,000 euros a year |
| Electronic equipment | Two total stations, one GNSS rover and one scanner worth 120,000 euros, field use | around 1,200 to 2,800 euros a year |
| Drone insurance | Survey drone up to 5 kg, commercial use | around 150 to 400 euros a year |
| Cyber insurance | Office with ten workstations | around 500 to 1,300 euros a year |

For comparison: Equipment cover for one survey crew costs less a year than repairing a total station that fell over.

_All prices are guide values from our quoting experience, excluding German insurance premium tax, as of October 2026. The sources show the legal rules using Brandenburg as an example; other states set their own details._

- [Brandenburg act on publicly appointed surveyors (BbgÖbVIG)](https://bravors.brandenburg.de/gesetze/bbgoebvig)
- [Brandenburg engineers act (BbgIngG)](https://bravors.brandenburg.de/gesetze/bbgingg)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Solo** (surveying engineer with one crew): Professional indemnity, Electronic equipment, Business contents. Together: around 1,500 to 3,500 euros a year
- **Firm** (surveying firm with several crews and a drone): Professional indemnity, Electronic equipment, Drone insurance, Business contents, Cyber insurance. Together: around 4,500 to 10,000 euros a year
- **Large firm** (ÖbVI office or engineering company with a vehicle fleet and large projects): Professional indemnity, Electronic equipment, Drone insurance, Fleet insurance, Business contents, Cyber insurance, Business legal expenses. Together: individual, usually from around 12,000 euros a year

## The worst day in a surveying firm

Six things that really happen to surveyors, all on one Wednesday. Tap through the day and see who pays.

- 07:30: The slab of an apartment building sits 40 centimetres too close to the boundary. The setting out was wrong. (€85,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 09:15: A reversing lorry runs over the tripod and the total station is a write-off. (€28,000, Paid by: Electronic equipment)
- 11:00: During a survey flight the drone loses signal and hits a parked car. (€4,500, Paid by: Drone insurance)
- 13:40: A neighbour demands removal of his new fence because the boundary point was wrong. (€9,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 15:20: The GNSS rover and controller are stolen from the survey van. (€22,000, Paid by: Electronic equipment)
- 17:00: A client refuses the final invoice and disputes the hours. (€4,000, Paid by: Business legal expenses)

**Damage so far:** €152,500

## Practical tips from your broker

- List every activity: cadastral surveys, setting out, laser scanning, drone surveys and monitoring.
- Set the sum for property and financial loss by your largest setting out job, not the average.
- Insure instruments for field use and theft from vehicles, and check the locked vehicle clause.
- Check run-off cover before you hand over the firm; setting out errors can surface years later.
- Drones need their own liability cover even if they rarely fly.
- Tell the insurer about joint ventures with other firms, otherwise shared liability may remain open.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **Several insurers compared:** As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert obtains quotes from different insurers and checks sums, annual limits and run-off against your state's rules.
- **Advice in English, German law:** We explain German policy wording and chamber rules in plain English.
- **Family business since 1989:** Our advice is free for you, as the insurer pays our commission. You have fixed contacts.

## FAQ

### Is professional indemnity compulsory for surveyors in Germany?

For publicly appointed surveyors yes, under the relevant state act. For self-employed engineers on the chamber list as well, in Brandenburg under section 10 BbgIngG. Other firms are not required by law to insure, but clients almost always ask for it.

### What does professional indemnity cost for a surveying firm?

A small firm usually pays around 600 to 1,400 euros a year, a firm setting out buildings around 2,500 to 6,000 euros. These are guide values from our quoting experience.

### Are my instruments covered by contents insurance?

Partly in the office, usually not in the field. For falls, theft from vehicles and site damage you need equipment cover with field use.

### Does professional indemnity cover drone flights?

Usually not. Operating a drone needs its own aviation liability policy.

### How long must cover continue after I stop?

Brandenburg requires at least five years of run-off cover for engineers on the chamber list. For publicly appointed surveyors the state sets the details.

### Can I get advice in English?

Yes. Policies are usually issued in German, and we go through the key clauses with you in English.

## 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-land-surveyor.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.