# Fleet insurance in Germany: one policy for all company vehicles > German fleet insurance puts all company vehicles under one contract with uniform terms and a premium based on the claims record of the whole fleet rather than the no-claims class of each car. Most insurers offer it from three vehicles. For companies new to Germany it also solves a practical problem: a fleet policy does not depend on German no-claims history that a foreign business simply does not have. Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-fleet-insurance.php Updated: 2026-09-18 ## From how many vehicles can I get fleet insurance in Germany? Many German insurers offer fleet contracts from three vehicles, some from two if vans or trailers are included. The price advantage usually becomes noticeable from about five vehicles. With two or three cars that each have long German no-claims histories, individual policies can still be cheaper. For a company setting up in Germany without any local claims history, a fleet or small-fleet tariff is often the quickest way to get reasonable terms. ## At a glance - **Compulsory?:** Motor liability for every vehicle, yes; fleet format, no - **Legal minimum liability:** 7.5 million euros bodily injury, 1.3 million euros property (PflVG) - **Fleet from:** usually 3 vehicles, 2 to 5 depending on insurer - **Rating basis:** loss ratio of the fleet instead of no-claims class per car - **Tax:** 19 percent insurance tax on the premium; vehicle tax is billed separately by customs ## Loss ratio instead of no-claims classes Private motor insurance in Germany is priced through Schadenfreiheitsklassen, no-claims classes that build up year by year per vehicle. Foreign no-claims records are recognised only by some insurers and only in part. Fleet insurance largely sidesteps that system. The insurer looks at claims paid against premium for the whole fleet, the loss ratio. A good ratio brings lower premiums or refunds, a poor one brings a renewal offer with higher premium or deductibles, or cancellation. The catch comes when you leave the fleet. Vehicles transferred to individual policies do not automatically receive a good no-claims class. How that is handled should be agreed before signing. ## Duties of the vehicle keeper in Germany As keeper (Halter), the company must ensure that only people with a valid driving licence drive its vehicles. Letting someone drive without one is a criminal offence under § 21 of the Road Traffic Act (StVG). Fleet managers therefore check licences regularly and document it; for staff with non-EU licences, the question of whether and how long the foreign licence remains valid in Germany is a common trap. Company vehicles must also be inspected by a competent person at least once a year under the accident prevention regulation DGUV Vorschrift 70, in addition to the statutory roadworthiness test (HU). Insurers increasingly ask about such measures, because they reduce claims and therefore the premium. ## Mixed fleets, leasing and company cars Cars, vans, trucks, trailers and special vehicles can share one fleet policy, often with different comprehensive cover per group. Leased vehicles almost always require fully comprehensive cover (Vollkasko), and after a total loss or theft there is a gap between market value and outstanding lease balance unless GAP cover is included. German motor liability pays for damage to others, not for injuries to the driver who caused the accident. On business trips, statutory accident insurance covers employees; on private use of a company car it does not. Driver protection cover (Fahrerschutz) closes that gap and is worth including for company cars used privately. ## What is covered - Motor liability for all declared vehicles - Partial and fully comprehensive cover per vehicle or group - Automatic cover for newly registered vehicles until declared - Driver protection for injured drivers, where agreed - GAP cover for leased and financed vehicles - Breakdown and towing assistance - Goods in own vehicles, as an add-on - Cover for trips across Europe ## What is not covered - Driving without a valid licence - Intentional damage - Wear, mechanical breakdown and braking damage under comprehensive cover - Goods carried, unless covered by an add-on - Racing and track events - Driving under alcohol or drugs, with recourse against the driver within legal limits ## Who needs it - Companies with three or more cars, vans or trucks registered in Germany - Foreign companies setting up a German subsidiary without local claims history - Trades and service businesses with service vehicles - Employers providing company cars for sales and management - Businesses with leased vehicles and frequent fleet changes ## Who can do without - Businesses with one or two vehicles in high German no-claims classes - Fleets with very high claims frequency that are rated better per vehicle ## What it costs The fleet premium combines a base rate per vehicle type with the claims record of recent years, plus 19 percent insurance tax. German vehicle tax (Kfz-Steuer) is not part of the insurance premium; customs collects it separately by direct debit. **What drives the premium:** - Number and type of vehicles - Loss ratio over the past three to five years - Comprehensive cover and deductibles - Driver group and private use - Area of use, such as city delivery or long distance - Add-ons such as driver protection, GAP, assistance - Loss prevention measures _Fleet premiums depend on the individual fleet's claims record and there are no public benchmarks. We therefore give no ranges. The premium for your fleet is fixed in the quote._ ## The policy levels on the market - **Small fleet:** Roughly three to fifteen vehicles, flat rates per vehicle type, simplified acceptance, usually no no-claims classes. - **Mid-size fleet:** Individual rating by loss ratio, annual renewal date for all vehicles, claims reports, cover chosen per group. - **Large fleet:** Self-retention models, managed claims handling and repair networks, profit sharing, often across several countries. ## How to recognise a good policy | Criterion | Minimum standard | Strong policy | Why it matters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Liability limit | statutory minimum sums | 100 million euros combined, up to 15 million per injured person | Serious injury claims with lifelong pensions exceed the legal minimums quickly. | | New vehicles | covered once declared | automatic cover until the next declaration date | New vehicles are often on the road before admin has declared them. | | Gross negligence | insurer may reduce payment | waiver except for alcohol and drugs | Running a red light or distraction are frequent comprehensive claims. | | GAP cover | not included | included for all leased vehicles | Otherwise a total loss leaves a gap to the lease balance. | | Driver protection | not included | for all drivers with a high sum | Motor liability never compensates the at-fault driver. | | Claims reporting | none | annual report by vehicle, driver and claim type | Without data nobody knows what drives the loss ratio. | | Exit arrangement | no rating on exit | agreed no-claims rating for vehicles leaving the fleet | When the fleet shrinks, vehicles should not start from scratch. | ## Insurers on the German market Fleet insurance is written by the large German motor insurers and by specialists for road haulage. Their appetite for fleets with high loss ratios differs widely. - **Allianz**: fleets of all sizes, agents and brokers - **AXA**: fleet business via brokers and agents - **HDI**: Talanx group, company fleets - **R+V**: insurer of the German cooperative banks - **KRAVAG**: R+V group, motor insurance for the road haulage industry - **VHV**: broker insurer with a large motor book - **Zurich**: mid-size and large fleets, including international programmes - **Generali**: German company of the Generali group 106 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance. (Kraftfahrzeug-Haftpflicht, Kraftfahrzeug-Kasko). Source: BaFin company database, retrieved 2026-09-18. Insurers from other EU countries selling through a branch or without a German office are not included. ## Typical claims and who pays - **Van reverses into a bollard** (roughly €1,500 to €5,000): Self-inflicted damage is only covered under Vollkasko. If that vehicle group runs on partial cover (Teilkasko), the company pays. - **Marten chews through the wiring** (around €300, more with engine damage): Martens are a very German problem. Basic cover pays for the chewed cables, stronger policies also for the engine damage that follows. - **Engine seized: nobody checked the oil** (often €5,000 to €15,000): Engine failure from poor maintenance is mechanical breakdown. No German comprehensive policy pays for it. - **Leased car written off, gap remains** (often four to five figures): Comprehensive cover pays the market value. The gap to the outstanding lease balance needs GAP cover. - **Tools stolen from the van overnight** (often four to five figures): Motor policies cover the vehicle and fixed parts, not loose tools or goods. That needs separate goods in transit or contents cover. - **Hailstorm dents the whole car park** (often four figures per car): Hail is covered under partial cover (Teilkasko) already. Across a fleet parked outdoors, one storm can become a very large claim. ## Myth or truth - „In Germany, motor insurance follows the driver, as it often does in the UK." ✘ No. German motor insurance is attached to the vehicle. Who may drive it is set by the agreed group of drivers, which is why the fleet contract must describe it correctly. - „A company car used privately at the weekend is still covered by the fleet policy." ✔ True. The policy insures the vehicle regardless of the purpose of the trip. The driver must belong to the agreed group of drivers, which can include family members. - „A crash in a company car on the way to work counts as a work accident." ✔ True. The direct route to work is covered by German statutory accident insurance (§ 8 SGB VII). Detours for private reasons are not. - „If an employee drives drunk, the victims get nothing from the insurance." ✘ False. Motor liability always pays the victims. The insurer can then claim part of it back from the driver, typically up to 5,000 euros. - „A trailer can simply run on the towing vehicle's insurance." ✘ No. Trailers with their own registration plate need their own compulsory liability insurance in Germany. In a fleet contract they appear as separate items. ## Common mistakes - Assuming a foreign no-claims record will be credited in full - Comparing fleet and individual quotes without knowing your own loss ratio - Not agreeing how vehicles are rated when they leave the fleet - Leased vehicles without GAP cover - Letting employees drive on foreign licences that are no longer valid in Germany ## FAQ ### What is the difference between fleet and individual motor insurance in Germany? A fleet runs all vehicles under one contract with one renewal date and uniform terms. The premium follows the claims record of the whole fleet rather than the no-claims class of each vehicle. ### How much does fleet insurance cost in Germany? It depends mainly on vehicle types, cover and the fleet's loss ratio, plus 19 percent insurance tax. Two fleets of the same size can pay very different premiums. Only a quote with your claims history is meaningful. ### Will my no-claims history from abroad count? Some German insurers credit foreign no-claims records partly, many not at all. In a fleet tariff this matters less, because the fleet's loss ratio replaces individual no-claims classes. ### Do I need an eVB number for every new company vehicle? Yes. Registration in Germany requires an electronic insurance confirmation (eVB) per vehicle. Your fleet insurer issues it under the fleet contract. ### What happens if our loss ratio is too high? At renewal the insurer proposes higher premiums, higher deductibles or reduced cover, or cancels. With a full claims report a broker can look for alternatives in the market. ### Is the driver covered after causing an accident? Not by motor liability. On business trips statutory accident insurance applies, on private trips it does not. Driver protection cover fills this gap. ### Does fleet insurance cover the goods in our vans? No, it covers vehicles and liability only. Goods and tools need own-account transport cover or cargo insurance. ### Can employees with foreign driving licences drive our fleet? EU and EEA licences are generally valid in Germany. Many non-EU licences are valid only for a limited period after taking up residence and then must be converted. As keeper you are responsible for checking this. ### Is vehicle tax included in the insurance premium? No. In Germany vehicle tax is collected by the customs administration directly from the keeper. The insurance invoice shows only premium and insurance tax. ## Legal basis and sources - [Compulsory Insurance Act (PflVG, German)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflvg/) - [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 and without obligation: the insurer pays our commission. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-fleet-insurance.php#anfrage --- NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.