# Hunting liability insurance in Germany: required for the licence, worth more than the minimum

> In Germany you cannot get or renew a hunting licence (Jagdschein) without proof of hunting liability insurance (Jagdhaftpflicht). The law asks for 500,000 euros for injury and 50,000 euros for property damage, figures that have not moved in decades. One stray bullet or a hunting dog on a main road can exceed them. Good policies cover many times that for a few euros more.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-hunting-liability.php  
Updated: 2026-10-31

## Is hunting liability insurance compulsory in Germany?

Yes. Under section 17 of the Federal Hunting Act (Bundesjagdgesetz), the hunting licence is refused if you cannot show liability cover of at least 500,000 euros for personal injury and 50,000 euros for property damage. The proof goes with every application and renewal. Your personal liability policy does not count, because it normally excludes hunting.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** yes, a condition for the German hunting licence (section 17 BJagdG)
- **Legal minimum:** 500,000 € injury, 50,000 € property damage
- **Expert advice:** at least 5 million € combined, better 10 million €
- **Guide price:** insurers quote roughly 30 to 90 € a year for one hunter
- **Main source of claims:** hunting dogs, around four in five reported claims

## Why the statutory minimum is not enough

The amounts in the Federal Hunting Act date from a time when serious injuries cost far less to settle. Today lifelong care, lost earnings and pension claims can push a single case of paralysis well beyond half a million euros. Whatever the insurer does not pay comes out of the hunter's own assets.

A 2021 reform of the act would have raised the minimum to 5 million euros. It failed for unrelated reasons, so the old figure still applies. German hunting magazines advise 5 to 10 million euros combined, and the extra premium is usually a few euros a year.

## Your dog is a bigger risk than your rifle

According to the German hunting magazine jagdpraxis, around four in five claims under hunting liability policies are caused by hunting dogs, mostly small incidents away from the hunt. So it matters how many dogs a policy includes, whether untested dogs and puppies count, and whether cover applies on an everyday walk.

Two dogs is common, some policies take up to five or any number. If you keep more dogs than the contract names, the rest need their own dog liability policy. Many expats bring a dog from home, so check this before the first driven hunt.

## Leaseholders, drones and game damage

If you lease a shoot (Jagdpacht), you are also liable for high seats, paths and the safety of guests on driven hunts. That role has to be named in the policy. Thermal drones for finding fawns before mowing are now common, and older policy wordings do not mention them.

Damage by game to farmland (Wildschaden) is a different matter. Under section 29 of the Federal Hunting Act the hunting cooperative pays, or the leaseholder if the lease says so. Hunting liability policies exclude it, so budget for it when you sign a lease.

## What is covered

- Injury, property damage and resulting financial loss caused to others while hunting, including by firearms
- Defence against unjustified claims, including in court
- Keeping, handling and training hunting dogs, up to a set number depending on the policy
- Lawful use of firearms outside the hunt, for example at the shooting range
- Liability as leaseholder, game warden or hunt leader, depending on the policy
- High seats and other shoot installations
- Drones for fawn rescue and tracking, depending on the policy
- Hunting trips abroad, limited in time and region

## What is not covered

- Game damage to farmland that the leaseholder must pay under law or lease
- Damage to your own property, rifle or dog
- Deliberate damage and breaches of firearms law
- Commercial hunting events and dog breeding unless included
- Your own injuries while hunting, which need accident insurance

## Who needs it

- Anyone applying for or renewing a German hunting licence, including foreigners' and day licences
- Leaseholders and co-leaseholders who are liable for installations and guests
- Dog handlers who keep, train or work hunting dogs
- Hunters who also hunt outside Germany

## Who does not need it

- Beaters and companions without a hunting licence: hunting liability is not required for them

## What it costs

Hunting liability is one of the cheaper compulsory policies in Germany. The real differences lie less in the price than in how many dogs, which equipment and which roles on the shoot are included.

| Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- |
| Single hunter without own shoot, one dog | roughly 30 to 90 € a year |

**What drives the premium:**

- Sum insured and deductible
- Number of hunting dogs included
- Role: hunter, leaseholder, game warden or professional
- Extras such as drones, night vision and cover abroad
- Term, many hunters pay three years in advance

_Range from figures published by German insurers in 2025. Leaseholders, professionals and several dogs cost more. Your premium is fixed only in the quote._

## The policy levels on the market

- **Basic:** Legal minimum or a little more, one or two dogs, few extras. Enough for the licence, not for a serious accident.
- **Comfort:** 5 to 10 million € combined without deductible, several dogs and puppies, Europe. Right for most hunters.
- **Premium:** Higher sums, drones and night vision, leaseholder risk, hunting trips worldwide, many dogs. For leaseholders, dog handlers and travelling hunters.

## How to recognise a good policy

| Criterion | Minimum standard | Strong policy | Why it matters |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sum insured | 500,000 € injury, 50,000 € property | at least 10 million € combined | One serious injury exceeds the statutory amount. |
| Hunting dogs | two tested dogs | several dogs, including untested dogs and puppies | Dogs cause most claims, often away from the hunt. |
| Dogs outside the hunt | only while hunting | also in daily life, training and travel | Otherwise the everyday walk is not covered. |
| Leaseholder risk | not included | leaseholder, hunt leader and installations included | The leaseholder is liable for high seats and driven hunts. |
| Drones and night vision | not mentioned | expressly included | Fawn rescue and night hunting are routine on many shoots. |
| Cover abroad | Europe, short trips | worldwide for hunting trips | Otherwise a trip abroad may leave you with only the host country's minimum. |
| Deductible | agreed | none | With many small dog claims you would otherwise pay almost everything yourself. |

## Insurers on the German market

Many German property insurers offer hunting liability, some with special policies for leaseholders and dog handlers. We also list direct insurers that do not work with brokers so you know the market.

- **Allianz**: agents and brokers
- **ERGO**: agents, brokers and direct sales
- **Zurich**: agents and brokers
- **Die Bayerische**: brokers and direct sales
- **R+V**: cooperative banks, agents and brokers
- **SIGNAL IDUNA**: agents and brokers
- **Alte Leipziger**: sells through brokers
- **Uelzener**: mutual insurer focused on animals and hunting, sells through brokers

127 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance. (Allgemeine Haftpflicht). Source: BaFin company database, 2026-09-18; EU insurers without a German office excluded.

## Typical claims and who pays

- **Stray shot injures a beater** (six to seven figures with lasting harm): Every hunting liability policy pays, but only up to the sum insured. With lifelong care the statutory half million often falls short.
- **Dog chases a deer onto the road** (five figures, six with injuries): If the dog causes the crash, keeper and handler are liable. What matters is that the dog is named in the policy, even before its test.
- **Fawn drone crashes onto a car** (roughly 1,000 to 5,000 €): Older hunting policies do not know drones. Good ones expressly include fawn rescue and tracking flights.
- **High seat ladder breaks under a guest** (five to six figures): The leaseholder is liable for installations. A plain hunter's policy without leaseholder cover leaves this open.
- **Shot hits a vehicle on a hunting trip** (roughly 2,000 to 10,000 €): Basic policies often apply only in Europe or for short stays. Strong ones cover hunting trips worldwide.
- **Wild boar churn up a maize field** (four to five figures per season): Game damage is not a liability claim. The hunting cooperative or the leaseholder under the lease pays it out of pocket.

## Myth or truth

- „Without hunting liability I cannot get a German hunting licence." ✔ True: the Federal Hunting Act makes proof of cover a condition for issuing and renewing the licence. Without it the authority refuses.
- „The statutory minimum is enough, otherwise the law would ask for more." ✘ False: the amounts have not been updated for decades. A rise to 5 million euros was planned in 2021 and failed. A serious injury quickly exceeds half a million.
- „Most hunting liability claims are caused by dogs, not firearms." ✔ True: according to German hunting magazines around four in five claims involve hunting dogs, mostly small incidents away from the hunt.
- „My personal liability policy also covers hunting." ✘ False: hunting is normally excluded from personal liability. That is why there is a separate hunting policy, which the authority also wants to see.
- „Game damage to crops is paid by the leaseholder's hunting liability." ✘ No: game damage is a duty under the law and the lease, not a liability claim. Policy wordings expressly exclude it.

## Common mistakes

- Buying only the statutory minimum because it is enough for the licence
- Keeping more dogs than the policy includes
- Leasing a shoot but keeping a hunter's policy without leaseholder cover
- Expecting hunting liability to pay game damage to crops
- Not checking whether the policy applies in the country of a hunting trip

## FAQ

### Does my personal liability policy cover hunting?

Normally not. Personal liability policies exclude hunting, and the authority wants separate proof of hunting liability for the licence anyway.

### How much does hunting liability cost in Germany?

For a single hunter with one dog, insurers quote roughly 30 to 90 euros a year. Higher sums usually add only a few euros. Leaseholders, professionals and policies with many dogs cost more.

### How do I prove cover for the hunting licence?

The insurer issues a confirmation that you hand to the local hunting authority (untere Jagdbehörde) with your application or renewal. It must cover the whole period of the licence.

### I hold a foreign hunting licence. Do I need German cover?

To hunt in Germany you need a German hunting licence, and for it proof of liability cover from an insurer licensed in the EU or EEA. A policy from your home country may qualify if it meets the German minimum, the authority decides.

### How many dogs are covered?

That depends on the policy. Two hunting dogs is common, some policies include up to five or any number. Puppies and untested dogs are not always included.

### Is game damage on my shoot insured?

No. Under section 29 of the Federal Hunting Act the hunting cooperative or, if the lease says so, the leaseholder pays for game damage to crops. Hunting liability policies exclude it.

### Why use a broker?

Because policies differ a lot on dogs, leaseholder risk, equipment and cover abroad, but hardly in price. We compare on your behalf, and the insurer pays our fee.

## Legal basis and sources

- [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. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-hunting-liability.php#anfrage

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