# Dog and horse liability insurance in Germany: compulsory in seven states > In Germany, the keeper of a dog or horse is liable for damage the animal causes, even without doing anything wrong. Personal liability insurance does not cover these animals. Seven federal states require liability insurance for every dog, and most others require it for dogs classed as dangerous. Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-pet-liability.php Updated: 2026-09-18 ## Is dog liability insurance compulsory in Germany? It is compulsory for every dog in Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia; Bremen introduced the general duty on 1 July 2026. In the other states it is usually required only for dogs classed as dangerous or on a breed list. Because German law makes you liable without fault and without limit, it is sensible everywhere. ## At a glance - **Compulsory for all dogs:** Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia - **Compulsory for horses:** no, but strict liability applies - **Guide price, dog:** good policies from about 36 € a year (Stiftung Warentest, 2025) - **Cover amount:** at least 10 million €, better more - **Legal basis:** Section 833 Civil Code, state dog laws ## Strict liability: why good behaviour is not a defence Section 833 of the German Civil Code makes the keeper of an animal liable for any damage it causes, regardless of fault. The idea is that keeping an animal creates a risk that can never be fully controlled. If your leashed dog pulls free and a cyclist falls, you are liable even though the lead and collar were fine. There is an exception for working animals, such as a farmer's horse or a shepherd's dog, where the keeper can escape liability by proving due care. Family dogs and leisure horses do not fall under this exception. ## Bringing a dog to Germany: three things to sort out First, register your dog with your town or city and pay the local dog tax (Hundesteuer). The amount depends on the municipality and is higher for dangerous breeds. In several states, such as Lower Saxony and Hamburg, the dog must also be entered in a central register. Second, check the state rules on insurance and, for certain breeds, on permits and muzzles. Bremen's new dog law, in force since 1 July 2026, requires cover of at least 500,000 € for injury and 250,000 € for property damage and introduced a competence test for new owners. Third, get a German policy: pet liability cover from your home country usually ends when you become resident here. ## Horses: big claims and the shared rider A horse that breaks out of a paddock onto a road can cause a serious accident, with claims running into millions. That is why high cover amounts matter even more for horses than for dogs. Sharing a horse with another rider (Reitbeteiligung) is common in Germany. If the other rider falls, they may claim against you as the keeper. Good policies cover claims by other riders and protect the sharer against claims from the owner. ## What is covered - Injury, property damage and resulting financial loss caused by your dog or horse - Defence against unjustified claims, including court costs - Damage while a friend or sitter walks your dog - Damage to rented flats, holiday homes and hotel rooms, depending on the policy - Puppies from your own litter up to a certain age - Claims by other riders of your horse, depending on the policy - Damage to fields and paths caused by horses - Temporary stays abroad ## What is not covered - Damage to your own animal or belongings - Damage between people insured under the same policy - Commercial breeding or boarding - Races and competitions unless included - Damage caused on purpose, such as setting the dog on someone - Vet bills for your own animal, which need pet health insurance ## Who needs it - Every dog owner, and compulsory in seven German states - Every horse owner, even with a calm leisure horse - Owners of dogs classed as dangerous, in practically every state - Horse sharers and dog sitters whose risk is not covered by the owner's policy ## Who can do without - Owners of cats and small pets: personal liability insurance usually covers them ## What it costs Dog liability insurance is inexpensive; horse liability costs more because the claims are larger. Price differences between insurers are large and say little about the quality of cover. | Example | Typical range | | --- | --- | | Small dog, such as a Jack Russell Terrier | about 36 to 156 € a year | | Medium to large dog, such as a Labrador | about 55 to 156 € a year | **What drives the premium:** - Breed and size of the dog - Classification as a dangerous dog - Number of animals - Cover amount and deductible - Add-ons such as other riders, rental damage or dog sports _Ranges from the Stiftung Warentest dog liability test, July 2025. We give no guide prices for horses. Your premium is fixed only in the quote._ ## The policy levels on the market - **Basic:** Cover at or just above the legal minimum, few add-ons. Meets the law but leaves rental damage and sitters open. - **Standard:** Around 10 to 20 million €, with rental damage, sitters, puppies and off-lead incidents included. Right for most dog owners. - **Premium:** Higher limits, default cover, dog sports, and for horses other riders, carriages and competitions. For active owners and horse keepers. ## How to recognise a good policy | Criterion | Minimum standard | Strong policy | Why it matters | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Cover amount | state minimum | at least 10 million € combined | A road accident caused by a loose animal can produce injury claims in the millions. | | Rental damage | rented living space | holiday homes, hotels and furniture too | Scratched doors and chewed furniture are common claims. | | Sitters | private individuals only | professional dog walkers and kennels too | Otherwise there is no cover while someone else handles your dog. | | Off-lead incidents | excluded where a lead is required | included | Accidents happen most often when the dog runs free. | | Other riders | excluded | claims by other riders and cover for sharers included | A fall by someone else riding your horse is the most expensive typical horse claim. | | Proof for the authorities | on request | issued automatically | Many towns ask for proof when you register your dog. | ## Insurers on the German market Many German insurers offer dog and horse liability, some specialise in it. We include direct insurers that do not work with brokers so you know the market. - **Haftpflichtkasse**: mutual insurer specialised in liability, sells through brokers - **VHV**: broker-focused insurer with a wide liability range - **Uelzener**: mutual insurer focused on animal insurance - **Allianz**: agents and brokers - **HUK-COBURG**: sells through its own network, does not work with brokers - **Barmenia**: agents and brokers - **Ammerländer**: mutual insurer from Lower Saxony, sells through brokers - **WGV**: insurer from Stuttgart, mainly direct sales 127 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance. (Allgemeine Haftpflicht). 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 - **Dog knocks a cyclist off their bike** (five figures, six with lasting injuries): In Germany the dog does not have to bite: causing the fall is enough. Every dog liability policy pays up to its limit. - **Dog chews the sofa in a holiday flat** (around 800 to 3,000 €): Damage to rented rooms and furniture is often missing from basic cover. Standard and premium policies include it, usually with a sub limit. - **Unplanned litter with next door's dog** (around 500 to 2,000 €): Good German dog policies have a clause for an unwanted mating. Without it, the breeder's vet bill and loss of value land on you. - **Horse kicks a car at the stables** (around 1,000 to 5,000 €): Horses need their own liability policy in Germany. Any horse policy pays damage to other people's cars. - **Dog bites someone on a US holiday** (five figures, often more): Basic policies often cover Europe only or short trips. Stronger ones are worldwide, sometimes with limits for North America. - **Your own dog needs stitches** (around 200 to 800 € at the vet): Liability cover never pays for your own animal. That is what pet health or surgery insurance is for. ## Myth or truth - „My home insurance from the UK or US will cover my dog in Germany." ✘ False: foreign home policies generally do not cover a permanent residence abroad. Where a German state requires dog liability insurance, the authorities expect a German policy. Arrange cover before you arrive. - „Cats usually do not need their own liability policy in Germany." ✔ True: cats and small pets are included in almost every German personal liability policy. Dogs and horses are the exceptions and need a separate policy. Exotic pets are worth checking. - „Some German states require liability insurance for every dog, however small." ✔ True: several states, including Berlin and Hamburg, require it for all dogs. Others only for large or listed breeds. The rule depends on where you are registered, not on the size of your dog. - „If two dogs fight, the owner of the one that started it pays for everything." ✘ Not necessarily: German courts also count the risk created by the other dog. Costs are often split between the owners. The shares depend on the details of each case. - „A horse is covered by my ordinary personal liability policy." ✘ False: personal liability policies exclude horses and dogs. A horse needs its own policy. Riding someone else's horse is a different matter, and good personal liability policies often include it. ## Common mistakes - Assuming personal liability insurance covers your dog - Keeping a policy from your home country after moving to Germany - Insuring only the legal minimum - Choosing a policy that excludes off-lead incidents - Moving to another German state without checking its dog rules ## FAQ ### Does personal liability insurance cover my dog? No. Dogs and horses are excluded from German personal liability policies and need their own cover. Cats and small pets are usually included. ### How much does dog liability insurance cost? According to Stiftung Warentest (July 2025), good policies start at about 36 euros a year for small dogs and about 55 euros for larger ones. The most expensive tested policies cost around 156 euros. Dangerous breeds cost more. ### Is horse liability insurance compulsory? No, in no German state. It is still considered essential because the keeper is liable without fault and horses can cause serious accidents. ### Do I need to show proof of insurance? In states with compulsory cover, yes, usually when you register the dog or on request. Insurers issue a confirmation for this purpose. ### What is Hundesteuer? A local dog tax charged by your municipality. It is separate from insurance, varies from town to town and is usually higher for dangerous breeds. You register your dog with the local authority to pay it. ### Is my dog covered when someone else walks it? In good policies, yes, private sitters are included. Professional dog walkers and kennels are not covered by every policy, so check the conditions. ### Are puppies covered? Puppies from an unplanned litter are usually covered up to a certain age, often six or twelve months. Any puppy you keep must then be insured separately. ### Can I get the documents in English? Some insurers offer English information, but the binding conditions are almost always German. We can explain the important clauses to you in English. ### Why use a broker? Policies differ a lot in clauses such as off-lead incidents, other riders and rental damage, while prices are close. We compare on your behalf; the insurer pays our fee. ## Legal basis and sources - [Civil Code (BGB, German)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/) - [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-pet-liability.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.