Liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) is the most important insurance after health insurance. Most Germans have it. It costs around €5 per month.
This guide explains what liability insurance covers, why it’s important, and how to choose the best liability insurance.
What does liability insurance cover?
It covers accidents that are your fault. It pays to fix the damage that you caused. This includes…1
- Damage to other people’s property
For example, if your scratch someone’s car with your bicycle, or if you send someone a virus that breaks their computer.2 Your insurance will pay for the repairs and the legal fees. - Injuries to other people
For example, if you trip someone and they break their leg. Your insurance covers the legal fees, medical costs and lost wages. If you play sports, this is really important. - Damage to the apartment your rent
It covers damage to the doors, floors, kitchen and walls, but not to your own things. For example, if your washing machine breaks, floods the apartment, and destroys the wooden floors, your insurance will pay for the repairs. It covers many apartment repairs when you move out, and helps you get your deposit back. - Damage caused by your spouse and children
Liability insurance covers your family. It covers your children until they finish their studies.4 It rarely covers children under 7 years old.3
Liability insurance sometimes covers…
- Lost keys
If you lose your apartment keys, the landlord might need to replace all the locks in your building, and you might have to pay for it.5 It can cost thousands of euros. Get liability insurance that covers this. Some leases require it, but that’s not legal.24 - Rented or borrowed things (geliehene Sachen)
For example, you break the oven in your furnished apartment,6 you damage a hotel room while you are on vacation,7 or you borrow a neighbour’s camera and you break it.8 - Damage while helping a friend (Gefälligkeitsschäden)
If you help your friend to move, and you break their TV, liability insurance rarely covers it.9 Some new insurance policies cover this.10 - Other people’s insurances not paying you (Forderungsausfall)
If someone else hurts you, and they cannot pay the damages, your liability insurance will pay you.
Limitations
Liability insurance rarely covers…
- Damage to your own things
The things you have in your apartment are not covered by the liability insurance. To insure them, get home contents insurance.11 Liability insurance covers damage to an apartment you that you rent, but not to an apartment that you own. It covers damage to your neighbours’ apartments. - Damage caused by children under 7 years old
Your young children are not covered by most liability insurances.3 You must pay more for this. Your children over 6 years old are covered by your liability insurance until they finish their studies.4 - Damage or injuries caused by your pets
It covers cats and small pets, but not dogs. If you have a dog, you need dog liability insurance. It’s mandatory in Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Thuringia. - Car accidents
Your liability insurance covers damage someone’s car when you are not driving. When you are driving, your car insurance covers damage to other people and other cars. - Work accidents
If you are an employee, your employer is liable for your work accidents. Their liability insurance covers you. - Business activities
If you are self-employed, you need professional liability insurance for your work. - Legal disputes
If you want to sue someone, your liability insurance won’t protect you. For this, you need legal insurance. - Piracy and copyright infringement
If you get in trouble for illegally downloading movies, your liability insurance will not cover you.12 - Locksmiths
If you lock yourself out of your apartment, and you call a locksmith to open the door, your liability insurance does not cover the cost.28 Home contents insurance sometimes covers locksmiths.
Get insured before you have a problem. Liability insurance only covers damage that happened after you got insured. If you get liability insurance just before you move out, it won’t cover the damaged floors or the broken fridge. If you make a claim just a few weeks after getting insured, your insurer might be suspicious and ask for more proof.
Do I really need it?
Yes. It’s not mandatory, but it’s really important. It’s the most important insurance after health insurance. 83% of German homes have it.14
Even a small accident can cause thousands or even millions of euros in damages. It can easily bankrupt you. This is why this insurance is so important. It’s cheap and it prevents really expensive problems.2
If you have a dog in Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Lower Saxony or Thuringia, dog liability insurance is required. It’s a different kind of liability insurance.
If you have a vehicle, you need car insurance. It’s liability insurance for driving. It only covers you when you are driving.
If you rent an apartment, your lease might require liability insurance.26 It’s not legal, and you can ignore that clause.27
Cost of liability insurance
It usually costs around €5 per month, or around €60 per year. You can pay less if you combine liability insurance and home contents insurance.
Best liability insurance
I have Feather’s liability insurance since 2022. I recommend it because…
- They speak English. Their contract and documents are in English.
- It exceeds the coverage requirements
- My independent insurance expert says it’s a good option13
- I work with Feather since 2017. They are a great company and I trust them.
- They are a Berlin-based company
Do not choose Getsafe. My readers had problems making claims with them.
To compare options, use Tarifcheck. Don’t choose the cheapest insurance. Usually, it’s cheaper because the coverage is bad. When you choose an insurer, read the negative reviews on Trustpilot. Check if people have problems making claims.
The minimum coverage you need
Your liability insurance must cover you well. This is the minimum coverage I recommend:
- Minimum insured sum
- Worldwide coverage
It must cover you anywhere in the world, not just in Germany or the EU. - Coverage for rented things (geliehene Sachen)
If you rent a furnished apartment, it should cover rented things. This covers you if you break the furniture or appliances. - Lost keys
If you lose your keys, the landlord must sometimes replace all the locks in the building. This can cost thousands of euros.
I recommend Feather because it meets all those requirements. Use Tarifcheck to find more options.
How to pay less
Don’t get the cheapest insurance. Pick good coverage with a good insurance company. There are other ways to pay less.
- Yearly payments are cheaper than monthly payments17
- Combine liability and household insurance to get a lower price.18
- Choose a higher deductible (Selbstbeteiligung). If your deductible is higher, your insurance is cheaper. The price difference is small, so it’s better to pay more, and have a small deductible.19
- Include it in your tax declaration. Liability insurance payments are tax-deductible.20
Liability insurance for English speakers
These insurers speak English and sell liability insurance:
Both companies have English-speaking support, and send documents in English. Feather’s insurance contract is also in English.
Other types of liability insurance
Professional liability insurance
Professional liability insurance (Betriebs- and Berufshaftpflichtversicherung) protects freelancers, tradesmen and businesses against liability claims. Your insurance will protect you from liability claims related to your job.
If you are an employee, you do not need professional liability insurance. You are already covered by your employer’s insurance.21
Some professions are required to have liability insurance:22
- Freelance doctors and veterinarians
- Architects
- Civil engineers
- Lawyers
- Tax advisors, tax agents, tax consultancy services23
Dog liability insurance
Dog liability insurance (Hundehaftpflichtversicherung) is required in Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Thuringia. This insurance pays for the damages caused by your dog. It’s sometimes called pet liability insurance (Tierhaftpflichtversicherung) or pet owner liability insurance (Tierhalterhaftpflichtversicherung).
Hundehaftpflichtversicherung costs around €5 per month. Use Tarifcheck to compare prices. If you don’t speak German, Feather and Getsafe sell dog liability insurance, and they speak English. Their insurance covers dangerous breeds.
How to choose dog liability insurance
Liability insurance for drivers
When you drive a vehicle, you are covered by your car’s insurance (Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung). All cars in Germany must be insured. When you rent a car, liability insurance is included in the price.
Legal insurance
Legal insurance (Rechtsschutzversicherung) gives you free access to a lawyer. If you have a problem with your landlord, your employer, the tax office or anyone else, you can call a lawyer. You can ask them questions, they can write letters for you, and they can go to court with you. Legal insurance will pay for it.
There is private legal insurance (for you), and professional legal insurance (for your business). Private legal insurance costs €16 to €24 per month.25 Professional legal insurance is more expensive. The price depends on what type of business you run.
Feather and Getsafe sell legal insurance, and they speak English. Tarifcheck lets you compare insurances, but it’s only in German.
What to do next
Read about the other types of insurance in Germany. After liability insurance, legal insurance and disability insurance are the most important.
Sources and footnotes
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Seamus Wolf (March 2026) ⤴