This is an overview of the common types of insurance in Germany, and why they are important.
Liability insurance
Liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) covers accidents that are your fault. It pays to fix the damage that you caused.
For example:
- You scratch someone’s car with your shopping cart.
- Your child breaks something at their friend’s house.
- Your computer chair destroys the floor in the apartment you rent.
- You trip someone while playing football, and they break their leg.
It’s the most important insurance after health insurance. 83% of Germans homes have it. It costs around €5 per month.
I recommend Feather’s liability insurance. It’s what I have since 2022.
Professional liability insurance
Professional liability insurance (Berufshaftpflichtversicherung) covers your business activities. It protects you if you make a mistake and your client sues you. It’s required for doctors, architects, lawyers and some other professions.1
If you are an employee, you don’t need professional liability insurance. Your employer is liable for your work.2
Dog liability insurance
Dog liability insurance (Hundehaftpflichtversicherung or Tierhaftpflichtversicherung) covers accidents caused by your dog. For example if your dog bites someone, or destroys something.
It’s mandatory in Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Thuringia. Some states only require dog liability insurance for dangerous breeds.
It costs around €5 per month. Feather and Getsafe sell it, and they speak English. Use Tarifcheck to compare more options.
Home contents insurance
Home contents insurance or household insurance (Hausratversicherung) insures your furniture, your appliances, and the other movable things in your house. It costs around €5 per month.
For example:4
- There is a fire on your building, and you lose everything you have.
- A water leak destroys your furniture and electronics.
- A thief breaks into your house and steals your things.
It sometimes covers laptops and bicycles away from home. It sometimes covers calling a locksmith when you lock yourself out.
Get this insurance if you can’t afford to replace everything after a fire. 76% of Germans have it.5
If you don’t speak German, Feather and Getsafe sell household insurance, and they speak English. Use Tarifcheck to compare options.
Health insurance
All German residents need health insurance (Krankenversicherung). It pays for your healthcare when you are sick.
How to choose health insurance
The best way to choose health insurance is to ask my insurance broker. It’s free.
Legal insurance
Legal insurance (Rechtsschutzversicherung) covers the cost of hiring a lawyer and going to court. It helps you get legal advice and solve legal problems. It costs €15 to €35 per month.
There is private legal insurance (for you), and professional legal insurance (for your business). Professional legal insurance is more expensive. The price depends on the type of business.
Around 46% of Germans have legal insurance.5 It’s not as important as liability insurance, but it’s good to have. I recommend it for recent immigrants.
If you don’t speak German, Feather and Getsafe offer legal insurance, and they speak English. Use Tarifcheck to compare options.
Disability insurance
Job disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung) gives you an income if you are too sick or injured to work. It covers you after you stop getting paid sick leave. It’s also called income protection insurance.
Disability insurance replaces your income if…
- You have cancer
- You suffer from burn out
- You can’t work after an accident
- You can’t do your normal job because of a disability
Disability insurance makes sense if your family depends on your income, or if you have a mortgage.7 Around 26% of Germans have disability insurance.5 It costs around €50 to €150 per month.3
If you don’t speak German, Feather and Getsafe sell disability insurance, and they speak English. Tarifcheck helps you compare options.
Pet health insurance
Pet health insurance (Tierkrankenversicherung or Hundekrankenversicherung) covers the veterinary bills if your dog gets sick. Usually, it does not cover routine operations like vaccines or castration.6 However, it covers expensive operations. This can be important when your dog gets old.
The price of pet insurance depends on the age, race and sex of your dog. It costs around €20 per month if your dog is still young.
If you don’t speak German, Feather and Getsafe sell pet health insurance, and they speak English. Use Tarifcheck to compare options.
Car insurance
If you drive a vehicle in Germany, it must be insured. There are two types of car insurance (Kfz-Versicherung): Vollkasko and Teilkasko.
- Vollkasko insurance covers the damage to your car and to other cars, even if the accident is your fault. If you destroy your car in an accident, the insurance company will replace it. Vollkasko insurance is usually several times more expensive than Teilkasko.
- Teilkasko insurance only covers the damage to other people and vehicles. If you cause an accident, your Teilkasko will pay to fix other people’s cars, but it will not pay you to on your own car. If the accident is someone else’s fault, their insurance will pay for the repairs on your car.
Some Teilkasko insurances also cover theft and vandalism. Read your policy carefully, and make sure it covers the right things for you.
Use Verivox or Tarifcheck to compare car insurances.
Life insurance
Life insurance (Lebensversicherung) pays money to your family when you die. It’s not useful for you, but it’s useful for the people who depend on you. If you have people who depend on you financially, then life insurance is really important. Life insurance is cheap when you are young, but more expensive when you get older.
Feather sells life insurance, and they speak English.
Sources and footnotes
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Seamus Wolf (July 2025), Check24 (July 2025) ⤴