Explained: Liability Insurance in Germany [2023 English Guide]

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by Jen

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Updated

We have done extensive research to be able to bring you the best personal liability insurance in Germany. With so many offers out there, we understand it is very intimidating and tough to understand why you need it and which one to pick.

In this guide, we talk about why getting this insurance is so important, as a lot of expats have never heard of or considered getting liability insurance in their home country. We will also compare the top digital liability insurance providers in Germany.

Quick Comparison Of The Best Personal Liability Insurance In Germany

If you are short on time, and just want an answer. Here are the best personal liability insurance companies in Germany:

  1. Getsafe – Our choice – Simple to use, cancel anytime, website, and customer service in English, insurance cover up to 50 million euros. You can only use it through their mobile app.
  2. Luko – Easy sign-up, no deductible, cancel daily, website and customer service available in English, insurance cover up to 30 million euros.
  3. Feather – Simple to use, no deductible, cancel anytime, website and customer service available in English, insurance cover up to 50 million euros. 
  4. Adam Riese – Great German insurance. Backed by one of the biggest financial service providers in Germany, website, customer support, and contract are only available in German. You may only cancel the insurance after one year.
GetsafeLukoFeatherAdam Riese
English Websitepro checkpro checkpro checkx icon
English Customer Servicepro checkpro checkpro checkx icon
Coverage in Eurosup to 50 millionup to 30 millionup to 50 millionup to 7,5 million
No DeductibleOptionalpro checkpro checkOptional
Cancel Anytimepro checkpro checkpro checkpro check
Monthly Costfrom €2,94from €4,99from €4,94from €1,75

What Is Private Liability Insurance In Germany?

Private or personal liability insurance covers any property or personal damages you cause to others. 

According to Statista, 83% of the German population have Haftpflichtversicherung. It is an optional insurance, however, you should seriously consider getting it, to protect your finances and to have peace of mind.

Statistic about the most purchased insurances in Germany
Source: Statista

Why Do You Need Liability Insurance In Germany?

You need liability insurance in Germany because according to German law, you are 100% liable for any damages you cause to others and their assets. German residents and citizens are in their legal right to sue anyone who has caused damages to their property or themselves, and trust us – they will if you refuse to pay or are not insured.

While you might be able to cover certain damages you caused to property from your own pocket. Medical treatment costs and financial losses, however, can skyrocket fast and reach six to seven digits.

Example For Having Liability Insurance In Germany

You are playing football with some friends in the park. You want to pass the ball to a teammate, but you kick it a bit too hard.

The ball passes your friend and suddenly hits a biker passing by. The biker falls. You rush to help him out. As you help him stand up, you realize that he might have broken his arm, and his bike is damaged.

In this situation, you would be 100% responsible for the medical and bike repair costs. More importantly, the biker turns out to be a self-employed craftsman, who can’t perform his job for six weeks. Your liability insurance would also cover the financial loss and compensation.

And as a viewer of our YouTube Channel commented, these things do happen in real life:

In the above examples, having liability insurance will allow you to cover all the expenses caused by your accidental behavior without leaving you bankrupt. 

We hope you can see why having liability insurance is so important. You never know when things might go wrong. 

What Does Liability Insurance In Germany Cover?

Liability insurance policies in Germany cover the following things:

  1. Damage to someone else’s property and financial loss
  2. Physical or mental damage to a person
  3. Unintentional damage to the apartment you rent and the building it is in

What Does Personal Liability Insurance In Germany Not Cover?

Liability insurance in Germany does not cover the following things:

  1. Damages you cause while driving a car. →Your car insurance should cover this.
  2. Damages caused by your dog or horse. A lot of Germans own horses. → Your horse or dog insurance should cover this.
  3. Damages you cause to your property. If you drop your phone and break it, that is not covered. → You pay from your own pocket.
  4. Work-related damages, if you are full-time self-employed. → Your work or freelance liability insurance should cover this.

Which Is The Best Personal Liability Insurance In Germany?

We have chosen the top five personal liability insurance companies in Germany to compare them for you. Take a look through all our benefits and drawbacks for each one to find the liability insurance that better suits your needs.

All of the liability insurances below have the following benefits:

✓ 100% digital
✓ Easy sign-up process
✓ Modern services founded to disrupt the traditional insurance game

Here are our top picks for the best liability insurance in Germany.

1. Getsafe

Getsafe, based in Heidelberg, was founded in 2015. They originally started as an insurance broker. In 2018 they decided to sell their brokerage business and start developing their own insurances. 

Getsafe is Germany’s first company to challenge the traditional insurance business. It allows customers to purchase liability insurance online easily. 

Screenshot of Homepage for Private Liability from Getsafe
📸 Screenshot / Source: Getsafe

Starting at 2,94 euros a month for a single person, you can get liability insurance cover for up to 50 million euros with their premium cover. You can easily add your family members. With its premium cover, Getsafe pays you the purchase price of a damaged item not older than 12 months, and not only the time value.

Getsafe Benefits

✅ Up to 50 million euros coverage
✅ Option to have no deductible
✅ Website and customer service available in English
✅ Drone liability available as an add-on
✅ You are covered if you are self-employed part-time (up to 12.000 euros revenue per year)
✅ A lot of (extreme) hobbies are covered as well, e.g., skiing, surfing, sailing
✅ Easy access to what is covered
✅ You may cancel anytime

Getsafe Drawbacks

⛔️ You can only access their services through their native phone app

With our special Getsafe code, you even get a 15 euros discount. With the below link, the code is automatically applied to the Getsafe website at the end of your purchase.

2. Luko

Luko is a French insurance company that recently took over Coya (a former German insurance company) to enter the German market. Founded in 2018 and operating in France, Spain, and Germany, Luko is Europe’s largest online insurance.

Screenshot of Luko Private Liability Homepage
📸 Screenshot / Source: Luko

Their liability insurance starts from 4,99 euros a month and covers up to 30 million euros with no deductible. You can sign up online in two minutes and cancel anytime. Luko offers two add-ons: one for your partner or children and one for rented vehicles in Europe.

Luko Benefits

✅ No deductible
✅ Include family possible
✅ Rented car coverage as an add-on possible
✅ Chat available on their website
✅ Easily access their terms and conditions on what’s covered (from page 48 in English)
✅ You are covered if you are self-employed (up to 12.000 euros revenue per year)
✅ You may cancel anytime

With our special Luko code ‘LUKO15OFF’, you even get a 15 euros discount.

3. Feather

Feather Insurance was founded in 2018 and is based in Berlin. They are an insurance broker, who focuses exclusively on expats in Germany. Therefore their entire process is in simple and easy English and highly efficient. Their goal is to make insurance in Germany easy for internationals. 

Screenshot of Homepage for Private Liability from Feather
📸 Screenshot / Source: Feather Insurance

Starting at 4,94 euros a month for a single person, you can get liability coverage for up to 50 million euros. You can easily add a partner or kids to your policy. Their sign-up process is easy. Customers are in love with their great customer service.

Feather Benefits

✅ English chat available on their website (although response times are a bit slow)
✅ No deductible
✅ Website and customer service available in English
✅ Drone coverage included (electrically powered, up to 5kg, non-commercial purposes)
✅ Easy access to what is covered
✅ You may cancel anytime

4. Adam Riese

Adam Riese, based in Stuttgart, was founded in 2017. The first insurance they launched was personal liability insurance. 

Adam Riese is part of the Wüstenrot & Württembergische AG group, which is a big and established financial service provider in Germany. Adam Riese was founded as the Group’s strategy to digitize their products.

They have three different plans, and their most affordable one starts at 2,05 euros a month, and it covers up to 7,5 million euros.

Screenshot of Homepage for Private Liability from Adam Riese
📸 Screenshot / Source: Adam Riese translated by Google

Adam Riese Benefits

✅ Easy to find their terms and conditions for their plans
✅ Cancel anytime
✅ Their XXL plan covers drone usage
✅ Chat on their website
✅ Option to have no deductible
✅ Supports social causes

Adam Riese Drawbacks

⛔️ Website and contract are just available in German

Conclusion

After reviewing the five liability insurance providers above, Getsafe’s liability insurance offer has the most amount of perks. It was tough to find any drawbacks to their offer starting at 2,94 euros a month.

They have great customer service support, are transparent, you have no deductible, and a coverage of up to 50 million euros. Plus, their website and customer service are available in English and you can cancel anytime.

📣 This article contains affiliate links. When you click on the links of products we mention in this article and purchase it we will receive a small commission. It will not make any difference to you in price, however, it allows us to keep Simple Germany alive and striving.

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About the Author
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Jen is originally from Guatemala and moved to Germany in 2012 to start a new job without any knowledge of German or life in Germany. Jen’s mission is to help fellow expats beat bureaucracy and to have a smooth time while they settle into their new life in Germany.