What does private liability insurance mean?
Imagine your washing machine leaks and damages the ceiling of the flat below. Or you injure someone in a bike accident Unfortunate things happen whether we like it or not. In Germany, you are liable for the damages you cause to others. These unlucky events con therefore be quite costly and it doesn't matter if they "only" happened by accident. On top, you are liable with your private assets until the damage has been compensated.
What does it cover?
Private liability insurance will cover you if you harm others. This can be property damage, related to their health (persona injury) or financial damage, resulting from property damage or personal injury.
If someone makes a claim for damages against you, your insurance company will determine whether it is justified. If li's not, your carrier will defend you against the claiming party. If the claim is justified, your insurance will pay the costs. However, the liability insurance only pays out the time value, which means that they cover what the item was worth at the time of damage considering age, wear & tear etc. The reason for this is that compensation should replace the damaged good as it is - no better and no worse.
What is the coverage sum?
The coverage sum is the maximum amount of money that an insurance company is obligated to cover.
Useful benefits to look out for:
Most private liability insurances have a basic, medium and premium plan form. We recommend premium plans with a coverage sum of 50 or 70 million EUR as they are available for only a few euros extra, but offer much better coverage.
More benefits to look out for:
Credit default: If someone else has caused you damages, but is not insured and can't pay for the damages, you'd be left with the costs. Credit default protects you from this situation
Condition update: New benefits that will be included in future plans by the insurance company, will also be included into your existing plan.
Loss of apartment/work keys: Extends your coverage when losing keys to your rental apartment or your work keys.
Loss of keys from communal owners: Extends your coverage when losing keys of communal owner, e.g. the key to the basement of your apartment complex.
"Mallorca Deckung": Includes damages conser by you using other people's vehicles within
Stays abroad within & outside of Europe: Extends your coverage when outside of Germany. Most insurances cover stays abroad by default.
Rented things damages: Extends your coverage to damaged rented things.
Property damage (to rented property & objects): Extends your coverage to rented property and rented objects.
Loss of rented/borrowed objects: Extends your coverage in case of loss of rented/borrowed objects.
Damages to movables of other people: Includes damages to other people’s rented, leased or borrowed movable property.
Damages when doing favours (“Gefälligkeitshandlung“): Extends your coverage when doing favours for other people.
Who is insured?
Most insurance companies offer different policies for single people, couples and families. Family plans cover for you and your (marriage-like) partner/wife/husband as well as children and other people living in your household (e.g. au pair). However, you need to be aware that in a shared flat things look different and every roommate needs to take out insurance for themselves.
What about my pets?
Most insurances will also cover damages caused by smaller pets such as cats, hamster etc. because pet owners have to pay for the damages of their pets. But when it comes to dogs and horses, you will need a special “Tierhalterhaftpflichtversicherung”, which is mandatory in some parts of Germany (Berlin included).
Runtime – 12 Months:
Your contract will be automatically renewed for another year, if not cancelled 3 months prior to renewal date. However, should you leave Germany for good, all you need is to show your official "Abmeldung" in order to end your contract then and there.
What isn’t covered? The most important exceptions:
