Personal liability insurance: the first insurance every expat should buy
Haftpflichtversicherung covers you when you break things or injure someone: why 85% of Germans have it, what it covers, English providers from ~€5/month.
Last updated: July 13, 2026
Do you need liability insurance in Germany?
Private Haftpflichtversicherung is not legally mandatory but functionally essential: German law makes you liable with your entire personal wealth, unlimited, for damage you cause. Around 85% of Germans carry it, landlords increasingly expect it, and solid English-language cover costs €4-8 per month with coverage of €10-50 million.
What this guide covers
Why Germans treat this as non-negotiable
BGB §823: cause damage, pay for it - no cap. Cycle into a Porsche, flood the flat below via your washing machine, a visiting child breaks a neighbor's TV: real cases, five-to-seven-figure exposures. For the price of two coffees monthly the risk transfers entirely.
What it covers (and doesn't)
Covered: damage to third parties and their property in private life - at home, on the street, abroad on trips (worldwide cover typical), rented-apartment damage (Mietsachschäden - the landlord-relevant part), key loss (often huge in buildings with central locking systems), and defense against unjustified claims (passive Rechtsschutz). NOT covered: your own stuff (that's Hausrat - contents guide), car (separate mandatory insurance), intentional damage, professional activity (freelancers: see BAV/AVB in the freelancer guide), dogs and horses (separate Tierhalterhaftpflicht - mandatory for dogs in several states! - pets guide).
Choosing in 5 minutes
Minimums that matter: €10M+ coverage (€50M costs cents more), Mietsachschäden included, Forderungsausfall (covers you when an UNinsured person damages YOU and can't pay), family tariff covers partner + kids, worldwide validity. English-first providers (Feather, Getsafe) tick all of these with instant signup and monthly cancellation - the German classics are no cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really not mandatory?
Not by law (except dog owners in some states) - by social contract, yes. Landlords, kindergartens and Vereine assume you have it.
Couple: one policy or two?
One partner/family tariff covers the household - just name the partner.
Does it cover my bike damaging a car?
Classic yes-case. E-scooters/e-bikes over 25 km/h need vehicle insurance instead.
Deductible?
Zero-deductible tariffs are standard at these prices; take €0.
From when am I covered?
Digital providers: same day.
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