This is an overview of the common types of insurance in Germany, and why they are important.
Liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung)
In Germany, if you cause damage to other people's body or property, you must pay reparations1. For example, if you forget to remove the snow in front of your house and someone slips, they can sue you for damages.
The value of the damages can be really high. You could pay for it for the rest of your life. Even a small accident can bankrupt you. If someone sues you for damages, liability insurance will cover the legal costs and the reparations. It only costs around 5€ per month, so it's worth it. 83% of Germans have liability insurance1.
Use Tarifcheck to compare liability insurance options. If you don't speak German, GetSafe, Feather, Luko and Lemonade offer liability insurance, and they speak English.
How to choose liability insurance ➞
You are also responsible for the damage caused by your pets. In Berlin and a few other states, you must have liability insurance for your dog (Hundehaftpflichtversicherung).
Dog ownership ➞ Dog liability insurance
Professional liability insurance
Private liability insurance does not cover your work. If you are a freelancer, you should also get liability insurance that covers the work you do for clients. For example, buildings, websites, medical operations etc. If you make a professional mistake, professional liability insurance will protect you. For some professions, this insurance is even mandatory. If you are an employee, you do not need professional liability insurance.
Dog liability insurance
Dog liability insurance (Hundehaftpflichtversicherung) pays for the damages caused by your dog. For example, if your dog bites someone, or destroys another person's things, your insurance will pay for the damages. It's sometimes called pet liability insurance (Tierhaftpflichtversicherung) or pet owner liability insurance (Tierhalterhaftpflichtversicherung).
Dog liability insurance is mandatory in Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Thuringia. Some states only require dog liability insurance for dangerous breeds.
Hundehaftpflichtversicherung is very cheap. It costs less than 5€ per month. Use Tarifcheck to compare prices. If you don't speak German, GetSafe and Luko offer dog liability insurance, and they speak English. They both cover dangerous breeds1, 2. You can sometimes combine private liability insurance and dog liability insurance, and save some money.
Home contents insurance (Hausratversicherung)
Hausratversicherung insures the contents of your house, up to a certain value. This includes your furniture and all the other movable things in your house. It can also cover things like computers and bicycles. Some home contents insurances will even pay for the locksmith if you lose your keys. Feather and Luko's household insurance cover locksmiths.
If you don't own expensive furniture, it's cheaper to insure items individually. For example, you can get bicycle insurance (Fahrradversicherung) instead of a household insurance that covers bicycles. If you don't speak German, Feather and GetSafe offers bicycle insurance, and they speak English. Lemonade's liability + household insurance can also cover your bicycle.
Household insurance is not very expensive — less than 5€ per month. 76% of Germans have it1. Use Tarifcheck to compare home contents insurance options. If you don't speak German, Feather, GetSafe, Luko and Lemonade offer household insurance, and they speak English.
Health insurance (Krankenversicherung)
Health insurance is mandatory in Germany. If you stay in Germany for more than 3 months, you must get German health insurance. There are two options in Germany: public health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung or GKV) and private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung or PKV). This guide explains how German health insurance works.
The best way to find the right health insurance is to use a health insurance broker. Their services are free; they get paid by the insurance company when you sign a contract.
How to choose German health insurance ➞
Pet health insurance (Tierkrankenversicherung)
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 castration1. 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.
Use Tarifcheck to compare pet health insurance prices. If you don't speak German, Luko offers pet health insurance, and they speak English.
Car insurance (Kfz-Versicherung)
If you drive a vehicle in Germany, it must be insured. There are two types of car insurance: 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 insurance prices. If you don't speak German, GetSafe offers car insurance in English.
Disability insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung)
This translates to "professional disability insurance". If you have an accident and can't do your job anymore, this insurance will help you. For example, if you are a surgeon and you lose a finger, this insurance can be useful. It's also useful for office workers who can suffer from burnout.
This insurance makes sense if you have people who depend on you, or a mortgage to pay. If you can't work, you can still take care of your family. Around 26% of Germans have disability insurance1.
Use Tarifcheck to compare disability insurance options. If you don't speak German, GetSafe offers disability insurance in English.
Life insurance (Lebensversicherung)
Life insurance 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.
Legal insurance (Rechtsschutzversicherung)
Legal insurance 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 around 15€ per month. Professional legal insurance is more expensive. The price depends on the type of business.
Around 46% of Germans have legal insurance1. It's not as important as liability insurance, but it's good to have.
Use Tarifcheck to compare legal insurance options. If you don't speak German, Feather and GetSafe offer legal insurance, and they speak English.