In Germany, if you accidentally break something belonging to someone else or injure a person, you are personally and fully liable under civil law. There is no cap. You pay from your own savings, income, or future earnings until the debt is settled. A private Haftpflichtversicherung (personal liability insurance) covers these claims for around €40 to €80 per year. Most Germans consider it the most important insurance after health insurance.
What It Covers
- Accidental damage to other people’s property (break a borrowed laptop, crack a landlord’s window, spill wine on a friend’s sofa)
- Injury to third parties caused by your negligence (cycling accident where you hit a pedestrian)
- Damage caused by children in your custody
- In most policies: damage caused by pets (dogs, cats) — sometimes requires a specific animal clause
Coverage amounts range from €5 million to €50 million depending on the policy. For most scenarios, €10 million coverage is standard and more than sufficient.
What It Doesn’t Cover
- Intentional damage
- Your own property (that’s what household contents insurance, Hausratversicherung, is for)
- Damage in the context of professional activities (separate business liability needed)
- Car accidents (covered by mandatory Kfz-Haftpflicht)
Practical Examples for Expats
You’re cycling through Munich and collide with a pedestrian, who breaks a wrist. Medical costs, lost wages during recovery, and compensation for pain and suffering can reach €30,000 to €80,000. Your Haftpflicht pays this.
You borrow a friend’s camera to photograph a city walk. You drop it. Without Haftpflicht, you pay the replacement cost out of pocket. With it, the insurer covers it (check your policy for “borrowed items” — some policies exclude borrowed goods above a certain value).
Cost and Where to Buy
Expect to pay €40 to €80 per year for solid coverage. Compare on Check24.de (search “Haftpflichtversicherung Vergleich”) — filter by annual premium and coverage amount. Well-regarded providers: Huk-Coburg, ARAG, Allianz, AXA, and Getsafe (English-friendly, digital-only). Getsafe has an English app and is popular among expats in Germany.
Some providers extend a policy to a co-habiting partner for free; others charge for it. If you have children or pets, confirm the policy covers them.
For Non-EU Expats on a Budget
At €3 to €6 per month, Haftpflicht is the cheapest meaningful insurance available in Germany. The risk-to-cost ratio makes it worthwhile even during a student semester on minimum budget. A single accident without coverage can wipe out years of savings.
