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Private liability insurance
Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye – your child kicks a ball through your neighbour’s window, or you break a vase while visiting a friend. In Germany, you are liable in such cases. In other words, you need to pay for the damage. To prevent this from happening, liability insurance can be useful. Many Germans regard liability insurance as the most useful and important of the optional types of insurance. In the event of a claim, private liability insurance covers the cost of damages up to a specified amount. It also covers your spouse and children. Liability insurance is available starting at less than 100 euros per year.
Aiste from Lithuania
"When I came to Germany to work as an au pair, the mother of the family advised me to take out civil liability insurance. At that time, I thought it was a sheer waste of money. Since she was always nagging me about it, I reluctantly took out civil liability insurance for 60 euros a year with a €5 million cover limit. It annoyed me every year when the insurance fee was debited from my account – until one day, an accident occurred. I was at a party at my host family’s house and I accidentally knocked over a bottle of wine. A mobile phone and a laptop were on the table and unfortunately, they got broken. But before I started worrying about how to pay for them, the mother reminded me of my civil liability insurance. In Germany the law states that if you cause damage intentionally or unintentionally, you have to pay for it. My insurance covered all the damages. My tip: I’d advise anybody, whether they’re a student or working, to take out civil liability insurance."
Information on the web
Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
German Insurance Association
