In Germany, it is essential to have personal liability insurance as you are completely liable for any damage you cause to others and their property. People in Germany will go to any length to get the compensation for the damages they have suffered.
If you are already an expat in Germany or planning to relocate to Germany any sooner, you need to understand why getting personal liability insurance as soon as you arrive is so important.
What Is Personal Liability Insurance In Germany?
The purpose of personal liability insurance is to provide protection for you and your family in the event that a third party suffers injury or property damage due to an action committed by you or your close family members. Generally, personal liability refers to legal costs and damages that you are required to pay in compensation.
Personal liability insurance is optional in Germany. However, we recommend you seriously consider purchasing a good personal liability insurance plan to protect against any unforeseen financial risk.
Is personal liability insurance necessary in Germany?
In Germany, it is essential to have personal liability insurance as you are completely liable for any damage you cause to others and their property. People in Germany will go to any length to get the compensation for the damages they have suffered.
Even if you think you are in a good position to pay for any damages you may cause to somebody, sometimes things can go far beyond your control. For instance, you may be able to cover the cost of a television you broke in your friend's apartment. However, if your actions caused someone to seek medical care or any serious issues, the compensation amount could go up to millions.
Personal liability insurance in Germany: a real-life example
When I first moved to Germany, I lived in a friend's apartment. He had an old washing machine which was a bargain deal he bought from somewhere, and I had to use it one day. After I had put the clothes in it, I turned it on and left the room for some other tasks.
After an hour, the washing was finished and I returned to the bathroom to pick up the clothes. I was shocked to see water spilled over the floor of the bathroom from the washing machine due to a damage in the waste water hose. In a few minutes, I had cleaned up the water and turned on the room heater to warm the floor. From my perspective, the situation appeared to be under control. My doorbell rang the next morning, and the person who lived downstairs invited me to his apartment to show me his bathroom roof. As the roof absorbed the water from my bathroom floor, I was shocked to see that the roof had been damaged.
After that, I had to pay 450€ in compensation because I did not have personal liability insurance.
Which causes are covered by personal liability insurance?
The general coverage of personal liability insurance in Germany includes but not limited to,
Damage to rented apartments
Lost keys
Damage caused by small pets
Unintentional damage to others and properties of others
However, the liability insurances generally do not cover, but not limited to,
Broken glass
Damage to your own property
Fines and penalties
Locksmith
Are There Any Good Personal Liability Insurances In Germany?
We’ve compared a handful of plans from different insurance providers. Finally, we think the Personal liability insurance provided by Feather insurance covers almost every cause and is rated good in many platforms. However, it is recommended that you consider the benefits and drawbacks of different liability insurance providers before choosing one.
The Berlin-based Feather Insurance Company was founded in 2018. Their focus is exclusively on expats in Germany, and they are an insurance aggregator. They are therefore able to conduct their entire process in English and with great efficiency.
You can get liability coverage for up to 50 million euros for as little as 4,94€ a month for a single person and 8,94€ for your spouse and children.
Why should you choose Feather Insurance?
English speaking customer service
Cancellation is possible at any time
Coverage is easily accessible
Worldwide coverage
No waiting period to file your first claim
What Feather does not cover
Broken window glasses
Damage to your own belongings, to belongings in a rental property, or to your own home is not covered.
Any fines and penalties
Payment to locksmith to break into your apartment
Finally, after reviewing several liability insurance providers, Feather liability insurance offers the most things covered under a comparable cost.
They have great English speaking customer service support, transparent and fast claiming procedures, and cover up to 50 million euros.
