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Personal Liability (Privathaftpflicht)

Privathaftpflicht (personal liability insurance) protects you from financial consequences of accidental damage you cause to others. The policy covers property damage, injuries, and legal costs with coverage amounts starting at €10 million. Cost: €40–80 per year.

85% of households in Germany have this insurance [1].

Why You Need It​

Under German civil law (§ 823 BGB), you bear unlimited personal liability for damage you cause to others — even accidentally [2].

Examples:

  • Flooded the neighbors below
  • Broke expensive equipment at someone's home
  • Your child scratched someone's car
  • Hit a cyclist

Without insurance, you pay from your own pocket — potentially hundreds of thousands of euros.

What It Covers​

  • Damage to third-party property
  • Third-party injuries (including lifetime payments!)
  • Legal costs

How Much It Costs​

€40–80 per year for coverage starting at €10 million [3].

This protects against potential damages of hundreds of thousands of euros at an insurance premium of under €7 per month.

What to Look For​

CriterionWhat to Consider
Coverage amountStarting at €10 million (typical standard) [3]
Schlüsselverlust (key loss)Coverage for lost keys to rental property or workplace
Mietsachschäden (rental damage)Damage to rented apartment
Deliktunfähige Kinder (children under 7)Children under 7 are not liable by law [4] — important that the policy covers their actions
Auslandsaufenthalt (stays abroad)Coverage abroad, typically 1-5 years

What It Does NOT Cover​

  • Damage to your own property
  • Intentional actions
  • Car damage (that's Kfz-Haftpflicht — mandatory car insurance)
  • Professional activities (requires separate Berufshaftpflicht)

Where to Get It​

  • Check24, Verivox — comparison
  • Direct: HUK24, Allianz, DEVK, Haftpflichtkasse
Family Plans

Family plan covers all family members including children. Difference from individual plan: 10-20€/year.

FAQ​

Not legal or financial advice.

My child (5 years old) broke someone's TV. Will Haftpflicht cover it?​

It depends on the policy. Children under 7 are deliktunfähig under German law — they bear no civil liability (§ 828 BGB) [4]. This means legally neither the child nor the parents are obligated to pay if they fulfilled their supervisory duties (Aufsichtspflicht). However: (1) if the policy includes "deliktunfähige Kinder" coverage, the insurer will pay even without legal obligation — this preserves relationships with neighbors and acquaintances; (2) if the policy lacks this coverage, there will be no payout. When purchasing a family plan, check for the "deliktunfähige Kinder" clause — the cost difference is minimal (€5–10/year).

I flooded the neighbors below me. Is this Haftpflicht or Hausratversicherung?​

Privathaftpflicht. Damage caused to third-party property — including flooding neighbors — is covered by your Privathaftpflichtversicherung. Hausratversicherung covers damage to your own property (e.g., if someone floods you from above). Process: report the incident to your insurer, they contact the affected party and cover repairs, drying, replacement of damaged items. Important: if the flooding was caused by faulty plumbing (not your fault), liability may rest with the landlord or property management (Hausverwaltung).

I lost the building's master key (Generalschlüssel). How serious is this?​

Losing a key to a multi-unit building's locking system (Schließanlage) is one of the most expensive everyday risks. Replacing the entire system can cost €5,000–30,000 depending on the number of units and lock type. Without Haftpflicht with Schlüsselverlust coverage, you pay this yourself. Standard policies include €20,000–50,000 for key loss — check the amount in your contract. If lost: notify the property management and your insurer immediately. Tenants should also verify whether Schlüsselverlust für berufliche Schlüssel (work keys) is included — losing an office key can be even more expensive.

I'm a student with no income. Do I still need this insurance?​

Students under 25 living with parents or in their first degree are often covered by their parents' family plan (Familientarif) — check with the parents' insurer. If parental coverage doesn't apply (parents abroad, no policy, over 25): a student policy costs €30–50 per year. The risk without insurance is real: flooding a neighbor or damaging someone's laptop can lead to claims of thousands of euros. Insurance costs less than €0.15 per day for coverage up to €10 million.

I work from home on my employer's laptop. Does Haftpflicht cover damage to work equipment?​

No. Privathaftpflicht does not cover damage to employer property — this falls under employment law. Under German employment law: for slight negligence (leichte Fahrlässigkeit) the employee bears no liability; for moderate negligence — partial liability; for gross negligence (grobe Fahrlässigkeit) — full liability. For freelancers the situation differs: damage to client equipment is covered by Berufshaftpflichtversicherung (professional liability), not Privathaftpflicht.

Sources​

  1. Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV) — German Insurance Market Statistics, 2024. https://www.gdv.de/
  2. Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) § 823 — Schadensersatzpflicht. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__823.html
  3. Stiftung Warentest — Privathaftpflicht: Günstige Tarife im Test, 2024. https://www.test.de/Haftpflichtversicherung-im-Test-4915900-0/
  4. Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) § 828 — Minderjährige. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__828.html