Key takeaways

• Dog liability insurance can save you much money or from financial ruin.
• In some German federal states, dog liability insurance is required by law. In other states, the dog’s breed decides whether it is mandatory.
• We recommend taking dog liability insurance irrespective of the law in the federal state and dog breed. 
• In Germany, you can get good dog liability insurance for under 60 € per annum.
• Never compromise on insurance coverage to save a few bucks.

This is how you do it

• After extensive research, we found Getsafe*, Bavaria Direkt, Degenia, Neodigital, and Gothaer* among the best liability insurance companies for dogs not on the dangerous dogs’ list.
• Ostlangerversicherung, Die Haftpflichtkasse, and Schwarzwälderversicherung offer the best and cheapest dog liability insurance plans for dangerous dogs like Bullmastiffs and Pitbull terriers.
• Dog liability insurance premiums and services vary greatly based on a dog’s breed. Hence, comparing insurance plans on comparison portals like Verivox* and Tarifcheck* is beneficial.
• Insurance companies offer better tariffs at a lower cost to attract new customers. Hence, we recommend comparing pet liability insurance policies every year. 

Table of Contents

Moving to a new country is exciting. And if you have your best friend with you, it gets even more exhilarating. 

However, the rules and regulations for dog owners differ from country to country. Hence, you must be aware of the rules for owning a pet in Germany.

One of the most important regulations is dog liability insurance. In this guide, you will learn everything about dog liability insurance in Germany.

What is dog liability insurance in Germany?

Dog liability insurance covers the costs of damages caused to third parties by your dog. Moreover, it’s mandatory in some German federal states and for specific dog breeds.

NOTE: Private liability insurance covers the damages you and your small pets, like birds, cause. It doesn’t cover the damages caused by your dog.

Why dog liability insurance is essential in Germany?

You cannot plan for accidents. But you can be prepared for them.

Suppose your dog scratches your friend’s floor or bites the doctor during an examination. As a dog owner in Germany, you are responsible for the damages caused by your pet (§ 833 BGB ).

Moreover, you must pay for the damage. The damage cost may be a few hundred to several thousand euros.

So, having dog liability insurance to cover such costs can save you money and unnecessary headaches.

Germany has nine million dogs and 3 million dog owners have dog liability insurance. Every year, policyholders claim over 80,000 damages.

The average cost of these damages is 1000 €. However, around 100 accidents occur yearly that cost 50,000 € or more. [1]

Best dog liability insurance in Germany

Best dog liability insurance for dogs not listed as dangerous dogs

We found that Getsafe*, Bavaria Direkt, Degenia, Neodigital, and Gothaer* offer the best dog liability insurance plans at competitive prices for dogs like Pomeranians and Dalmation.

You can find tariffs from Degenia on Verivox* and Neodigital on Tarifcheck*. You can also conclude the contracts directly on their website.

Expats who don’t speak German

Getsafe* offers competitive dog liability insurance at a good price-performance ratio. The tariffs from Feather and Lassie were usually more expensive for similar coverage.

Best dog liability insurance for dogs on the dangerous dogs list

We found that Ostlangerversicherung, Die Haftpflichtkasse, and Schwarzwälderversicherung offer the best dog liability insurance plans at competitive prices for dangerous dogs like Bullmastiffs and Pitbull terriers.

You can conclude the Ostlanger Versicherung contract on Verivox* and Die Haftpflichtkasse on Tarifcheck*. You can also get the insurance policy directly from their website.

Expats who don’t speak German

Feather doesn’t insure dangerous dogs. The insurance premium from Getsafe and Lassie is between 120 € and 230 € per annum for dangerous dogs.

We know managing insurance policy in German is tedious. But you should check if paying 50€ or more yearly for English support is worth it.

Best dog liability insurance for mixed dog breeds

Depending on whether the dog is a breed of dangerous dog or not, the recommendation varies.

If your dog is not a mixed breed from dangerous dogs, consider our recommendation for non-dangerous dogs. Otherwise, the recommendations from dangerous dogs.

The cost and services of dog liability insurance vary greatly based on the dog’s breed. Thus, comparing liability insurance offers for your dog on comparison portals like Tarifcheck and Verivox is beneficial.

How did we research the best dog liability insurance in Germany?

Here is how we researched the best dog liability insurance in Germany.

• The dog liability insurance tariff must meet the minimum criteria.
  • at least 10 million coverage
  • 500,000 € rental property damage
  • Stays abroad – within the EU and worldwide coverage
  • Coverage for non-commercial dog sitters, such as your neighbors or friends
  • Complete coverage even when walking your dog without a leash
  • Unwanted mating
  • Insurance cover for shows, tournaments, and dog races
• You can get the insurance policy online
• Researched the recommendations made by Finaztip.de, Stiftung Warentest, and Stern.de.
• Dog breeds are classified into four categories: small, medium to big, mixed breeds, and dangerous dogs. We compared the dog liability plans for each category on Verivox, Check24, and Finanzen.de.
• Checked dog liability insurance plans from English insurance providers, i.e., Feather, Getsafe, and Lassie.
• We picked the ones that meet our minimum requirements and offer the best price-performance ratio. 

How much does dog liability insurance cost?

Dog liability insurance in Germany is cheap. You can find a good pet liability insurance policy for under 60 € per annum.

While filling out the insurance application form, mention the dog breed accurately. If you have a mixed breed dog, mention all the dog breeds.

Dog breed is an important factor for insurance companies to consider when determining premiums. However, many insurers don’t offer dog liability insurance for dogs considered dangerous (Listenhunde in German).

Tips to save on the best dog liability insurance in Germany

• Choose a deductible: Like any other insurance policy in Germany, you can reduce your insurance premium by 10 to 20% by opting for a small deductible.
• Get an insurance policy from the same provider: You can get up to 10% discounts on an insurance policy from the same provider. The policy could be for multiple dogs or a private liability insurance plan.
• Change insurance provider to save money: Insurance companies offer better tariffs at a cheaper cost to attract new customers. Hence, it’s worth scouting the market for new insurance plans every year.

You must never compromise on insurance coverage to save a couple of euros. Below, you’ll learn what damages your dog liability insurance should cover.

What damages does good dog liability insurance cover?

A good dog liability insurance will cover the following costs.

• At least 10 million euros coverage for personal injury, property damage, and financial loss. 
• At least 500,000 € coverage for rental damage. This covers the damages your dog caused to the rental property, including hotels and holiday apartments. However, the insurance doesn’t cover the damages caused by your dog over a longer period. For example, a dog scratches the floor a bit every time it runs.
• Travel abroad: If you like to travel and take your dog with you, ensure the insurance policy covers stays outside Germany. Usually, the dog liability insurance tariffs are valid within the EU. Outside the EU, the insurance cover is limited to 5 years.
• Damage caused by your male dog impregnating a pedigree female dog. The breeder of the female dog may suffer economic damage, such as veterinary costs, or the dog won’t have purebred puppies, etc.
• Not on a leash or muzzle: The best dog liability insurance provides coverage if your pet causes damage when not on a leash or muzzle.
• Protection for non-commercial dog guardians: Suppose another person, such as a neighbor or friend, looks after your dog and damage occurs. The liability insurance covers the damage costs. Commercial dog sitter has their liability insurance. 
• Bad debt coverage: Suppose you suffered damages from someone else’s dog, and they cannot pay. In this case, your dog liability insurance covers the cost.
• Insurance cover for your dog’s puppies till they are 12 months old.
• Activities you do with your dog: The insurance covers the damages caused when using your dog as a therapy dog, participating in a dog competition, or dog sledding.

NOTE: Dog liability insurance companies sometimes cancel your insurance policy after settling the claim. So, you should ask before filing the claim and request to cancel on your own. It’s because getting another dog liability insurance gets tough if the insurer cancels your policy.

Examples of damages covered by good dog liability insurance in Germany

• Your dog bites someone, and the person cannot work for a while. In this case, the liability insurance covers the financial loss the person has suffered due to the inability to work.
• Your dog suddenly bites a child playing on the ground. In this case, you must pay the compensation for pain, suffering, and medical treatment. Additionally, you must pay for the child’s psychological treatment and the loss of parents’ earnings due to taking care of their child. You can expect to pay around 30,000 € in damages.
• You opened the house door, and suddenly, your dog rushed out of the house. As a result, the dog knocks down a cyclist. The cyclist suffered permanent damage to the right hand and cannot play as a professional tennis player. In this case, you pay for replacing the broken bicycle, compensation for pain, treatment costs, and partial disability pension for the cyclist. You must also take your dog for professional retraining. The expected damage cost will be in the millions.

In which German states is dog liability insurance mandatory?

Every federal state in Germany has its regulations regarding dog ownership. Dog liability insurance is mandatory for all dog owners in the following German states.

• Berlin
• Hamburg
• Niedersachsen
• Sachsen-Anhalt
• Schleswig-Holstein
• Thüringen

You must get dog liability insurance for specific dog breeds in the federal states mentioned below. 

• Baden-Württemberg
• Bayern
• Brandenburg
• Bremen
• Hessen
• Nordrhein-Westfalen
• Rheinland-Pfalz
• Saarland
• Sachsen

There is no legal obligation to get dog liability insurance in the following federal states.

• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

You must have dog liability insurance if your dog is on the dangerous dog list (Listenhunde in German). However, we recommend getting dog liability insurance irrespective of the legal obligations and dog breed.

Which dogs are listed as dangerous dogs (Listenhunde)?

Each federal state has its list of dangerous dogs. However, the following dog breeds are often on the list of dangerous or fighting dogs.

• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Bordeaux Mastiff
• Bullmastiff
• Bull Terrier
• Cane Corso
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Mastin Espanol
• Pit bull terrier
• Staffordshire bull terrier
• Tosa Inu

A mixed breed created through crossing with at least one of these breeds is also considered a fighting dog.

Dog liability insurance companies usually charge higher insurance premiums for dog breeds on the dangerous dogs list.

NOTE: If you use your dog for hunting, you must get special hunting liability insurance. Dog liability insurance will not cover this.

References:

• https://www.tierschutzbund.de/tiere-themen/haustiere/hunde/listenhunde
• https://www.allianz.de/recht-und-eigentum/hundehaftpflichtversicherung/listenhunde/
• https://www.finanztip.de/haftpflichtversicherung/hundehaftpflicht/
• https://www.check24.de/hundehaftpflicht/
• https://www.allianz.de/recht-und-eigentum/hundehaftpflichtversicherung/
• https://www.stern.de/wirtschaft/versicherung/top-hundehaftpflichtversicherungen–diese-tarife-bieten-den-besten-service-33180364.html