Property Protection Insurance Germany 2026
Living in Germany means dealing with a web of insurance options. Some you need by law. Others you probably want anyway, because one bad day without coverage can cost you everything you own.
Prices verified via Stiftung Warentest and Finanztip (2025/2026 data)
This page covers the insurance types that protect you, your stuff, and the people around you: personal liability, household contents, building insurance, accident coverage, and pet owner liability. If you are looking for health insurance or car insurance, those have their own comparison pages.
What counts as property and protection insurance?
Germans call this category "Sachversicherung." It groups together insurance that covers your belongings, your home, and your personal liability for damages to other people. None of these are legally mandatory for individuals (dog liability is mandatory in some states), but most German consumer organizations recommend at least liability and household insurance for everyone.
| Insurance type | German name | Typical cost | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal liability | Privathaftpflichtversicherung | From ~€2/month | Everyone in Germany |
| Household contents | Hausratversicherung | From ~€3/month | Renters and homeowners |
| Residential building | Wohngebaeudeversicherung | From ~€89/year | Property owners |
| Accident | Unfallversicherung | From ~€39/year | Anyone without employer BG coverage |
| Pet owner liability | Tierhalterhaftpflicht | From ~€50/year | Dog owners (mandatory in some states) |
Source: Stiftung Warentest, Finanztip, Dr. Klein (2025/2026 data)
Personal liability insurance
German: Privathaftpflichtversicherung
From ~€2/month
You accidentally damage someone else's property or injure a person, and without this insurance you pay out of pocket. German law allows claims with no upper limit. Stiftung Warentest tested 426 tariffs from 96 providers. Good policies start around 25 euros per year.
Household contents insurance
German: Hausratversicherung
From ~€3/month
Covers everything inside your apartment: furniture, electronics, clothing, bicycles. If there is a break-in, fire, or water damage from a burst pipe, this policy pays for replacement. Price differences are huge, up to sixfold for similar coverage.
Residential building insurance
German: Wohngebaeudeversicherung
From ~€89/year
Covers the structure of your property against fire, storm, hail, and water damage. Does not cover furniture inside, only walls, roof, pipes, and fixed installations. Prices depend on building age, location, and size.
Accident insurance
German: Unfallversicherung
From ~€39/year
Germany's statutory accident insurance only covers work-related accidents. Fall off a ladder at home, slip on ice while jogging, get hurt playing sports? Not covered. Private accident insurance fills that gap with lump-sum payments for permanent disability.
Pet owner liability insurance
German: Tierhalterhaftpflicht
From ~€50/year
Mandatory for dog owners in Berlin, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia. Even where not legally required, a dog bite or damage caused by your pet can run into thousands of euros.
How to pick the right coverage
You do not need every type listed here. A reasonable starting point for most expats in Germany:
- 1Get personal liability insurance first. It costs almost nothing and the protection is enormous.
- 2Add household contents insurance if you own anything worth more than a few hundred euros.
- 3Consider accident insurance if you have an active lifestyle or work freelance without employer coverage.
- 4Building insurance matters only if you own real estate.
- 5Pet insurance depends on your state and your animal.
If you need help with other insurance types like health or car insurance, check our complete insurance guide for Germany. Looking for a loan to finance a bigger purchase? You can compare loan offers from German banks right here.