I know quite a few foreigners who don’t even know that this type of insurance exists, but it can really save your ass in case you cause an accident or sth. A good insurance is available for as little as 5,50 EUR per month, and it can make the difference between going broke or not. I’m not working for any insurance company lmao, I just know of people who got into real trouble because of not being insured. Thanks, that was that.
EDIT: to everybody who is asking for which company offers good private liability insurances, there are many. You can check out the neutral, independent consumer information foundation [Stiftung Warentest](https://www.test.de/Vergleich-Haftpflichtversicherung-4775777-0/) to find an insurance that suits your needs.
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You can find it also from 3€/month and yes its a must.
Well, I have one for years and never used it.
On the other hand – one of my best friends is so clumsy and breaks other people’s stuff by accident all the time – so they have already kicked him out of three(?) contracts and he is now with the (at least) fourth provider…so yea, I think it depends.
I got advise that VHV is good. but price is like 50ish per year. Due they said do go with “digital” companies like getsafe and etc. any recomms on that?
Little story to give you an incentive.
A friend of mine wanted to cross the road. Didn’t see a bicycle going on the bike lane. Guy on the bike avoided my friend and felt down. The guy broke his leg, went to the hospital and was declared unable to work for 6 months.
Because my friend was on the bicycle lane, she was responsible for the accident. So the guy’s insurance told my friend that she had to cover for the cyclist 6 months of
– his salary
– his retirement fund
– his social security
– his hospital stay
– and I am sure I forgot something
Too bad the injured cyclist was manager in a big company, so that was equivalent to ruffly 6 times 10000€.
So my friend, student at the time, started her adult life with 60.000€ debt.
True story. Her name is Judith. Judith and her friends now all have a Haftpflichtversicherung.
In my opinion, the fact that Haftpflichtversicherung isn’t mandatory is one of the biggest scam in Germany.
Haftpflichtversicherung, Hausratsversicherung (maybe incl. bicycle) MVP.
Idk man i think the majority of germans even dont have one. I only met one guy who proclaimed its a must have and he was an insurance agent himself
okay, i have a dumb question.
i have `privathaftpflicht`, is it the same as haftpflichtverischerung?
like ik it seems the same but i am being a bit paranoid after reading this thread.
Just updated mine, thanks for the reminder.
Added some extra stuff just in case lol!
I am currently insured by AOK. Is this the same type of insurance mentioned in this post ?
Another tip: Do NOT use your Haftpflichtversicherung too often or for things that are cheap.
Every insurance claim is an opportunity for both parties to cancel the contract (after fulfilling the claim). If you start a new Haftpflichtversicherung they often ask how many insurance claims you had in the last 5 years and they might easily reject you if there are too many.
This happened to a friend of mine with small kids. Several things belonging to someone else the kids broke, they claimed in their insurance. On the third claim the insurance threw them out and they couldn’t get a new one even with other providers. Now they are stuck for some time without any insurance which really sucks. And the things they claimed were like 100 € here 200 € there.
So if there is something you could afford to replace on your own and you might already have some claims in the (recent) past, think twice about claiming it. You will want the insurance for cases where you will need someone to pay several thousands, or tens of thousands of euros.
EDIT: Do not think „Well I already paid 120€ in the past 2 years for the insurance, so they should cover something worth 100€“. Think about those claims of several thousand euros and then how many insured people will need to have no claims at all to pay for this expensive claim.
I broke my flat mates expensive sound box by accident. Didn’t pay a cent extra and he got a new sound system. This is totally worth it.
I am an International student coming to germany next month, I remember reading that we don’t have a liability insurance, is this true?
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I used to have a Girlfriend who has hosted a lot of parties.
After there was an accident at one party, where someone was drunkenly falling against/through a glass door, destroying it and injuring people and other similar events, every party guest was welcomed at the door when they arrive with the question:
Bist du Haftpflichtversichert? (Do you have a personal liability insurance?)
No insurance – no entry!
A friend of mine burned down half the forest when he was around 12. He and his friends build an oven in a treehouse…
100,000€ damage, insurance covered it.
That’s the story I tell anyone who asks me about liability insurance
I gambled on not needing one for about 15 years. Got one this year that covers damages to the workplace because one of my customers wanted me to have that.
“Haftpflichtversicherung” is the general term.
A “Privathaftpflichtversicherung” is one of many different types of “Haftpflichtversicherung”
A “Privathaftpflichtversicherung” is for injuries, property damage, rented flats and financial damages you cause accidentally.
There are other types of “Haftpflichtversicherung” for example “Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung” (covers damages caused by your car / its mandatory to have one to operate a car)
Some Bundesländer also have a “Hunde-Haftpflichtversicherung” to cover damages and insuries caused by your dog.
[Source (in German)](https://andsafe.de/magazin/versicherungstipps/privathaftpflicht-haftpflicht-unterschied/)
I was always told haftpflicht > Hausrat > Rechtsschutz. You want to get all 3 by some point in your life. Some also say Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung is also must for single earner family
As a foreigner I do see it as important and good to have. But also find it funny that so many of the stories of examples to get it are …..”image you broke your friends laptop and they tried to sue you”……why are all your friends so mean 😂
No discussion there “Haftpflichtversicherung” is an absolute MUST HAVE.
I just got the aok i still don’t use it so no idea if it’s good
Okay!
Yeah good advice, here’s another one: don’t fall for private health insurance. Always get government. It’s hard to get out of a private one.
And the better ones insure your bicycle rides as well.
I’m not a foreigner and I don’t have one. Atleast I don’t think I have one. Maybe through work idk
Thank you I’ll mention this to my German wife. I’m an American and currently 6 months in Germany and just got my 3year visa approved and my work visa and start language classes Monday, and trying to learn all I can about integrating here to the best of my ability. It’s been exciting so far and I love it here 😄
In English this is called Liability insurance, feather has it at a good price with great coverage. Dont pass up, its 5 bucks a month and could save you tens of thousands.
Bike accident where someones car gets damaged? Covered. Trip and break someones window? Covered. The neighbors kid drops your laptop? covered.
As a tourist or as an immigrant?
Haha I just signed a contract for halfplicht literally minutes ago before reading this post. And I have been here 6.5 years without it. Now I realised how dumb I was not getting it.