Administrative services A-Z

Motor vehicle liability insurance

For a vehicle with regular location in Germany, the owner must take out motor vehicle liability insurance in accordance with the Compulsory Insurance Act.

If a vehicle is to be used in Germany that does not have a regular location here, the following is required:

• the conclusion of a so-called border insurance, i.e. a motor vehicle liability insurance in accordance with the Act on Liability Insurance for Foreign Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Trailers , or
• when entering the EU via the EU's external borders, taking out border insurance from another Member State , or
• foreign motor vehicle liability insurance, if claims settlement in Germany is guaranteed via the so-called green card system .

In the case of motor vehicle liability insurance from another state of the European Union and the European Economic Area, claims settlement in Germany is usually guaranteed via the Green Card system. If you have any questions on this point, please contact your foreign insurer.

Insurance cover

Motor vehicle liability insurance covers damage caused by an insured vehicle:

• people are injured or killed,
• property is damaged or destroyed, or
• Financial losses are incurred.

The insurance protects both the policyholder and the accident victim in the event of an accident: The insurance compensates the accident victims in the event of justified claims up to the amount of the agreed sums insured. The policyholder is thereby released from his obligations to pay damages to the victim of the accident.

The following minimum insurance sums are required by law in Germany:

• EUR 7.5 million for personal injuries,
• EUR 1.22 million for damage to property, and
• EUR 50,000 for pure financial losses.

However, most contracts in Germany provide for significantly higher sums insured.

Motor vehicle liability insurance offers no protection, in particular for damage to one's own vehicle. This requires full or partial comprehensive insurance.

Claims history

The consideration of the previous claims history of an insured person is not regulated by law in Germany. If you move to Germany, present the certificate of claim from your foreign insurer – preferably in German or English.

Claim for damages against the insurer of the other party in the accident

In the event of an accident, contact the other party's motor vehicle liability insurer. If you do not know with whom the other party is insured, but you know the license plate number of the other party, then call the central call of the car insurers .

Compensation in the event of damage caused by an uninsured or unidentified vehicle, in the event of an intentional act and in the event of insolvency of the insurer

If you have been damaged by an uninsured motor vehicle, please contact the association Verkehrsopferhilfe e.V. - an institution of German motor vehicle liability insurers which carries out statutory tasks for the compensation of road traffic victims.

The Verkehrsopferhilfe e.V. also compensates traffic victims in the event of accidents in Germany caused by unidentified or uninsured motor vehicles or in which the car is intentionally and unlawfully used as a "murder weapon" or the motor vehicle liability insurer becomes insolvent .

Information about the insurer of the other party

Central call of car insurers

• Phone from Germany: 0800 - 250 260 0
• Phone from outside Germany: 0049 40 300 330 300;
• Further information: Zentralruf der Autoversicherer

Compensation in the event of damage caused by an uninsured vehicle and in certain other cases

Verkehrsopferhilfe e.V.

43 / 43 G, 10117 Berlin, Phone 0049 (30) 20 20 5858, Fax 0049 (30) 20 20 5722

Federal Ministry of Justice