Here you can find insurance for your dog or cat in Germany

It's possible that your dog will cause damage. Damage to a household item is relatively harmless (and inexpensive). However, sometimes your dog's behavior can cause a road accident. For example, if your dog runs into the road, you should expect to be responsible for the collision costs.

You'd certainly prefer to avoid such expenses. There's a way around it. People living in Germany can easily purchase third-party liability insurance for dog owners. This insurance provides coverage if a dog owner is required to repair damage caused to a third party by their pet.

Third party liability insurance for dog owners in various regions of Germany

It's worth noting that third-party liability insurance for dog ownership is mandatory in some German states. These include the following states: Berlin, Hamburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower SaxonyIn these regions, dog owners are required to microchip their pets. However, for a veterinarian to microchip their dog, the owner must provide proof of third-party liability insurance.

In some German states, third-party liability insurance is only mandatory for owners of dogs belonging to breeds considered aggressive, such as Rottweilers, American Bulldogs, and Pit Bull Terriers. This is the case in the following regions: Saxony, Saarland, Brandenburg Hesse, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and Baden-Württemberg.

What does German third party liability insurance for dog owners cover?

Although liability insurance for dog owners isn't mandatory in every federal state, we strongly encourage you to purchase it. Why? The point is that sometimes the damage caused by your pet can be quite significant. Affordable liability insurance will help you avoid the associated costs.

Third party liability insurance for dog owners in Germany covers:

• personal injury – e.g. compensation for a bite or coverage of medical costs for the injured person;
• property damage – coverage of costs related to the destruction of items belonging to the injured party, e.g. biting through some part of clothing, scratching the body of the car;
• property damage – compensation costs for a person who, as a result of a dog attack, cannot earn an income by doing his or her job.

Many people believe that third-party liability insurance (OC) for dog owners is unnecessary. However, remember that even a small dog can cause damage. It's enough for a dog to run into a moving cyclist while walking, for example, and the cyclist falls while braking – you, as the dog's owner, must cover all the related costs. However, third-party liability insurance (OC) is sufficient, so you don't have to reach into your own pocket.

The cost of third party liability insurance for dog owners

As mentioned, the cost of dog insurance isn't a huge dent in your household budget, but it's worth considering for that reason alone. Annual premiums typically range from €35-50. If you want to insure two dogs at once, you should expect to spend between €60-100 annually.

The following factors influence the amount of the insurance premium:

• selected benefits;
• maximum amount to cover the damage;
• dog breed;
• own contribution to insurance;
• age of the dog.

Can a dog be covered by private third party liability insurance?

This is a question many dog owners in Germany ask themselves. And with good reason! Remember that personal liability insurance covers damage caused by pets like hamsters or cats. However, this doesn't apply to dogs. This is easily explained – they can cause extremely expensive damage. Therefore, if you value the safety of your pet while walking, we strongly encourage you to purchase liability insurance for them, even if it's not mandatory in your region.