Most people know that you can’t drive a motorized vehicle in germany without car insurance. But which insurance covers what is not always clear. motor liability is a compulsory insurance and pays for damages you cause to others with your car. the question remains, how do you find a fair insurer with reasonable premiums?. Read here our answers to the most frequently asked questions about car liability insurance.
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A motor vehicle liability insurance what is it anyway?
the short answer: motor vehicle liability insurance is a compulsory insurance that everyone who wants to drive a motorized vehicle on the road in germany needs. It is therefore a compulsory insurance for all vehicle owners – if they also want to participate in road traffic with their vehicle. However, motor vehicle liability only pays for damage that you cause to others – similar to private liability. Here you can find out what other types of car insurance are available.
What damages are covered by motor vehicle liability insurance??
Motor vehicle liability insurance (or: auto liability insurance) pays for damages incurred by accident victims and passengers of the person who caused the accident. This can be property damage, personal injury or property damage. Property damage to a third-party vehicle includes, for example, the cost of towing, an expert, a rental car provided as a substitute and the necessary repairs. Examples of costs for personal injuries are treatment costs, loss of earnings, pain and suffering, and funeral costs.
After the accident, the insurer of the motor vehicle liability insurance checks whether the injured party is entitled to benefits at all and fends off unjustified claims for the insured party. This means that if the injured party makes unjustified claims, my liability insurance will reject these claims and the injured party may have to sue for the claims in court.
What is the recommended coverage for motor vehicle liability insurance??
The statutory minimum coverage for motor vehicle liability is 7.5 million euros for personal injury, 1.12 million euros for property damage, and 50.000 euros for property damage.
However, these totals are very low. Especially if there are several people in the car and an accident occurs, the amounts for motor vehicle liability claims can quickly be exceeded. It is therefore advisable to agree significantly higher coverage amounts in the motor vehicle liability insurance.
For many insurers, lump-sum coverage of 100 million euros for personal injury, property damage and financial loss is standard. per person, the amount is usually limited to 15 million euros. If you are looking for (new) motor vehicle liability insurance, you should look for a provider with higher coverage amounts.
What are the costs of a car liability insurance??
The insurance companies are largely free to set their own rates, so that the price differences in the annual premiums are sometimes considerable. The cost of a motor vehicle liability depends on several factors, including:
- Vehicle model (type class)
- Age of the vehicle when purchased
- age of the policyholder/driver
- Period since issuance of driver’s license
- Mileage per year
- Private and/or (exclusively) commercial use
- Accident-free years (no-claims class)
It is therefore never possible to say in general terms how high the vehicle liability costs are. you should compare different offers and, in addition to the amount of the premium, also include tariff details such as coverage sums in the comparison.
How do i find a cheap liability car insurance??
There are numerous online comparison portals on the internet. There you can enter your personal data as well as the information on the vehicle to be insured and then see the different premiums and benefits of motor vehicle liability insurance in comparison. But don’t just look at the price, the benefits of the chosen tariff should always be a priority.
If this is too much work for you, you can simply contact the CLARK experts. They check whether your motor vehicle liability insurance is favorable for you or whether a change is worthwhile. They also find you insurers that fit you and your car.
Which insurances should I take out in addition to car liability insurance??
Motor vehicle liability insurance only covers damage to the accident victim’s vehicle and personal injury and property damage that does not affect the person who caused the accident. This includes property damage such as to a traffic light, guardrail, house, garden fence, etc. Also. the property damage must only not belong to the person who caused the accident. if you want to cover damage to your own vehicle, you need comprehensive insurance. policyholders can choose between partial and fully comprehensive insurance.
If you travel by rental car in other european countries, make sure that your motor liability insurance includes a mallorca policy. This way, the rental car is also included in your car liability insurance coverage.
Good to know
the coverage for an accident abroad is usually low. EU-wide, one million euros per accident victim is covered, in Turkey, for example, it’s only 100.000 per person, in the USA in many states even only 10.000 US dollars minimum coverage common. Any costs beyond this must be paid out of your own pocket. This is protected against by the so-called "mallorca policy," a rental car liability insurance policy. many car insurance policies already include the policy.
How can i save on car liability insurance??
You already have a car liability insurance, but the current premium is too high for you? then you should consider changing your insurance company. Normally, insurers allow a change at 30. November each year. In some cases, this can save several hundred euros a year. For more information, see our guide to changing car insurance providers.
What’s more, you can save money on your vehicle liability insurance even without switching – by driving accident-free for many years. Then you will benefit from discounts and will be classified in a favorable no-claims class, which will earn you a premium discount.
Insurance companies also offer various discounts, for example for
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