Two insurances are mandatory in Germany: health insurance and liability insurance for car owners. In addition, there are a large number of offers for other insurances. It is not easy to decide which risks should be insured. An overview is provided, for example, by the consumer advice center:
https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/geld-versicherungen/weitere-versicherungen/welche-versicherung-brauche-ich-12605
Stiftung Warentest also provides tips on how to find your way through the jungle of insurance offers:
https://www.test.de/Versicherungen-Optimaler-Risikoschutz-1162242-0/
At the top of the list of important insurances are those that cover existential risks—i.e. those that can mean ruin for a family. Private liability insurance is at the top of the list. It covers damage accidentally caused to another person. So the insurance pays if the child smashes a window with the ball or the father hits a pedestrian on his bike on the way to work and the pedestrian can no longer walk after a fall.
Both institutions also advise taking out occupational disability insurance. It helps further if one can no longer work due to an accident or a serious illness.
Legal expenses insurance covers the costs of legal disputes. It can be taken out for individual areas, such as traffic, or comprehensively. Experts advise a close examination of whether one really needs it. “For example, if the dispute is about tenancy law, tenants’ associations can help—but you don’t need legal protection insurance with a comprehensive protection package,” writes Stiftung Warentest.
A household insurance policy protects against damage to the home: the front door is broken open, the bicycle is stolen, a fire breaks out or a water pipe bursts. However, as everywhere else, it is important to read the fine print. For example, not every insurance company will pay if a bicycle is stolen at night.
Stiftung Warentest advised against cell phone, tablet, eyeglass or luggage insurance. “The insurance often offers less than customers expect,” writes Stiftung Warentest on cell phone insurance. In all cases, the experts recommend obtaining quotes from different companies. Because the price and also the performance differences are considerable.
tun23042605
Die Verbraucherzentrale bietet Bröschüren zu unterschiedlichen Themen in vielen Sprachen an. Foto: tünews INTERNATIONAL / Mislina Kiymaz.
001534
