ABOUT AACHEN INSURANCE GUIDE · 24 MARCH 2026
The practical guide for expats and students, what you actually need to know, without the insurance jargon.
When I first moved to Germany, a German colleague pulled me aside on day two and said: “Before you do anything else, get Haftpflichtversicherung.” I nodded, pretended I knew what that meant, and Googled it on the way home.
Liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) is not legally required for most people, but it’s one of those things where you really feel the absence when something goes wrong. Germany has unlimited personal liability under §823 BGB, meaning if you accidentally cause damage to someone or their property, you are personally on the hook, potentially for very large amounts, unless you have insurance.
This guide is for English-speaking expats and students living in or moving to Aachen. It answers the real questions: What does it cover? What does it NOT cover? How much does it cost? And where do you actually get it?
Quick note: This guide focuses on personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung). Dog owners in NRW have a separate requirement; we cover that too, further below.
Aachen is a university city. That means a lot of shared apartments (WGs), a lot of bicycles, a lot of borrowed equipment, and a lot of old apartment buildings with central key systems that cost a fortune to replace if a key goes missing.
Here are three scenarios that happen to real people in Aachen regularly:
Liability insurance costs around €4–€8 per month. The three scenarios above could cost you years of savings. That’s the math.
Most personal liability policies (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) in Germany cover the following:
This is probably the most important one for students and expats renting in Aachen. If you accidentally damage the floors, walls, doors, or built-in appliances, your liability insurance pays. This includes:
Important: “Mietsachschäden” (rental property damage) coverage is a specific clause; always check that your policy explicitly includes it. Most standard policies do, but some budget options exclude it.
Losing a key in Germany is a much bigger deal than in many other countries. If you rent in an apartment building and lose your key, the landlord can legally require you to pay for a complete lock replacement for the entire building, not just your door. A good policy covers “Schlüsselverlust” (key loss) up to a stated limit, typically €50,000 or more.
Whether you accidentally scratch someone’s car with your bicycle, drop a friend’s laptop, or break a window with an errant football, liability insurance steps in. This also includes:
If someone is hurt because of your negligence, a trip hazard you left out, a bicycle accident, or similar, your policy covers medical costs, rehabilitation, and wage compensation for the injured party.
If someone makes a claim against you that you believe is unjustified, your insurance company will also cover the cost of legally defending you.
This is just as important as knowing what’s covered. Personal liability insurance is not a catch-all:
Personal liability insurance in Germany is genuinely cheap relative to what it covers. Typical pricing:
Coverage Type
Monthly Cost
Annual Cost
Single person
€3–€5
€35–€60
Couple / partners
€4–€7
€50–€80
Family with children
€5–€8
€60–€95
Dog liability (NRW)
€5–€10
€60–€120
Prices vary by provider, coverage amount, and deductible. Paying annually instead of monthly usually saves 5–10%.
Pro tip: Liability insurance premiums are partially tax-deductible in Germany as Vorsorgeaufwendungen (pension provisions). Keep your annual statement for your Steuererklärung.
For anyone living in Aachen, here’s what a solid policy should include:
Don’t just pick the cheapest option without reading what’s included. The difference in price between a basic policy and a comprehensive one is often just €1–€2 per month.
Language is a real barrier when it comes to German insurance. Most contracts are in German, and the terms can be complex. Here are the options:
Feather is specifically designed for expats in Germany. Their personal liability insurance:
English-language liability insurance for expats in Germany. From €4/month. Covers rental damage, lost keys, bodily injury, and more.
If you’re comfortable navigating a German-language comparison tool, Tarifcheck is one of Germany’s most established insurance comparison platforms. It lets you compare Haftpflicht policies from dozens of providers side by side, filtering by coverage level, price, and included clauses. The comparison is free and non-binding.
Compare personal liability (Haftpflicht) and household insurance policies from German providers. Free, non-binding comparison.
If you own a dog in North Rhine-Westphalia (the state Aachen is in), dog liability insurance is mandatory for most dogs. This isn’t a recommendation — it’s the law under the Landeshundegesetz NRW (NRW Dog Act).
Dog liability insurance covers:
The cost is typically €5–€10 per month, depending on breed, age, and coverage level.
From €5.58/month. Mandatory for most dog owners in NRW. English-language support and policy. Meets all German legal requirements.
Technically, no — it’s not required to enroll. But practically, yes. Here’s why it’s especially relevant if you’re a student:
Many RWTH students already have coverage either through their parents’ family policy (usually valid until the end of their first degree) or through their own individual policy. If you’re not sure whether you’re covered under your parents’ policy from your home country, check with them — but be aware that most non-German policies won’t cover you for incidents inside Germany.
Most personal liability policies in Germany can cover an entire family under a single contract. This typically includes:
If you’re relocating to Aachen with a partner and/or children, a family liability policy is almost always more cost-effective than individual policies. The price difference between a single-person and family policy is usually only €2–€3 per month.
Before signing up for any policy, run through this checklist:
Liability insurance is just one piece of the puzzle. Depending on your situation, you might also want to look at:
Insurance Type
What It Covers
Who Needs It
Household contents (Hausrat)
Your belongings: laptop, bike, furniture from theft / fire / water
Anyone renting in Aachen
Bike insurance
Theft and damage — including outside your home, no ‘night clause’
Cyclists (very common in Aachen)
Legal insurance (Rechtsschutz)
Lawyer fees and legal disputes
Renters, freelancers, employees
Travel insurance
Medical costs and trip cancellation abroad
Frequent travelers
Dog liability
Damage/injury caused by your dog
Dog owners in NRW (mandatory)
Professional liability
Mistakes in your freelance / professional work
Freelancers and self-employed
Feather offers most of these in English — explore their full product range at feather-insurance.com. If you prefer a comparison across German providers, Tarifcheck covers household, bike, legal, and more under their Sachversicherungen section.
Disclaimer:
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The content on this page is for informational purposes only and reflects personal experience and general research. It does not constitute financial, insurance, legal, or professional advice. We are not certified experts, and we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information. Any decisions you make are at your own choice.
