Damage caused by martens to your car: how your insurance protects you from high costs
19.05.25
10
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A marten bite on a car is frustrating and can quickly become expensive, often with repair costs of several hundred euros. Find out which car insurance covers marten damage and how to protect yourself optimally. With the right policy, you are protected against the financial consequences.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Partial comprehensive or fully comprehensive insurance is necessary to cover damage caused by martens to the car; motor vehicle liability insurance is not sufficient. [1_2]
When taking out your marten damage car insurance, pay particular attention to whether consequential damage is included and to the level of cover, as this can often be expensive. [4_2]
Preventive measures such as engine compartment shields or regular engine washes can significantly reduce the risk of damage caused by martens. [5_2]
Quick overview: The key facts about marten car insurance
A marten damage claim often occurs unexpectedly and causes average repair costs of around 550 euros. [2_2] Partial comprehensive insurance is your first point of contact here. It usually covers direct damage caused by marten bites. [1_3] Make sure that consequential damage is also covered, as this can quickly amount to several thousand euros. [1_1] Report a claim to your insurer immediately, usually within seven days. [4_1]
Claims settlement in practice: Which insurer pays for what?
Motor third-party liability insurance does not cover damage caused by martens to your own vehicle. [1_2] For direct protection, you need at least partial comprehensive insurance. This covers the costs of damage directly caused by martens, such as chewed ignition cables or coolant hoses. [2_3] Comprehensive insurance always includes the benefits of partial comprehensive cover and therefore also covers marten damage. [1_3] What often matters is the extent of cover for consequential damage. Not every tariff includes this automatically or provides unlimited cover. [4_2] The cost of marten damage can be under 150 euros if only one cable is affected. [2_5]
Check your policy carefully for the following points:
Are marten damage claims explicitly included?
Up to what amount is consequential damage covered (there are often limits of 3,000 or 5,000 euros)? [4_2]
Is there an excess, and if so, how much is it? It is usually 150 euros. [1_3]
Does your comprehensive cover also cover damage to insulation mats and rubber sleeves?
A close look at the General Terms and Conditions for Motor Vehicle Insurance is advisable here. This way, you can make sure that your marten damage car insurance provides the protection you want.
Consequential damage from a marten bite: A danger that is often underestimated
A chewed cooling water hose can lead to overheating and serious engine damage, the repair of which quickly reaches four-figure amounts. [1_1] If a marten bites through an ignition cable, this can damage the catalytic converter. [2_3] Defective rubber gaiters on drive shafts or the steering can also lead to expensive repairs due to dirt and moisture entering the system. [2_5] Many insurers limit the cover for consequential damage, so a policy with comprehensive cover for consequential damage, ideally without an upper limit, is highly recommended. [4_4] In electric cars, marten damage can be particularly costly if high-voltage cables are affected and the entire wiring harness has to be replaced; cover limits of up to 20,000 euros or more are relevant here. [1_5]
When choosing your marten car insurance, make sure you have sufficient protection for this indirect damage. A difference between third-party fire and theft and fully comprehensive cover often lies in the fine details of the policy terms.
Recognising marten damage and taking the right action: step by step
Not every marten damage is immediately obvious. Look out for suspicious signs. Paw prints on the bodywork or in the engine bay are an initial clue. [3_3] If you find chewed cables, hoses or torn insulation mats, caution is advised. [2_1] An erratic engine, starting problems or warning lights coming on can also indicate a marten bite. [1_2] In Germany, there were over 235,000 reported marten damage incidents in 2023. [3_3]
What to do in the event of damage:
Park the vehicle safely: Avoid driving on to minimise consequential damage.
Document the damage: Take photos of the damaged parts.
Notify your insurer: Report the damage to your insurer without delay; a seven-day deadline often applies. [4_1]
Visit a garage: Have the damage assessed and repaired by a specialist workshop.
Have the engine bay cleaned: To remove scent marks that could attract other martens, a professional engine clean is advisable. [5_2]
A quick response can often limit costs and make dealing with your car insurance for marten damage easier. Also, with glass damage to the car, prompt reporting is important.
Prevention: How to effectively protect your car from martens
The best marten car insurance is the one you do not need. There are various methods for keeping martens away from the vehicle. A regular engine wash can help remove attractants left by other martens, as martens react aggressively to the scent marks of rivals. [5_1] Parking in a locked garage offers the best protection. Engine compartment shielding, which can be retrofitted for many models, can prevent the animals from getting in. [5_2] Special hard-plastic sheathing for vulnerable cables and hoses also offers good protection. [3_2]
Further preventive measures include:
Wire mesh: a fine-mesh mesh placed under the engine compartment can deter martens, as they avoid unstable surfaces. [5_2]
Ultrasonic devices: these emit tones inaudible to humans that are intended to drive martens away. However, their effectiveness is disputed, as animals can become accustomed to them. [1_2]
Electric shock devices: similar to an electric fence, these devices deliver a harmless electric shock on contact. They are considered relatively effective. [5_4]
Bear in mind that the costs of car insurance can also be influenced by such risk factors. Good protection can therefore pay off twice over.
Expert knowledge: legal aspects and tariff details of Marder car insurance
In insurance law, a distinction is made between direct marten damage and consequential damage. Direct damage is usually covered without complication by comprehensive cover, provided it is not excluded in the policy. [2_1] In the case of consequential damage, the benefit is often limited to a specific sum or tied to special conditions. [4_2] A look at section 2(1) no. 1 of the Federal Hunting Act shows that the stone marten is classed as game with fur, which can be relevant to the definition of game damage, but marten bites are usually treated separately as animal bite damage. [3_4] Our expert tip: Look for tariffs that explicitly include “animal bite damage (incl. marten)” and “consequential damage caused by animal bites” without low coverage limits. The average cost per marten bite in 2014 was around 304 euros, but this has tended to rise. [3_5] It is also relevant whether the vehicle owner and policyholder are different; cover remains in place.
Some insurers also offer special add-ons that include extended cover for marten damage. Check whether there is a repair-shop requirement that obliges you to have the car repaired at a partner garage. [2_2] A change of car insurance may be worthwhile if your current tariff has gaps here. The amount of damage caused by marten bites alone totalled 92 million euros in 2021. [4_5]
As a digital insurance portal, our mission is to offer you tailored, easy-to-understand insurance solutions. A good marten damage car insurance policy is an important part of your cover. We help you find the right tariff, which reliably covers both direct damage and costly consequential damage. Our experts analyse your individual situation and provide expert advice.
Request an individual risk analysis now: have your insurance situation reviewed free of charge and receive specific recommendations for optimisation.
More useful links
The German Insurance Association (GDV) offers insights into the development of damage caused by martens to vehicles and their impact on insurance claims.
The GDV provides detailed statistics on damage caused by martens in Germany for the period from 2012 to 2022.
Statista provides up-to-date data on claims involving car damage caused by martens in Germany.
Wikipedia offers comprehensive information on the stone marten, its biology and its behaviour.
Stiftung Warentest examines the extent to which partial comprehensive insurance covers damage caused by martens and what levels of cover are common.
The Federal Environment Agency provides detailed information on the stone marten and its occurrence in Germany.
kfz-betrieb, a specialist magazine for the automotive industry, reports on rising insurance claims and record damage caused by marten bites.
FAQ
What to do if a marten has caused damage?
Which car parts are particularly at risk from marten bites?
Martens prefer soft materials. Commonly affected are ignition leads, coolant and windscreen washer hoses, power cables, rubber sleeves, bellows, as well as insulating and soundproofing mats. [1_1]
Does the insurance cover the cost of an engine wash after damage caused by a marten?
Whether the costs for an engine wash to remove scent traces are covered depends on the specific insurance tariff. It is advisable to clarify this directly with your insurer.
Is there a best season for marten damage?
Martens can cause damage throughout the year. However, an increase is observed in spring and summer during the martens’ mating season (around March to August), as the animals then mark and defend their territory particularly intensively. [4_3]
Does my car insurance for marten damage also cover damage to an electric car?
Yes, comprehensive and fully comprehensive insurance also cover damage caused by martens to electric cars. Due to the complex high-voltage technology, repairs can be particularly expensive, so make sure you have a sufficiently high sum insured for consequential damage. [1_5]
