Insured animal care
Comprehensive protection for pet sitters: nextsure's liability insurance provides reliable coverage when you are looking after other people's animals and any damage occurs. Discover tailored solutions for your responsible activity.
Protection for Damages to the Animal in Care
Protection against third-party damage caused by the animal
Including loss of keys for foreign keys
Why is pet sitter liability insurance indispensable?
Legal Liability of the Pet Sitter
High Amounts of Damage Possible
Protection against financial risks
Professional appearance and trust
The core benefits of pet sitter liability insurance in detail
The pet sitter liability insurance is a specialised protection that safeguards you as a pet sitter against the financial consequences of damages that may occur during the care of someone else's pets. It covers personal, property, and financial damages. A central component is the protection against damages caused by the pet you are looking after to third parties – for example, if the dog bites a passer-by or damages someone else's property. Likewise, damages to the pet being cared for are insured if it is harmed through your unintentional fault, such as through incorrect feeding or insufficient supervision. Another important aspect is the protection for key loss: if you lose the key to the pet owner's home, the insurance covers the often high costs for replacing locks or key systems. Many policies also offer coverage for claims default in case you are harmed by an uninsured animal. The sum insured should be chosen to be sufficiently high to cover larger damages as well. nextsure ensures that the tariffs are precisely tailored to the needs of pet sitters, offering comprehensive yet straightforward protection.
Your Safety as a Pet Sitter
Pet Sitter Liability Services
Personal injuries
Protection if the animal under care injures people.
Property damage
Covers damage to third-party property caused by the supervised animal.
Property damage
Protection against financial disadvantages of third parties.
Tenant property damage
Protection against damage in the pet owner's home.
Loss of keys
Coverage of costs in case of loss of third-party keys.
Animal damage
Cover for damages to the animal under care itself.
International Protection
Insurance coverage is also provided during temporary stays abroad.
Bad debt
Protection if you are harmed by an uninsured animal.
Online-Service
Simple management and damage reporting around the clock.
Comprehensive cover for looking after others' animals with nextsure.
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Who needs pet sitter liability insurance? Target groups and applications
In principle, anyone who regularly or even occasionally takes care of other people's pets needs a pet sitter liability insurance—whether it’s privately within the circle of friends or acquaintances or professionally. This includes private pet sitters who feed the neighbour's cats or walk a friend's dog, as well as professional dog walkers, cat sitters, or operators of small pet boarding facilities. Individuals offering pet sitting services via online platforms should not neglect this protection either. The insurance applies regardless of whether the activity is performed for payment or voluntarily. It is especially important when you are taking care of animals from different owners simultaneously, as the risk increases. Private liability insurance covers damage caused by your own pets but does not cover the specific risks associated with caring for other people's pets. Without special pet sitter liability insurance, you are personally liable for damages with your private assets in the event of an incident. nextsure offers flexible solutions that optimally secure both occasional and full-time pet sitters, providing financial security and peace of mind when caring for pets.
Damage to the supervised animal: What is covered and what is not?
A core component of pet sitter liability insurance is protection against damages unintentionally inflicted on the pet in your care. This can include injuries the animal sustains if it escapes and is involved in an accident, or health issues due to accidental incorrect medication administration. Veterinary costs resulting from such incidents are typically covered as well. It is important that the damage is due to the pet sitter’s negligent behaviour. Generally, intentionally caused damages or those resulting from gross negligence that are not explicitly covered are not insured. Also usually excluded are damages from illnesses that existed before care began or age-related conditions. The exact coverages and exclusions vary by policy and insurer. Therefore, it is essential to carefully review the insurance terms. nextsure prioritises transparent conditions that clearly define which damages to the pet in your care are insured, to provide you as a pet sitter with maximum security and avoid misunderstandings.
Loss of keys: An often underestimated risk for pet sitters
The loss of others' keys, especially the homeowner's keys, poses a significant financial risk for pet sitters. If locks or even an entire locking system need to be replaced due to the loss, costs can quickly reach several hundred to thousands of euros. The pet sitters' liability insurance from nextsure generally covers this risk. It includes the costs for replacing keys and locks, and if necessary, temporary security measures. This applies to both private and professional keys that have been entrusted to you in the course of your pet sitting activities. It is important to report the loss immediately to the pet owner and the insurance company. The insurance cover is valid for negligent loss. In the case of gross negligence or intent, the insurer may reduce or refuse the benefit. Check the amount of the insurance sum for key loss in your contract to ensure that it is adequate in a serious case. This component provides you, as a pet sitter, with important protection against a frequently underestimated but potentially costly risk.
Choosing the Right Insurance Sum: Recommendations for Pet Sitters
Choosing the right amount for insurance coverage (also known as the coverage sum) is a crucial factor in pet sitter liability insurance. It determines the maximum amount the insurance will cover in case of personal injury, property, and financial damages. If set too low, it can lead to significant personal financial burdens in the event of a claim. Experts generally recommend liability insurance coverage sums of at least 5 million euros, or preferably 10 million euros, to cover all types of damages comprehensively. Although this might seem high, personal injuries, for instance, if a pet sitter's dog severely injures a person, can lead to lengthy treatments and high compensation claims. Property damage, such as damage to valuable furniture in the pet owner's home, can also be costly. Consider the type and number of animals you care for and the environment in which the care takes place when selecting the coverage sum. nextsure is happy to advise you on choosing an appropriate insurance sum that covers your individual risk as a pet sitter optimally and provides you with comprehensive protection without causing unnecessarily high premiums.
Customised Rates
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Digital Processing
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Commercial vs. Private Pet Care: Differences in Insurance Coverage
The distinction between commercial and private pet care is relevant for insurance coverage. While the occasional, unpaid care of animals within a circle of friends or family is often regarded as a private courtesy, commercial activity is present if it is performed regularly, independently, and with the intent of making a profit. Many standard private liability insurance policies exclude damages arising from commercial or self-employed activities. Therefore, for professional pet sitters, dog walkers, or operators of small pet boarding facilities, a special commercial pet sitter liability insurance or a business liability insurance with the appropriate coverage is essential. These policies are tailored to the specific risks of professional animal care and often offer higher insurance sums and extended coverage, such as for damages to rented care premises. Even if you only care for animals commercially on a part-time or small-scale basis, you should definitely inform your insurer. nextsure offers suitable and clearly defined insurance solutions for both private and commercial pet sitters to ensure that your protection always corresponds to your activities and no coverage gaps arise.
What to do in case of damage? Step-by-step guide for pet sitters
If damage occurs while caring for a pet, it is important to act quickly and correctly. **Step 1: Remain calm and ensure safety.** Make sure no further damage occurs and that the animal, as well as the people involved, are safe. Administer first aid if necessary. **Step 2: Document the damage.** Take photos of the site of damage, any injuries, or damaged items. Record the exact sequence of events, date, time, and any witnesses with contact details. **Step 3: Inform the pet owner.** Notify the owner of the animal about the incident immediately. Discuss the next steps. **Step 4: Contact the insurance.** Report the damage to your pet sitter liability insurance as soon as possible. With nextsure, you can do this easily online or by phone. Have your policy number and the collected information ready. **Step 5: Do not admit liability.** Do not admit responsibility to the injured party or third party before you have spoken to your insurance. This could jeopardise your insurance cover. The insurance will assess the claim and handle the settlement. **Step 6: Cooperate with the insurance.** Provide all requested documents and answer questions truthfully. Good documentation and open communication facilitate quick and smooth claims processing.
Online Degree: This is how easy it is to insure yourself with nextsure
Completing your pet sitter liability insurance with nextsure is quick, easy, and transparent, thanks to our fully digital process. **Step 1: Needs analysis and tariff selection.** Use our online calculator to determine your individual needs. Enter a few pieces of information about your work as a pet sitter. You will then be shown suitable tariff options with clear performance overviews. Compare the offers and choose the tariff that best suits your needs. **Step 2: Enter personal details.** Fill in the online application form with your personal information. We place the highest importance on data protection and the security of your information. **Step 3: Check details and submit the application.** Carefully review all the information provided for accuracy and completeness. With a click, you send your application to us digitally. **Step 4: Immediate confirmation and contract documents.** After successful examination, you will usually receive confirmation by email immediately. Your contract documents, including the insurance policy and terms, will be made available to you digitally. You can view and manage them at any time in your personal customer portal. Insurance cover begins at the agreed time. If you have any questions during the completion process, our customer service is available via chat, email, or phone. Discover how straightforward modern insurance can be.
Am I also insured if I occasionally care for animals without being paid?
Although pet sitter liability insurance offers comprehensive protection, there are certain situations and damages that are typically not covered. It is important to be aware of these exclusions. These usually include: **Intentionally caused damages:** If the pet sitter acts intentionally to cause damage, there is no insurance coverage. **Damages caused by the sitter's own animals:** The pet sitter liability is intended for animals that are cared for and belong to others. Damages caused by your own animals must be covered by your private animal owner's liability insurance (if required and available). **Slowly developing damages (gradual damages):** Damages that occur unnoticed over a longer period, such as wear and tear from scratching at a door over weeks, may be excluded. **Damages to rented, borrowed, or leased items:** There are often special regulations or higher deductibles here, especially when it involves the pet owner's home where the care takes place. **Fines and penalties:** Legal fines or penalties, for example, due to a violation of leash laws, are not covered by the insurance. **Damages related to races or competitions:** Participation in animal races or competitions with the cared-for animal is often not insured. **Pre-existing medical conditions of the animal before the start of care:** The insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. Read the terms and conditions of your policy carefully to understand all exclusions. nextsure places value on transparent clauses to avoid ambiguities.
