Essential car liability insurance: Optimally protected
The motor liability insurance from nextsure: indispensable protection on the road. Discover why it's legally required and which damages it reliably covers. Secure yourself now digitally and effortlessly.
Statutory mandatory protection
Comprehensive Damage Coverage
Digital Completion
What is motor liability insurance and why is it mandatory?
Legal Basis (PflVG)
Protection against third-party damages
No registration without liability insurance
Financial Security
What damages are covered by car liability insurance?
Motor vehicle liability insurance isn't just a recommendation; it's a legal requirement for every vehicle owner in Germany. Its existence is anchored in the Compulsory Insurance Act (PflVG) and forms the basis for the registration of any motor vehicle for road use. Without proof of valid motor vehicle liability insurance – typically the eVB number at registration – you will not receive license plates and cannot operate your vehicle. The primary purpose of this insurance is to protect third parties. It covers damages you may cause to other road users or their property with your vehicle. This includes personal injuries (e.g., medical costs, compensation for pain and suffering), property damage (e.g., repair costs to other vehicles, damaged guardrails), and pure financial losses (e.g., loss of earnings of an accident victim). Thus, motor vehicle liability insurance acts as financial protection, shielding you from potentially ruinous compensation claims, which can quickly reach millions. Anyone driving without this essential protection risks not only hefty penalties but also unlimited liability with their entire personal assets in the event of damage.
Your Benefits
Car liability insurance with nextsure
Mandatory protection
Legally required, essential for every vehicle owner.
Third-party damages
Comprehensive coverage for personal injury, property damage, and financial loss of third parties.
Large sums
We recommend coverage amounts well above the minimum.
Mallorca-Police
Safe travel abroad with a rental car.
SF classes
Take advantage of your personal no-claims discount.
Digital Service
Simple online completion and digital management of your policy.
Quick Help
In the event of damage, we are straightforwardly here for you.
Clarity
Transparent conditions, clearly explained, without jargon.
Consultation
Our experts support you with all questions.
Digital, understandable and tailored for your protection in road traffic.
Ready for optimal protection?
Calculate motor liability insurance now!
Coverage amounts in car liability insurance: What is optimal?
The scope of motor liability insurance is clearly defined and focuses on settling claims made by third parties as a result of an accident caused by you. It covers three main categories of damages: personal injury, property damage, and pure financial loss. In the case of personal injury, the insurance may cover expenses such as medical treatments, hospital stays, rehabilitation measures, compensation for pain and suffering, and in the worst cases, even lifelong pensions for accident victims. Property damage includes the repair or replacement of damaged third-party vehicles, as well as damage to other objects such as buildings, traffic facilities, or cargo. Pure financial losses are financial disadvantages that do not directly result from personal injury or property damage, such as loss of earnings, compensation for loss of use, or lost profits. It is important to understand: motor liability insurance generally *does not* cover damage to your own vehicle or personal belongings. Comprehensive insurance (partial or fully comprehensive) is required for this. Likewise, damages caused intentionally are excluded from the insurance cover.
Excess in motor liability insurance: Sensible or not?
The coverage amounts in motor vehicle liability insurance determine the maximum sum the insurer will pay per incident. The legislator stipulates minimum coverage amounts: currently, these are 7.5 million euros for personal injuries, 1.22 million euros for property damage, and 50,000 euros for pure financial losses. However, particularly in severe accidents with multiple injuries or significant property damage, these minimum amounts can be quickly exceeded. Nextsure and consumer protection agencies therefore strongly recommend choosing significantly higher coverage amounts. Common and advisable are blanket coverage amounts of 100 million euros for personal, property, and financial damage, although the payout for personal injuries per injured person is often limited to 8 to 15 million euros. Such higher coverage offers comprehensive protection and minimizes the risk that you might have to pay part of the damage out of your own pocket, despite having insurance. Carefully review the offered tariffs, as higher coverage does not necessarily mean an unaffordable additional premium, but provides a significantly higher level of security for you and other road users.
Mallorca-Police: Important international cover for your motor liability insurance
In the context of motor vehicle liability insurance, the term deductible (SB) is understood differently than for comprehensive insurance. Basically, the rule is: Motor vehicle liability insurance covers damages you cause to third parties, and the injured third party does *not* have to bear a deductible. The insurance covers the full recognized damage up to the agreed coverage limit. A deductible for the policyholder (meaning you as the cause) is unusual in pure motor vehicle liability insurance and is not offered in standard policies in Germany. The purpose of liability is precisely to fully compensate the victim and protect the perpetrator from financial claims. Occasional, very specific tariff models or clauses could theoretically contain internal regulations, which, however, do not correspond to the classic understanding of a deductible in the sense of a direct cost participation in third-party damage. For the settlement of claims against the opposing party, a deductible on your part is therefore irrelevant. It is different in the case of partial and comprehensive insurance, where a deductible is common to reduce the premium and is borne by the policyholder in the event of damage to their own vehicle.
No-claims discount (SF class): How does it affect your premium?
The so-called Mallorca Policy is an important additional component of your motor vehicle liability insurance, often included at no extra cost, offering you special protection when using rental cars abroad in Europe. When you hire a car on holiday in Spain, Italy, or another European country, it is covered by local motor vehicle liability insurance, but the statutory minimum coverage amounts are significantly lower in many countries than in Germany. In the event of a serious accident, these amounts might not be sufficient to cover all damages. This is where the Mallorca Policy comes into play: it extends the rental car's insurance coverage to the level of your German motor vehicle liability insurance, usually up to the high coverage amounts you have arranged for your own vehicle. This typically applies to personal injury, property damage, and financial losses. The Mallorca Policy is generally valid for journeys within the geographical boundaries of Europe and the non-European territories that belong to the EU's scope. It thus offers substantial financial security and ensures that you can travel abroad with peace of mind, without worrying about inadequate insurance coverage.
Coverage Letter
Roadside Assistance & more
Partial cover
Protection for your own car
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive protection for your vehicle
Differences: Third Party Liability, Partial Cover, and Comprehensive Cover
The no-claims discount, known as the SF class, is a central element in calculating the premium for your motor third-party liability insurance (and also for fully comprehensive insurance). The system rewards accident-free driving: for each calendar year in which you do not report a claim that your insurance needs to handle, you move up to a better SF class. Each SF class is associated with a specific percentage of the base insurance premium — the higher the SF class (e.g., SF 35), the lower the percentage and thus your individual insurance premium. Conversely, a reported and settled claim results in a downgrade to a worse SF class in the following insurance year, increasing the premium. The exact downgrade tables vary depending on the insurer. Many insurers offer additional options such as 'discount protection' or 'discount saver', which allow a certain number of claims per year without a downgrade, but at an additional cost. The SF class is linked to an individual but can be transferred under certain conditions (e.g., to family members), whereby the receiving person can receive a maximum of the number of claim-free years that they themselves have held a driving license.
Switching car liability insurance: It's so easy digitally with nextsure
Car insurance consists of various components that cover different risks. The car liability insurance is the legally required basic coverage, and it covers only damages caused to other people, their vehicles, or other property with your vehicle. Damages to your own vehicle are not insured by this. The partial cover insurance is an optional additional protection for your own vehicle. It covers certain well-defined damages, such as theft of the vehicle or its parts, fire and explosion, damage from storms, hail, lightning, or floods (natural disasters), glass breakage (e.g., stone chip on the windscreen), as well as collisions with wild animals. The fully comprehensive insurance offers the most extensive coverage for your own vehicle. It includes all the benefits of partial cover and additionally covers damages caused by vandalism (deliberate damage by others) as well as self-inflicted accident damage to your own vehicle. The decision whether to take out partial or fully comprehensive insurance in addition to the obligatory liability cover depends on the age, value, and financing of the vehicle as well as your personal security needs.
What to do in case of damage? Your guide to motor liability insurance
Switching your car liability insurance nowadays is straightforward and can be done entirely digitally with providers like nextsure. Generally, you can cancel your car insurance annually at the end of the contract, usually with one month's notice by the 30th of November, as many policies expire at the end of the year (deadline 01.01.). Additionally, there are special termination rights, for instance after a regulated claim, in the event of a premium increase without an improvement in benefits, or when changing vehicles. To switch, simply take out a new contract with your chosen provider. They will then provide you with the eVB number (electronic insurance confirmation). You should cancel your old contract in writing and in good time; many new insurers also offer a cancellation service. At nextsure, you benefit from a streamlined, digital closing process. You can compare rates online, select your desired rate, and conclude the contract directly. All necessary documents are provided digitally. It's important to ensure a seamless transition of insurance coverage so that your vehicle is continuously insured, which is guaranteed by the timely submission of the eVB number to the registration office.
What happens if I drive without car liability insurance?
A traffic accident is always a stressful situation. Nevertheless, it is crucial to act correctly in the event of damage to facilitate regulation by your motor vehicle liability insurance. The highest priority is to secure the accident site (warning triangle, hazard warning lights) and care for any injured persons (first aid, emergency call 112). In cases of personal injury, unclear liability, significant property damage, or if the other party leaves the scene, you should definitely involve the police (emergency call 110). Document the accident site and the damage carefully (photos, sketch). Exchange personal details, insurance information (insurer, insurance number), and vehicle registration numbers with the other party. The European Accident Report is a useful standardised form for this. Important: Do not admit liability at the scene. Report the damage immediately – usually within a week – to your motor vehicle liability insurance. With nextsure, you can often do this easily online or by phone. Describe the course of the accident truthfully and completely. Your insurer will then investigate the liability question and settle legitimate claims of the injured party or defend against unjustified ones.
