Types of insurance at a glance
An overview of all insurance types, ranked by how much they matter to your financial security, with pointers on which cover fits which life situation.
Insure the losses you could not bear yourself first. Small, limited losses are often better paid from a reserve.
Three levels of cover
Compulsory cover and liability for losses that could ruin you come first. Next come your own major assets and risks to your income. Convenience cover and cover for small losses come last.
- Compulsory cover and liability
- Financial survival and major assets
- Additions depending on your situation
- Bear small losses yourself where possible
Review regularly
Moving house, a new partner, children, buying property, a new vehicle or getting a pet all change what you need. Check your contracts for overlaps and gaps at those points, and otherwise at sensible intervals.
In this section
Household contents insurance
What household contents insurance replaces, how to set a realistic sum insured and when additional natural hazards cover makes sense.
Read moreCar insurance
Why motor third-party liability is compulsory, when partial or fully comprehensive cover suits your car's value and how your no-claims class shapes the premium.
Read morePersonal liability
What personal liability insurance covers, how high the sum insured should be and which clauses matter in everyday life – clearly explained.
Read moreLegal expenses insurance
Which modules legal expenses insurance covers, why waiting periods apply and which disputes typically remain excluded.
Read morePet owner liability
When pet owner liability insurance is compulsory, why dogs and horses are not covered by personal liability insurance and what to look for in a policy.
Read morePrivate accident insurance
When private accident insurance pays out, how the basic sum insured and progression work together and where it does not close an income gap.
Read moreBuildings insurance
What buildings insurance covers, what the indexed rebuild value means and why natural hazards cover has to be agreed separately.
Read moreFrequently asked questions
Which insurance do you really need?
Far less than is usually sold. Very little is compulsory, motor third-party liability (Kfz-Haftpflicht) being one example. Beyond that, one question counts: could you bear the loss yourself? A broken mobile phone, yes; personal injury you caused, with costs running for decades, no. That is exactly where cover belongs.
How many insurance policies are too many?
There is no set number, but there is a good warning sign: if you pay for several policies against risks that would cost you a few hundred euros in the worst case, the money is better kept in a reserve. Cover for small losses often does not pay off.
Should I bundle everything with one provider?
Not automatically. A bundle discount sounds good, but it ties you to a provider that is rarely the best fit in every line of insurance, and switching a single policy becomes harder. Compare each line separately instead, and only take the bundle if each part also stands up on its own.