Even without fault
For privately kept dogs and horses, the characteristic animal risk itself can trigger liability without intentional or negligent conduct by the owner.
Liability · dogs & horses
Pet owner liability insurance: when an animal harms someone else.
Owners of dogs and horses may be liable for damage even without personal fault. Personal liability insurance generally does not cover this. For dogs, insurance requirements also differ between Germany's federal states.
Separate cover for dogs & horsesObserve state rulesInclude animal minders
Why dogs and horses need separate cover.
Under section 833 of the German Civil Code, an animal owner may be liable for bodily injury, property damage and resulting financial loss. There is no statutory maximum for this liability.
Not personal liability
Dogs and horses are generally not covered by personal liability insurance. Cats, rabbits and other tame small animals often are.
No uniform dog-insurance rule
Each federal state decides whether and for which dogs liability insurance is compulsory. Horse owner liability is not compulsory throughout Germany.
Typical benefits and policy details.
The type of animal, private or commercial use and all people involved must fit the policy in full.
Typical cover
- Bodily injury, property damage and resulting financial loss suffered by third parties
- Assessment of liability, defence against unjustified claims and settlement of justified claims
- Depending on the policy, private animal minders and temporary stays abroad
- For dogs, policy-dependent cover for damage to rented property and damage arising from mating or offspring
- For horses, policy-dependent cover for guest riders, people who share use of the horse, damage to crops and damage arising from mating
Points to check
- The owner's own losses are not third-party liability losses.
- Commercial animal keeping or use requires expressly suitable cover.
- Breed, number and use of the animals must be stated correctly.
- How breaches of leash or muzzle duties are treated should be checked in the conditions.
- Insured animal minders, people who share use of the horse, offspring and foreign cover depend on the policy.
Who should review which cover?
Separating the risks by animal species and use prevents personal liability cover from being wrongly assumed sufficient.
Check state law too
Besides the financial risk, check whether the place of residence imposes a general insurance duty or one limited to certain dogs.
Record everyone involved
Guest riders, people who share use of the horse, animal minders and special uses should match everyday life with the horse.
Review personal liability
Tame small animals are often already included. The existing policy should confirm this expressly.
Illustrative example
A dog runs in front of a bicycle.
A dog breaks free and runs onto a cycle path, causing a cyclist to fall. Suitable dog owner liability insurance assesses liability, rejects unjustified demands and covers justified claims for damages up to the agreed limits.
Illustrative example only — not personal advice and not a guarantee of cover, benefits or price.How MB Finance supports you.
We record the animal, its keeping and use, then compare clauses that may matter in everyday life.
Species, number, breed, private or commercial use and place of residence are captured.
For dogs, the insurance requirement at the place of residence is included in the assessment.
Animal minders, guest riders, people who share use of the horse and other participants are recorded appropriately.
Rented property, breaches of duties, offspring, mating and foreign cover are compared.
We assess whether the current policy still fits the animal, its use and present circumstances.
We help with notification, documents and communication with the insurer.
Related policies for animal and owner.
Liability cover protects against third-party claims. The animal's health and accident consequences for the owner are different risks.
Next related page
Continue to personal liability insurance.
Personal liability provides general private liability cover and also shows which special risks—such as dogs or horses—need a separate policy.
Context, sources and notice
Cover is determined exclusively by the selected policy, policy schedule and insurance conditions. Benefits and loss scenarios mentioned here are examples, not a guarantee of payment. Dog laws vary by federal state and may change.