Pet insurance is an essential part of caring for your pet. And it is no wonder — veterinary services in Germany are becoming more expensive every year. Insurance helps protect your beloved pet in the event of illness or injury, and protects you from unforeseen treatment costs.
There are many companies offering pet health insurance in Germany, and choosing the right one can be difficult. We have reviewed and compared the most popular firms and tariffs for you and will help you choose the most suitable company.
You can easily and quickly calculate the cost of pet health insurance using the links below.
DOG INSURANCE
DOG INSURANCE
CAT INSURANCE
CAT INSURANCE
Pet insurance offers a wide range of cover, including the cost of veterinary treatment, medication and even surgery. The insurance also covers emergencies, such as accidents and illnesses, meaning you can rest assured that your pet will be protected in any situation.
There are three types of pet insurance:
Cat and dog liability insurance
Liability insurance.
There is no separate section for cats, as it is fully covered by your family liability insurance policy.
For dogs, liability insurance is taken out separately and is compulsory in 6 out of 16 German federal states (Berlin, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia), and recommended in the others.
Cat and dog insurance
Health insurance.
Coverage of general medical procedures, such as diagnostics and necessary examinations for making a diagnosis.
Preparation for and performance of necessary procedures. Post-operative care.
Routine prevention and care: vaccinations, check-ups, neutering/spaying or worming, as well as flea and tick protection.
Alternative treatments. These include homeopathy, acupuncture, laser therapy, physiotherapy and osteopathy.
It is possible to insure breed-specific illnesses.
Dentistry, including tooth extractions, root canal treatment, and the correction of dental or jaw abnormalities.
Free choice of vet and clinic. 3- or 4-fold cover of the GOT rate.
Cat and dog surgical insurance
Insurance to cover the cost of surgery.
Covers all costs associated with carrying out the necessary procedures.
Includes accommodation at
veterinary clinic,
pre-operative assessment,
the diagnosis.
It also covers
postoperative care, how
both medical and
physiotherapy and everything necessary
procedures.
What is the GOT bet?
Veterinary Fee Schedule — scale of veterinary fees established by German national legislation and applicable nationwide.
GOT sets up a payment system with increased rates of up to 4x (with no fixed prices), based on the specifics of care delivery—night-time hours, emergency care, etc.
What owner liability insurance costs and what sum insured to choose
Tierhalterhaftpflicht is the cheapest policy a dog owner needs: minimum tariffs start at around €4 a month. For that money it covers damage for which the owner is liable under German law without any cap — §833 BGB knows no upper limit; the insurance contract sets one.
What you should save on here is not the premium but unnecessary add-ons. The sum insured (Deckungssumme) itself is not the place for that: a sensible minimum today is €10 million, the market standard is €15–20 million for personal injury. The premium difference between five and fifteen million is usually under a euro a month, while the difference in protection is fundamental: a single road accident with serious injuries exhausts a five-million limit entirely.
Five clauses that decide whether the policy pays
tenant's property damage — damage to a rented flat. Scratched parquet, damaged doors and wallpaper are the most common landlord claim. Without this clause it is not covered.
Fremdhüterschaft (Hundehüter) — the dog is with a friend, a neighbour or a dog sitter. Without the clause the insurer may refuse on the grounds that the animal was not under the owner’s supervision.
Ungewollter Deckakt — an unplanned mating. The cost of the litter and claims from the owner of the second dog are far from included in every tariff.
excess — the deductible. In liability cover it is often unnecessary: the premium saving is negligible, the deduction from the payout real.
Territory and duration abroad — some contracts limit cover to Europe, others apply worldwide, usually for up to 12 consecutive months. Before moving or travelling long-term this is checked separately.
Whether this insurance is compulsory at all depends on the federal state: in Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia it applies to every dog, in the remaining states to Listenhunde and dogs classified as dangerous. The map below shows where.
What does Hundehalterhaftpflicht (dog owner's liability insurance) cover?
Maximum protection against bodily injury, material damage and financial loss.
Insurance cover applies to all breeds, including those classified as dangerous.
All puppies are insured together with the mother immediately after birth up to 12 months. Damage caused by intentional and unintentional mating is covered.
Third-party damage related to dog care: walking, training, supervision, etc.
Damage to leased property, including both damage to buildings and to movable furniture and equipment.
Insurance cover is valid worldwide, during travel, for an unlimited period of time.
Calculate and arrange liability insurance for dogs:
Pet health insurance: what to look out for when choosing
1. Take out pet insurance while your animal is healthy. Otherwise, the insurance company may refuse to cover treatment if it is discovered that the animal already had a diagnosis or genetic conditions that you were aware of.
2. Insuring older animals costs more, and the monthly payment depends on size and breed.
3. Carefully examine the insurance terms, as the waiting period (Wartezeit) before the policy takes effect can be up to six months.
4. Find out what you can expect when treating your animal by carefully studying the insurance offer. There are numerous tariffs in pet medical insurance, ranging from the coverage amount to the excess and the payment for operations only.
5. Are you travelling with your pet? Please check if your insurance includes the option for treatment abroad.
If you have any further questions, Contact us — we will answer all your questions.
How to save money on the vet in Germany
Find out more about pet insurance in Germany in our video.
Animal owner liability insurance: frequently asked questions
What does Tierhalterhaftpflicht cover?
Damage the animal causes to third parties: personal injury, damaged property, road accidents caused by a dog that has run off. In Germany the owner is liable regardless of fault (Gefährdungshaftung, §833 BGB) — even if they did everything right. That liability is not capped by law, which is why this policy is not about saving money but about protection from ruin.
Does private liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) cover damage caused by a dog?
No. Dogs and horses are excluded from private liability insurance almost without exception — they need a separate contract. Small pets (cats, rodents, birds) are usually included in Privathaftpflicht, but this should be checked in your own policy.
What sum insured is needed?
A sensible minimum is €10 million; the market standard today is €15–20 million for personal injury. The price difference between €5m and €15m is small, the difference in protection fundamental: a single road accident with serious injuries exhausts a five-million limit entirely.
Is damage to a rented flat covered?
Only if the contract includes the Mietsachschäden clause. Scratched parquet, damaged doors and wallpaper are the most common landlord claims, and without that clause they are not covered. Check that it is there before signing.
Is damage covered if someone else is walking the dog?
Yes, if the contract includes the Hundehüter (Fremdhüterschaft) clause — cover then also applies while the dog is with a friend, a neighbour or a dog sitter. Without that clause the insurer may refuse on the grounds that the animal was not under the owner’s supervision.
Does the cover apply abroad?
As a rule, temporary stays abroad are covered; in some contracts the territory is limited to Europe, in others it is worldwide, usually for up to 12 months. Check both territory and duration before travelling. Health and surgery policies are described separately: for dogs, for cats and in the general section on pet insurance in Germany.
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