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Dog Insurance in Germany
Written by
Janine El-Saghir
Janine El Saghir is an editor at How-to-Germany.com, where she specializes in the practical aspects of daily life and integration for expatriates. With years of...
Reviewed by
Erkan Boga
Erkan Boga is the founder and CEO of qmedia GmbH, the publishing house behind How-to-Germany.com. He established the platform with the clear vision of creating...
Edited by
Sadie Voss
Content Lead & Editor
Sadie Voss is the Lead Editor for How-to-Germany.com. As an expat who carved her own way into Berlin from the United States, Sadie is deeply...
- In Germany, there are 2 types of dog insurance: pet liability insurance and pet health insurance.
- Dog liability insurance is required by law in some states. In certain states, it is mandatory only for so-called dangerous breeds, while in others, all dogs must be insured.
- Dog health insurance is available in 2 forms: surgery-only coverage or comprehensive health insurance with broader benefits.
- Many insurers offer dog insurance, each with its unique benefits and costs. Comparing providers helps you make an informed choice.
- For expats in Germany, digital insurers such as Feather, Getsafe, and Lassie are particularly recommended. They offer dog health and liability insurance with strong benefits, fair pricing, and bilingual service in German and English.
Understanding Dog Insurance in Germany
To make an informed decision, it is essential to understand the types of dog insurance available in Germany and how they operate.
Dog insurance policies in Germany protect owners against liability claims and veterinary costs. There are 2 main types:
- Dog health insurance: Voluntary in Germany, but highly advisable. Veterinary costs for advanced diagnostics, treatments, and therapies can quickly reach several hundred or even several thousand euros, making insurance an important safeguard.
- Dog liability insurance: Covers damage your dog causes to third parties. It is compulsory in some federal states and for certain breeds. Even if not legally required, this insurance is strongly recommended, as it reliably protects you against potentially severe financial risks.
For cats, the insurance situation is different because cats do not require separate standalone liability insurance. Cat owners can read our dedicated cat insurance in Germany guide for details on surgery-only coverage, full health insurance, and private liability protection for cat-related third-party damage.
Dog Liability Insurance
Liability insurance is one of the most important forms of protection for dog owners in Germany. It shields you from potentially devastating financial consequences if your dog injures someone or damages property.
What is Dog Liability Insurance?
Dog liability insurance covers personal injury, property damage, and financial losses caused by your dog to third parties. As the owner, you are fully liable for such damages without any limit.
Not all incidents involving dogs are minor or easily resolved. In cases of severe property damage or, even more critically, personal injury, compensation claims can reach very high amounts. Without dog liability insurance, you would have to cover costs such as medical treatment, loss of income, or even lifelong pension payments entirely on your own.
A dog liability policy protects you from these financial risks and also provides passive legal protection. This means the insurance company defends you against unjustified claims. It bears the costs of a legal dispute.
Unlike dog health insurance, dog liability insurance does not have waiting periods; coverage begins immediately upon contract completion.
Private liability insurance usually covers damage caused by you, members of your household, and even cats or other small pets. However, dogs are explicitly excluded. This is one of the most common misconceptions among new dog owners in Germany. A separate dog liability policy is therefore essential to avoid serious financial risks.
Dog Liability Insurance — Often Compulsory
Whether dog liability insurance is mandatory depends on the state in which you live:
- In Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia, all dogs must be insured regardless of breed.
- In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, there are currently no legal requirements in place.
- In all other states, insurance is mandatory for so-called dangerous breeds, with each state defining which breeds fall into this category. Depending on the state, liability insurance may also be compulsory for large dogs.
Bremen is now part of the group of federal states with a general dog liability mandate. Under the Bremen Dog Act (BremHundeG), dog liability insurance is mandatory for all dogs in Bremen. The law entered into force on July 10, 2025, while some additional rules, including the general dog-owner competence certificate (Hundeführerschein/Sachkundenachweis), apply from July 1, 2026.
Each federal state defines dangerous or listed dogs (Listenhunde) differently. However, the breeds most commonly classified as dangerous include American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Tosa Inu. Some states also include additional mastiff-type breeds or apply individual dangerousness assessments after incidents. Expats should always check the rules in their specific federal state before moving with a listed breed or mixed breed.
Benefits of Dog Liability Insurance
When selecting a policy, it is crucial to compare offers carefully and thoroughly review the conditions. A good dog liability insurance policy should include:
- Coverage for damage to rented properties, including holiday apartments and hotels
- Coverage for financial losses not directly linked to personal injury or property damage
- Coverage for puppies through a “puppy protection clause”
- Protection in cases where owner obligations such as leash requirements are violated
- Worldwide coverage
Dog liability insurance does not cover damage your dog causes to you or members of your household. Typical examples include a dog damaging your furniture or injuring you or a family member. The owner must bear such losses, as they are not covered by personal liability or household contents insurance. Being aware of these exclusions helps dog owners set realistic expectations when choosing the right policy.
Dog Health Insurance
The second essential insurance for your dog is a pet health insurance policy that covers treatment costs for accidents and illnesses.
What is Dog Health Insurance?
Pet health insurance covers expenses for medical treatment, routine check-ups, and vaccinations. Policies are typically available either as surgery-only plans or as full health insurance.
Unlike liability insurance, pet health insurance is not mandatory in Germany. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended, as veterinary bills for advanced diagnostics or therapies can quickly add up to several hundred or even several thousand euros. For expats unfamiliar with German veterinary costs, this coverage offers both financial security and peace of mind.
Insurance Exclusions and Waiting Periods
Pet health insurance typically excludes pre-existing conditions, and animals with chronic illnesses are often not eligible for coverage. Insurers usually set an age limit, with younger dogs frequently qualifying for lower premiums.
Coverage typically extends only to medically necessary treatments and operations. Preventive measures, such as neutering, vaccinations, or dental care, are not always included; therefore, it is essential to review the policy details.
Pet health insurance policies also come with waiting periods before benefits apply. Many insurers set a general waiting period of 1-3 months, while certain illnesses may have waiting times of up to 12 or even 18 months. Accidents, however, are often covered immediately.
Dog Health Insurance Options
There are different ways to ensure your dog’s health in Germany, and choosing the right plan requires careful consideration.
Types of Dog Health Insurance
- Comprehensive plans: These policies include both surgical and non-surgical treatments, giving your dog wider access to medical care.
- Surgery-only plans: These are the most affordable option and cover costs for medically necessary operations.
Criteria for Good Dog Health Insurance Policies
The benefits can vary significantly between insurers and policies. When selecting a plan, you should pay close attention to:
- Comprehensive insurance plans often come with different benefit levels. Premium options typically cover expenses without limits, whereas lower-cost plans usually impose annual caps.
- Preventive care should ideally be included, such as allowances for vaccinations, deworming, or dental cleaning.
- Surgery insurance should cover not only the operation itself but also diagnostics, follow-up treatment, hospital stays, medication, and even dental procedures such as extractions or root canals.
- The plan should reimburse treatments according to the regular GOT fee framework and emergency billing rules. The regular GOT framework usually ranges from the 1-fold to 3-fold rate, while emergency treatment can involve higher emergency billing and a mandatory emergency-service surcharge. Policies that also support emergency billing are particularly valuable, since emergency treatments are often much more expensive.
Combining Dog Insurance Policies
You can take out dog insurance as individual policies or choose a combined package that includes both health and liability insurance. While combining offers advantages, it is important to review the details of each policy carefully.
Benefits of Bundling Dog Insurance
Combined policies include dog liability insurance and dog health insurance. This provides comprehensive insurance coverage for your dog.
With such a policy, you profit from different benefits:
- Comprehensive protection: Health and liability are covered in one package.
- Convenience: All benefits and claims are managed through a single provider.
- Cost savings: Many insurers offer discounts when both policies are purchased together.
However, a combination only makes sense if both the health and liability components provide sufficient benefits for you and your dog. Always compare the conditions of each policy before deciding to bundle.
A combined policy for health and liability can be convenient and often cheaper. In practice, however, it only makes sense if both components provide solid benefits. Always review the conditions of each policy carefully before deciding to bundle.
Insurance for Multiple Dogs
If you own more than one dog, you usually need to take out a separate policy for each animal. Many insurers offer discounts for a second or third dog, making coverage more affordable.
Some providers also allow you to bundle multiple dogs under a single contract, creating additional cost advantages. As always, it pays to compare different options and check whether combined coverage is possible.
Evaluating Dog Insurance Providers
Many insurers in Germany offer pet insurance, but the quality of coverage, service, and pricing can vary widely. Among the most popular providers for expats are Feather and Getsafe, both of which specialize in digital insurance solutions. Lassie has also entered the market with modern, app-based policies for dog owners.
All 3 providers offer both dog health and liability insurance, meaning combined coverage is possible. Their services are fully digital and available in both German and English, making them particularly attractive for expats.
Claims can be submitted via the mobile app, online portal, or email, which simplifies the handling process and reduces waiting times.
That said, it remains important for dog owners to compare providers carefully. Key factors include coverage details, deductibles, annual or per-claim reimbursement limits, and the insurer’s financial stability and reliability. For newcomers, choosing a provider with transparent conditions and responsive English-speaking support often makes a decisive difference.
| Provider | Health coverage structure | Liability coverage | Waiting periods | Deductibles / limits | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feather | Surgery-only and broader health plans, depending on animal age and tariff | Dog liability available, but dangerous or listed breeds may be excluded | General pet health waiting period; longer waiting periods may apply for certain illnesses | Deductible options and annual caps depend on tariff | Expats who want clear English-language support and straightforward digital handling |
| Getsafe | Surgery and full-cover tariffs with different annual limits and benefit levels | Dog liability available with high coverage amounts, including options up to €50 million | General pet health waiting period; accidents and telemedicine may be covered immediately depending on tariff | Annual caps apply in some health tariffs; Premium options may remove certain annual limits | Owners who want flexible tariffs, high liability coverage, and digital claims handling |
| Lassie | App-based pet health insurance with digital prevention and care features | Dog liability options may be available depending on the selected product setup | Waiting periods depend on the selected tariff and medical condition | Deductibles, reimbursement levels, and limits vary by plan | Dog owners who value app-based guidance, prevention, and digital policy management |
Cost of Dog Insurance
The cost of insuring your dog depends on several factors and can vary widely between providers and policy types.
The price of German dog insurance can vary considerably. For example, pet health insurance costs for a 2-year-old medium-sized dog may range from several hundred euros per year to over €1,000 annually, depending on the level of coverage. Liability insurance is generally more affordable; however, prices also vary depending on the insurer and the dog’s profile.
Factors affecting the cost of dog insurance
- Breed, size, and age of your dog
- Coverage limits
- Deductibles
- Type of the policy — i.e., surgical or comprehensive coverage of pet health insurance, combined dog health and liability
The monthly premiums and the included services determine the price-performance ratio of dog insurance. The right choice strikes a balance between benefits and premiums. Comparing several offers is the most reliable way to find a policy that combines good value for money with the level of protection you need.
Example Dog Treatment Rates
The following table gives examples of how individual veterinary services can be billed under the German Veterinary Fee Schedule (GOT). The figures are not full treatment-package prices. A real vet bill can include several separate items, such as consultation, diagnostics, anesthesia, medication, consumables, hospital stays, and follow-up care.
Emergency treatment in Germany can be significantly more expensive than standard daytime treatment. In addition to higher GOT billing rates, emergency veterinary services charge a mandatory emergency-service fee of €50 plus VAT, and additional medication, diagnostics, or consumables are billed separately. This is one reason why comprehensive dog health insurance should cover emergency treatment and higher GOT reimbursement levels.
| Procedure | Treatment Category | Cost (1x) | Cost (2x) | Cost (3x) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amputation of a Whole Limb | Surgery – Emergency | €280.25 | €560.49 | €840.74 | Gross price based on GOT Nr. 850. Emergency surgery for accidents. |
| Bloat Surgery | Surgery – Emergency | €305.29 | €610.59 | €915.88 | Emergency surgery for GDV. |
| C-section | Surgery – Emergency | €218.21 | €436.42 | €654.63 | Emergency surgical birth. |
| Castration (Male) | Surgery – Elective | €84.01 | €168.03 | €252.04 | Plus anesthesia & materials. |
| Euthanasia by Injection | End-of-Life Care | €36.63 | €73.26 | €109.88 | Comprehensive, one time. |
| Follow-up Treatment (Same Case) | Routine Care – Follow-up | €23.49 | €46.98 | €70.47 | For the same condition. |
| General Examination with Consultation | Routine Care – Examination | €28.11 | €56.23 | €84.32 | Standard check-up. |
| Inpatient Accommodation (per Day) | Hospitalization | €22.71 | €45.41 | €68.12 | Excludes treatment costs. |
| Issue of Certificates | Administrative Services | €20.23 | €40.46 | €60.69 | Travel, health records, etc. |
| Ovariohysterectomy | Surgery – Elective | €228.48 | €456.96 | €685.44 | Removal of ovaries/uterus. |
| Small Blood Count | Diagnostics – Laboratory | €24.75 | €49.50 | €74.26 | Based on the small blood count (Kleines Blutbild). A large/complete blood count is more expensive. |
| Spaying (Female) | Surgery – Elective | €152.64 | €305.28 | €457.92 | Plus anesthesia & materials. |
| Vaccination Certificates | Administrative Services | €7.33 | €14.66 | €21.99 | Proof of vaccination. |
| Wound Treatment (Skin) | Treatment – Minor | €19.04 | €38.08 | €57.12 | Minor skin wounds. |
| X-ray (1st Image) | Diagnostics – Imaging | €31.57 | €63.14 | €94.71 | Standard first X-ray image. Additional images, sedation, positioning, or interpretation may increase the invoice. |
Choosing the Right Dog Insurance Policy
There is no single “best” dog insurance policy. The right choice depends on your personal requirements and budget. However, the following tips can help guide your decision:
- Benefit Limitations: Annual maximum limits should be high enough to ensure proper treatment without incurring excessive out-of-pocket costs.
- Coverage: Surgery-only plans are cheaper, but comprehensive plans protect you from the high costs of other medical treatments.
- Deductible: Higher deductibles lower the premium, but should remain affordable in case of a claim.
- Exclusions: Review exclusions carefully, especially in pet health insurance, as they often relate to preventive or dental care. Pet health insurers do not insure pre-existing conditions. They often also rule out certain hereditary or breed-specific diseases.
- Value for money: The premium should fairly reflect the benefits included.
These factors determine how well a policy truly protects your dog — and your finances. Expats in particular should pay close attention to transparency and the availability of English-language documentation to avoid misunderstandings.
Pet Liability Insurance Considerations
For liability insurance, the sum insured should be at least €5 million. Better policies ensure significantly higher amounts, up to €20 or €50 million. If an insurer separates coverage amounts for personal, property, and economic damages, financial losses should be insured for at least €50,000 and rental property damage for at least €300,000.
Most policies do not require a deductible, and worldwide coverage is often included — though sometimes with time restrictions outside the EU.
Based on our editorial experience reviewing insurance products for expats in Germany, dog owners should focus on more than the monthly price. Veterinary costs and liability claims can escalate quickly, so the best policy should combine strong coverage, clear exclusions, reliable claims handling, and English-language documentation. Feather is a strong option for straightforward digital handling, while Getsafe offers flexible health tariffs and high liability coverage of up to €50 million.
Conclusion
With dog health insurance and dog liability insurance, you ensure comprehensive coverage for both your pet and yourself. These policies protect you from high veterinary bills as well as the financial consequences of damage your dog may cause.
Dog liability insurance is mandatory for all dogs in Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia. In most other German states, it is required at least for dangerous or listed breeds, and in some cases for large dogs. Because the rules vary by federal state, expats should check the local law before moving with a dog.
You can purchase both policies individually or as a combined package, often at a reduced price. When selecting a provider, consider not only premiums but also the insurer’s reputation, customer service, and the clarity of their policy wording. For expats in Germany, digital insurers such as Feather and Getsafe stand out by offering strong protection, clear English documentation, and simple digital management.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
Dog liability insurance is mandatory in many German federal states, while dog health insurance is optional. Liability insurance (Hundehaftpflicht) covers damage or injury your dog causes to others. Health insurance (Hundekrankenversicherung) covers veterinary treatment costs and is strongly recommended but not legally required.
In Germany, dog insurance has two components:
Dog liability insurance – Required in many Bundesländer
Dog health insurance – Voluntary but financially important
Expats should check their specific state’s legal requirements before registering their dog.
Dog insurance in Germany typically covers veterinary treatment costs such as surgeries, diagnostics, medication, and hospital stays. Surgery-only policies cover operations, while comprehensive plans include consultations and preventive care. Coverage depends on the tariff selected and reimbursement level under the GOT system.
A standard dog health insurance policy in Germany may include:
Surgical procedures
X-rays, MRIs, lab tests
Prescribed medication
Veterinary consultations
Hospitalization
Dental surgery (in some plans)
Always check:
Annual coverage limits
Reimbursement level (e.g., 2x–4x GOT)
Waiting periods
Exclusions
Dog insurance in Germany costs between €5 and €70 per month, depending on coverage level, breed, and age. Surgery-only insurance starts at around €5–20 per month, while comprehensive dog health insurance typically costs €15–70+ monthly.
Typical price ranges:
Surgery-only insurance: from €5/month
Full dog health insurance: €15–70+ per month
Factors affecting cost:
Dog’s age
Breed risk classification
Deductible level
Annual reimbursement limit
A single emergency surgery in Germany can exceed €2,000, making insurance financially sensible.
Yes, dog insurance is worth it in Germany because veterinary fees are regulated under the official GOT fee schedule. Emergency treatments can cost thousands of euros, and insurance protects owners from unexpected financial strain.
Dog insurance is particularly valuable for expats because:
German vets charge according to the GOT (mandatory national fee schedule)
Prices cannot be negotiated
Emergency or specialist care is expensive
Policies with English support simplify claims
For many owners, insurance replaces unpredictable vet bills with manageable monthly costs.
The best time to get dog insurance in Germany is when your dog is young and healthy. Younger dogs qualify for lower premiums and fewer exclusions. Most insurers set maximum entry ages between 7 and 9 years.
Insuring early helps you:
Avoid exclusions for pre-existing conditions
Lock in lower premiums
Access comprehensive coverage
Secure long-term protection
For expats relocating to Germany, insurance should be arranged shortly after dog registration.