Insurance for boats: Our online service - Boat insurance: What motorboat drivers need to know

Are you adequately insured?

Before you set off on a cruise with your boat or take a trailer to the area of your dreams: check whether you are really adequately insured against all possible risks! The more carefree you can enjoy your leisure time on the water.

Insurance for boats is not mandatory in Germany - unlike for cars. In practice, however, it is a must, at least water sports liability insurance. After all, anyone who causes damage must make good the damage. They are liable with their total assets. Without insurance cover, this can mean financial ruin if the worst comes to the worst!

Without insurance cover, this can mean financial ruin if the worst comes to the worst!

Many boaters do not take out hull insurance. Nevertheless, it is also recommended, even though it is significantly more expensive than the comparatively favourable liability insurance, depending on the value of the boat and the corresponding sum insured.

Why play it safe?

What if you can't hold anyone else liable for damage to your own boat? This is not uncommon. Unlike with cars (strict liability), the principle of fault-based liability applies to water sports. With a hull insurance policy, you don't need to worry about this.

What happens in the event of theft? Our readers have always paid a lot of attention to our WANTED section, and yet hardly anyone expects to be affected themselves. Nobody can rule it out. If the unexpected happens, your boat hobby may be over without hull insurance.

Risk at any time of year

Salvage and wreck removal costs - which can be a real nightmare in the event of a claim - are covered by most yacht hull insurance policies over and above the agreed sum insured.

Salvage and wreck removal costs can become a real nightmare in the event of a claim.

And the dangers are not over at the end of the season, as the recent increase in winter storage shed fires shows. As brutal as it may be, those without comprehensive insurance are left empty-handed!

More on the topic

• Contract types: Boat hull, liability and co.
• Counsellor: Which insurance is right for me?
• Lexicon: From all-risk cover to current value
• Provider: List of boat insurances