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How to File an Insurance Claim in Germany: Schadensmeldung

By the GoGermany Editorial Team · 2026-08-05

A step-by-step guide to filing an insurance claim (Schadensmeldung) in Germany: deadlines, documents, photos, Selbstbeteiligung, rejected claims, and tips for Haftpflicht, Hausrat and Kfz cover.

Something went wrong — your phone slipped from your hand and cracked a neighbour's window, a pipe burst and soaked your laptop, or another driver reversed into your car. In Germany, getting your money back means filing a Schadensmeldung (a formal damage/claim report) with the right insurer, in the right way, before the deadline. Germans are famously well-insured, and the claims system works well when you follow the process. This guide walks you through it step by step, whatever type of policy you hold.

First: which insurance actually pays?

Before you report anything, work out which policy covers the loss. The three you will meet most often are:

• Private Haftpflichtversicherung (personal liability) — pays when you damage someone else's property or injure another person. This is the single most important voluntary insurance in Germany.
• Hausratversicherung (home contents) — pays when your own belongings are damaged or stolen: fire, water, burglary, storm.
• Kfz-Versicherung (motor insurance) — Haftpflicht (mandatory, pays the other party) plus optional Teilkasko/Vollkasko (partial/comprehensive, pays for your own car).

If someone else damaged your things, you usually claim against their liability insurer, not your own. If you caused the damage, your Haftpflicht pays the victim. Getting this right first saves weeks.

The golden rule: report without delay (unverzüglich)

Almost every German policy requires you to report a claim unverzüglich — "without culpable delay." This is a legal term of art, not just a suggestion. In practice, report as soon as you reasonably can, and within a few days at the latest. Some events have hard deadlines on top of that:

• Burglary or theft: report to the Polizei (police) immediately and get the file number (Aktenzeichen). Insurers almost always require a police report for theft.
• Car accidents: notify your insurer, typically within 7 days. If there are injuries, hit-and-run, or a foreign party, always call the police.
• Water or fire damage: report at once and take steps to limit further damage (your Schadenminderungspflicht — duty to mitigate). Turn off the water, move belongings, but don't throw damaged items away yet.

Missing the deadline or waiting too long can give the insurer grounds to reduce or refuse payment, so err on the side of reporting early.

Step by step: filing the Schadensmeldung

1. Secure the scene and mitigate further loss

Stop the damage getting worse. Shut off the water main, unplug soaked electronics, put a tarp over a broken window. Keep receipts for any emergency repairs (an emergency plumber, a locksmith) — these are usually reimbursable.

2. Gather evidence before you clean up

This is the step people rush and regret. Document everything:

• Photos and video of the damage from several angles, plus wide shots showing context.
• The cause if visible (the burst pipe, the point of forced entry).
• Serial numbers, model names and original receipts for damaged or stolen items — this proves ownership and value.
• Contact details of any witnesses and the other party (name, address, and for cars, the licence plate and their insurer plus policy number).

Do not dispose of damaged items until the insurer confirms you can. They may want to inspect them or send a Gutachter (expert assessor).

3. Report to the insurer

Most insurers now offer several channels: an online claim form or app, a hotline, or email. Have your policy number (Versicherungsscheinnummer) ready. Report the bare facts quickly to meet the deadline; you can supply photos and receipts afterwards. Note the date, the name of the person you spoke to, and any reference number they give you.

4. Write the claim clearly

Whether online or by letter, a good Schadensmeldung answers: what happened, when and where, how it happened, what was damaged, and the estimated value. Stick to facts and stay neutral — never admit personal fault in writing before the insurer assesses liability, especially in a liability or car claim. If you are not confident writing in German, keep sentences short and factual; some insurers accept English, but German is safest. Building your everyday German helps here — our learn German resources cover exactly this kind of practical vocabulary.

A simple structure works well:

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, hiermit melde ich einen Schaden. Am [date] gegen [time] ist Folgendes passiert: [what happened]. Betroffen sind: [items]. Der geschätzte Schaden beträgt ca. [€ amount]. Fotos und Belege füge ich bei. Meine Versicherungsscheinnummer lautet [number].

5. Cooperate with the assessment

For larger claims the insurer may send a Gutachter or ask for repair quotes (Kostenvoranschläge). Provide what they ask for promptly. Keep copies of everything you send.

Understanding your Selbstbeteiligung (deductible)

Many policies — especially Kasko car cover and some Hausrat policies — carry a Selbstbeteiligung (excess/deductible): a fixed amount you pay yourself per claim, commonly €150–€500. If your repair costs €800 and your Selbstbeteiligung is €300, the insurer pays €500. For small damages below or near your excess, it is often not worth claiming at all — and in car insurance, claiming also costs you your Schadenfreiheitsklasse (no-claims discount), pushing up next year's premium. Do the maths before you file a small Kfz claim.

What if your claim is rejected?

A rejection (Ablehnung) is not the end. You have clear options:

1. Ask for the reason in writing and read your policy conditions (Versicherungsbedingungen) against it. Rejections often hinge on a specific exclusion or a missed duty.
2. File a Widerspruch (formal objection) — a written letter contesting the decision, ideally with new evidence or a clear argument about why the exclusion doesn't apply. There is usually no strict deadline for a Widerspruch to the insurer, but act promptly.
3. Contact the Versicherungsombudsmann — Germany's free, independent insurance ombudsman. For most disputes up to €100,000 its decision is binding on the insurer (not on you). It is free for consumers and a genuinely effective route. For health insurance disputes there is a separate ombudsman.
4. Consider legal help. If you hold Rechtsschutzversicherung (legal-expenses insurance), it may cover a lawyer. Many consumer advice centres (Verbraucherzentrale) also offer low-cost guidance.

Tips by insurance type

Haftpflicht: if you break someone's property, resist the urge to "just pay for it." Report it to your insurer and let them handle liability — that is what you pay premiums for. Get the injured party's details.

Hausrat: this is where an up-to-date inventory pays off. Keep photos and receipts of valuables somewhere safe (cloud storage). After a burglary, list every missing item with its value. If you are still setting up your home, our housing guide covers renting and contents cover for newcomers.

Kfz: at the scene, exchange details and photograph the position of the vehicles. Use the Europäischer Unfallbericht (European Accident Statement) — a standard form — so both parties agree on the facts. Decide carefully between claiming on Kasko (your excess plus a higher future premium) or via the other driver's Haftpflicht.

Health costs work differently: statutory and private health insurers reimburse via bills and treatment, not a classic Schadensmeldung. If you are still sorting cover, our health insurance guide explains the options for new arrivals.

Bottom line

File fast (unverzüglich), document thoroughly with photos and receipts, claim from the correct policy, and stay factual in writing. Weigh your Selbstbeteiligung before filing small claims. And if you are turned down, a Widerspruch or the free Versicherungsombudsmann gives you a real second chance. Handled properly, the German claims system does what it promises: it pays.

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