Carrier's liability insurance. You find out your best rate in seconds!

Insurance cover applies to freight contracts in road haulage in Europe (Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark (excluding Greenland), Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Croatia, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey (European part), Czech Republic, Hungary, Vatican City, Cyprus) (geographical borders).

However, excluding Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, Belarus, including the regions of Crimea, Luhansk (LNR) and Donetsk (DNR).

The policyholder's contractual liability for freight is insured, covering responsibilities arising from paid freight contracts using vehicles owned by the company. The scope of traffic liability insurance encompasses various liability risks relevant to companies in the transport and logistics sector. While exact coverage depends on the specific insurance contract, it typically includes the following areas:

• Liability for damage to goods

Damage to goods: The insurance provides coverage if the goods being transported or stored are damaged, for instance, due to accidents, improper handling, or adverse weather conditions.

Loss of goods: Should goods be lost during transport or storage; the insurance covers the cost of replacing the lost items.

Partial or total loss: The insurance generally covers the complete loss of goods, and any partial damage sustained during transportation.

The insurance covers the policyholder's contractual liability for the carriage of goods by road within the territorial scope of application, internationally by the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), nationally by the applicable statutory provisions of other countries, e.g. in accordance by German statutory provisions, in particular §§ 407 et seq. of the German Commercial Code (HGB). German Commercial Code (HGB).

The insurer's obligation to secure includes the satisfaction of justified and the defense of unfounded claims for damages asserted against the policyholder as the contractor of a contract of carriage.

In summary, transport liability insurance offers comprehensive protection for companies operating in the transport and logistics sector. It mainly covers liability risks for damage, loss, or delay of goods. The exact structure and cover vary depending on the contract and individual agreements.

Compulsory insurance in accordance with Section 7a of the Road Haulage Act (GüKG) is of central importance for companies that operate commercial road haulage. This regulation requires transport companies to take out liability insurance to cover financial losses that may arise in connection with the transport of goods. The importance of this compulsory insurance arises for several reasons:

1. Protection of customers and contractual partners

2. Securing the existence of the transport company

3. Regulatory Compliance

4. Fulfilment of liability requirements under national and international law

5. Avoiding reputational damage

Compulsory insurance by Section 7a GüKG is crucial to protect transport companies and their customers against financial risks that may arise from damage during the transport of goods. It is a legal requirement that ensures the company's survival and promotes confidence in the industry. Without this insurance, it would be illegal for transport companies to operate in commercial road haulage, and they would expose themselves to significant liability risks

When requesting a quote, the policyholder can pay a deductible of EUR 300, 500, 750, or EUR 1,000 per claim.

The WACS clause for the insurance of third-party trailers, swap bodies, containers, and semi trailers includes a separate excess, which is set at EUR 1,000 per claim and may differ from the agreed excess for damage to goods.

The deductibles apply independently of each other.

The Carrier's liability insurance is taken out for the runtime of one year. The insurance is automatically renewed if it is not cancelled in good time.

As a rule, renewal is tacit unless one of the contracting parties cancels the contract by the agreed deadlines.

The policyholder may revoke his contractual declaration in text form (e.g. letter, fax, e-mail) within 14 days without stating reasons. Timely dispatch of the revocation is sufficient to comply with the revocation period. The revocation must be sent to the relevant insurance company.

We offer cover for goods of all kinds. However, there are exclusions in the insurance conditions.

Unless mandatory statutory provisions preclude compulsory insurance, the following are not covered:

• carriage violated against public law regulations governing the carriage of goods,
• damage due to willful causation of the insured event by the policyholder or one of his representatives, furthermore, claims against the vicarious agent himself if he has acted willfully.
• claims arising from damage caused by other vicarious agents of the policyholder willfully or recklessly and in the knowledge that damage would probably occur, provided that the policyholder or its representatives have willfully or grossly negligently failed to exercise due care in the selection or supervision of the vicarious agents,
• claims arising from losses over 1,000,000 euros caused by the policyholder or his representatives willfully or recklessly and in the knowledge that a loss would probably occur,
• claims arising from damage over 1,000,000 euros caused by other vicarious agents of the policyholder willfully or recklessly and in the knowledge that damage would probably occur, provided that the policyholder or his representatives have willfully or grossly failed to exercise the care required during business when selecting or supervising the vicarious agents,
• claims arising from damage due to significant defects in the policyholder's business, if the insurer has already demanded that the defects be rectified with notice of the legal consequences (exclusion of risk),
• claims arising from damage caused by natural disasters, nuclear energy, war, warlike events, civil war, civil war, civil unrest, strike, lockout, acts of terrorism, acts of force majeure, seizure or confiscation by a state-recognized authority,
• personal injury,
• transport of radioactive substances,
• transport of live animals, motor vehicles, special transport (§§ 22, 29 StVO),
• damage to paintwork, scratches, and scrapes on motor vehicles being transported
• transport of removal goods and unpacked furniture of all kinds,
• transport of goods at risk of theft and robbery, such as spirits, tobacco products, consumer electronics, telecommunications equipment, IT equipment and accessories, optical devices (e.g. digital cameras) with a goods value of more than 50,000 euros per consignment and 200,000 euros per journey and lorry combination,
• claims arising from exceeding delivery deadlines that were not reasonably agreed in the circumstances,
• claims arising from damage to precious metals, jewelry, precious stones, means of payment, valuables, securities, stamps, documents, and deeds,
• claims arising from damage to paintings, sculptures, and other works of art and valuables with an individual value of more than 2,500 euros,
• unusual agreements,
• damages of a punitive nature, e.g. fines, administrative penalties, fines, enforcement and security payments, and other payments of a punitive or penal nature and the associated costs.

Vehicle

The policyholder must only use vehicles and swap bodies, trailers, containers, semi-trailers, trailers, chassis, cranes / lifting equipment and other equipment (including ropes, belts, etc.) that are in perfect condition and suitable for the respective order. When transporting temperature-controlled goods, the policyholder must only use vehicle units with a valid ATP certificate and refrigerated recorder, note the temperature to be maintained in the transport document and instruct the driving personnel to regularly check and document compliance with the temperature during transportation.

Vehicle units of the company's own operation to be used in road freight transport must each be equipped with two independently functioning anti-theft devices (this does not include door locks) and the drivers must be instructed to switch on the anti-theft devices when leaving the vehicle.

The policyholder must ensure that his own loaded swap bodies, trailers, containers, semi-trailers, trailers and chassis, etc., or those of third parties within his sphere of influence and responsibility are secured against theft or robbery, in particular at night, at weekends and on public holidays.

The policyholder must ensure that:

• the approvals required for the execution of the order are available and official requirements are met.
• the functionality of the electrical devices used for order processing, in particular the hardware and software for data processing or control of machines and systems, is not disrupted and the data is secured in accordance with the respective requirements.
• suitable storage or transshipment buildings or areas, as well as technical or other equipment, must be used for the respective order and it must be ensured that legal or official requirements are met and that safety devices are not disrupted in their functionality.

Delivery receipt

The policyholder must ensure that shipments are only delivered against a receipt from the recipient, unless delivery without a receipt has been agreed with the client. The burden of proof for this lies with the policyholder.

The policyholder must also:

• carefully select and monitor employees
• to select subcontractors and vicarious agents with the diligence of a prudent businessman and to ensure that they also fulfill the aforementioned obligations of the policyholder and have insurance in force that meets the usual conditions and any applicable statutory provisions;
• to notify the insurer immediately of any changes to the terms and conditions, individual agreements, documents, freight documents or other agreements relating to the policyholder's liability of which the insurer has been made aware and which are included in the insurance cover by the Special Conditions of Insurance or the company description;
• to comply with laws, regulations, official orders or decrees, trade association regulations or other safety regulations.

Rolling stock

In some cases, vehicles only apply as insured if listed under 8. "Vehicle register" the policyholder is responsible for notifying the insurer without delay of any changes in the vehicle stock (e.g., registration plate, number, type, payload). Additional vehicles are not insured until the insurer has received the written notification.

Hired vehicles used as a temporary substitute for a canceled truck insured under this contract shall be covered for a period not exceeding one month without registration. In the event of a claim, the policyholder shall prove the conditions of this provision.

Agreements for international transport

The policyholder must observe the following security measures to be covered by insurance.

Motor vehicles, trailers, or semi-trailers with loads may only be left for more than 45 minutes when parked in guarded parking lots.

The hauler must lock the vehicles properly, and the windows must be closed whenever they are left.

In addition, the vehicles must be equipped with at least two anti-theft devices (this does not include the door locks). These devices must be switched on every time the vehicle is left.

If a vehicle is stolen, the hauler must report the theft immediately to the nearest police station. If someone finds the truck again, the finder must call the police station or the accident commissioner immediately. The assured must determine which anti-theft devices were present and switched on and how these could be surmounted.

In addition, the policyholder is committed to reporting the theft immediately to the police station responsible for his headquarters.

The policyholder shall:

• report any claim or claim for liability to the insurer without delay, and at the latest within one month, and submit all documents necessary for the assessment, such as claim, original transport documents, the report of the accident commissioner, etc.
• to prevent and mitigate the damage, provide the insurer with all necessary information, and comply with any instructions.
• to inform the insurer without delay of any legal action against him in connection with an insured activity and to have the necessary legal remedies or remedies, in particular appeals against orders for payment,
• not to recognize or settle any claim or assign any insurance or redress without the consent of the insurer,
• to initiate proceedings with the claimant at the insurer's request and expense.
• to immediately report any theft, robbery, and any traffic accident with possible damage to the cargo to the person responsible police station and the insurer, and in the case of all damage over 1,500 euros and damage whose extent or amount is doubtful, to notify the nearest average commissioner and follow his instructions.
• to safeguard possible recourse claims by third parties and to observe the complaint deadlines.
• to inform the claimant that sending the documents to the insurer does not constitute negotiation about the claim with a corresponding limitation-suspending effect within the meaning of Section 203 of the German Civil Code.

In the event of a breach of contractual obligation the policyholder must fulfill vis-a-vis the insurer before the insured event occurs, the insurer may cancel the contract without notice within one month of becoming aware of the breach, unless the breach is not due to intent or gross negligence.

If the policyholder willfully breaches an obligation, the insurer shall not be liable to pay benefits.

If the policyholder breaches an obligation through gross negligence, the insurer is entitled to reduce its payment in proportion to the severity of the policyholder's fault; the burden of proof that gross negligence stays with the policyholder.

If the breach of the obligation is neither the cause of the occurrence or determination of the insured event nor the determination or extent of the insurer's duty to pay, the insurer remains obliged to perform unless the policyholder has fraudulently breached the obligation.

The policyholder's/insured person's agents are those appointed by the statutory provisions. Authorized signatories and other third parties are also representatives if they act independently for the policyholder/insured person to a certain, not entirely insignificant extent and whose area of responsibility and competence is the organization and execution of transport contracts.

This insurance contract is governed by German law, particularly by the provisions of the VVG.

The policyholder's court for the place of establishment or registered office shall have jurisdiction in any action brought against a policyholder relating to the payment of a premium, payment of a deductible, claims for redress, or any other reason.

In proceedings against the insurer, the court is at the place where the insurer's competent managing authority has jurisdiction.

The contract language is German. If the policy is in English, English shall be the contractual language.

In the case of correspondence in other languages, the German version alone shall apply in the event of disagreement on the translation or questions of interpretation. Translations other than English are not binding.

The contract currency is euro. In the event of damage, benefits would be paid in euros. The insurer does not provide cover for conversion or exchange rate fluctuations.

Insurance contract claims expire after three years. Contractual claims under an insurance policy expire after three years. The period of limitation begins at the end of the year, in which the claim can be made.