Understanding liability and insurance

Moving liability and insurance: checks before booking

Before signing a moving contract, record who does which work and what any liability or insurance protection relates to. The word insured alone identifies neither the insured risk nor the compensation available. This guide helps prepare a private household move within Germany.

Umzughilfen editorial team · Updated 15/10/2026

AI-generated illustration: an intact table lamp is photographed before packing — AI-generated illustration of recording condition before a move. Not a customer job, proof of insurance or example of a compensation decision.

1. Identify the contract and actual responsibilities

HGB section 451 addresses contracts for carrying household removal goods. Separate checks are needed for standalone carrying help, your own vehicle, separately contracted storage or international moves.

Record the full name of the company providing the quote and becoming your contracting party. Identify transport, packing, furniture work and any other companies clearly. A platform address or a contact person's name does not establish that allocation.

HGB section 451: removal contract

2. Keep four different questions separate

For loss or damage to goods, HGB section 425 addresses the period from acceptance for carriage to delivery. Actual liability also depends on further requirements. When insurance is mentioned, ask precisely which protection is meant.

Term	What to examine	Request this record or answer
Carrier liability	Assess a claim against the responsible company.	Liability information and contract terms.
The company's liability insurance	Which company and risk are insured?	Evidence matching the activities involved.
Agreed extended liability	Is an extension expressly offered and agreed?	Scope, price and written agreement.
Insurance for the goods in transit	Which belongings, events and journey stages are insured?	Policy or binding confirmation of cover and conditions.

HGB section 425: liability during carriage

3. Separate the liability limit from the value of belongings

The calculation replaces neither assessment of the loss nor confirmation of insurance cover. Ask how the required loading space and documents apply to the job.

Under HGB section 451e, the basic loss/damage limit is €620 per m³ of loading space required for the contract. Illustrative assumption: 10 m³ gives €6,200 as the calculated limit, not an automatic payment.

For loss, section 429 uses the value at the place and time of acceptance; for damage, the corresponding difference in value. Today's replacement price is therefore not automatically the compensation.

Under the specific conditions of section 435, statutory limits can cease to apply, including intentional conduct or recklessness with awareness that damage would probably occur. Whether those conditions are met requires an individual assessment.

Where the sender is a consumer, section 451h prohibits departures from the specified liability rules to their disadvantage. Have unclear or blanket exclusion clauses reviewed before signing.

4. Clarify self-packing and special belongings in advance

Self-packing can raise special risks under section 451d. Exemption requires causation and other statutory conditions; these need individual assessment.

Record who packs, labels and hands over each item. Discuss valuable or delicate belongings before confirming the price and give special instructions in writing. Artwork, glass and other specialist items may require separate assessment and suitable packaging.

Record packing responsibility and condition for numbered items.
Confirm a changed allocation of work before handover.
Identify valuable originals and specific requirements explicitly.
Resolve concerns about unsuitable packaging before transport starts.

HGB section 451d: special grounds for exemption

5. Read an insurance offer against its actual terms

Insurance concerns an agreed risk and event (§ 1 VVG). Check your documents using the original questions below; they describe no particular policy.

Review point	Specific question	Record in the documents
People and belongings	Who is insured and which objects are included?	Contract reference and included belongings.
Period and route	Which stages, handovers or temporary storage are included?	Start, end, locations and unresolved interfaces.
Valuation and amount	How are values and compensation calculated? Are there limits per item?	Valuation basis and agreed sums.
Exclusions and excess	Which events or packing types are excluded, and what excess applies?	Applicable clauses and amount or calculation.
Notification	Who notifies whom and what evidence is required?	Contact, procedure and contractual duties.

VVG section 1: agreed risk and insured event

6. Prepare a short inventory and condition record

Photographs, traceable identification and existing records help assess later statements. Record actual condition before packing, including existing marks. Keep the list and documents accessible on handover day.

Belonging	Record beforehand	Clarify in the order
Picture or mirror	Number, front and back, dimensions and visible condition.	Packing, handling and special instructions.
Furniture	Overall view, connections and existing wear.	Dismantling, carriage and agreed assembly.
Appliance	Model, visible condition and existing purchase or repair records.	Preparation and separately ordered work.
Carton	Number, contents group and who packed it.	Destination room and handover notes.

7. Obtain claims contacts and instructions before moving

HGB section 451f sets short loss/damage notification periods: visible loss or damage by the day after delivery; concealed loss or damage within 14 days. Act immediately when damage is discovered.

After delivery, section 438(4) requires text form. Describe the item and damage specifically and retain the message and sending evidence. Consumer information under section 451g can affect reliance on exclusion rules; seek legal assessment for unresolved cases.

Agree the carrier's reachable notification address and who attends delivery. A message only to a referral platform does not replace the required notification to the carrier.

8. Sign with the outstanding points resolved

For consumers, section 451g requires prominently presented information about liability and options for extended liability or insurance when contracting. Request an understandable version.

Keep the quote, confirmed work allocation, liability information and any insurance documents together. Consumer or legal advice can help with individual disputes or unclear clauses.

The named contracting company and each party's work are clear.
Loading space, values and special belongings are recorded intelligibly.
Self-packing and ordered packing are allocated.
Any agreed additional protection is expressly documented.
Claims contacts, handover arrangements and notification instructions are available.

HGB section 451g: consumer information

Questions about moving liability and insurance

Are all my belongings automatically fully insured?

Check the particular protection, terms and risks stated in the documents for your order.

Do self-packed cartons mean losing every claim?

Not automatically. Record responsibility and condition, then have the cause and applicable requirements assessed.

Will I always receive a new replacement?

Not necessarily. Statutory compensation and the valuation rules of a policy require separate checks.

Can I agree additional protection?

Ask the moving company about expressly agreed extended liability or the possibility of goods-in-transit insurance. Have scope, conditions and price explained in writing before concluding an agreement.

Who should I contact about damage?

Notify the responsible carrier through the contact established beforehand. Also follow any applicable conditions of your own insurance. Assess the referral service's role and its own duties separately.

Legal sources and further reading

German-language primary sources checked on 15 October 2026. Guidance for private domestic removal contracts in Germany. This article confirms neither insurance cover nor an individual entitlement.