Who is liable if an accident happens with a vehicle that was handed over? This page summarises § 7, § 12, § 12a, § 17 and § 18 of the German Road Traffic Act.
Zevra is the B2B platform for digital vehicle registration for car dealers, registration services and fleets: cases are entered in the dealer portal and filed nationwide by power of attorney with qualified electronic signature – from €10 per registration, no base fee, no minimum volume.
Last updated: · Zevra editorial team · Reviewed by M. Gabal, owner
What is the keeper liable for?
If a person is killed or injured or property is damaged during the operation of a motor vehicle, the keeper is obliged to compensate the damage.
The duty to compensate is excluded if the accident is caused by force majeure.
Which maximum amounts apply?
| Damage | Maximum amount |
|---|---|
| death or injury of persons | 5 million euros |
| personal injury with an automated or autonomous driving function | 10 million euros |
| property damage | 1 million euros |
| property damage with an automated or autonomous driving function | 2 million euros |
| carriage of dangerous goods: personal injury or damage to immovable property | 10 million euros each |
The amounts apply to one and the same event in each case. In paid, commercial passenger transport, 600,000 euros are added for each further person once more than 8 passengers are injured.
What applies if someone uses the vehicle without the keeper's knowledge?
If someone uses the motor vehicle without the knowledge and consent of the keeper, he is liable in place of the keeper.
The keeper remains liable alongside if he made the use possible through his own fault. If he handed over the vehicle or employed the user, his liability remains.
Is the driver liable too?
The driver of the motor vehicle is also obliged to compensate the damage.
His duty to compensate is excluded if the damage was not caused through his fault.
How is damage shared among several vehicles?
If several motor vehicles cause damage, the settlement between the keepers depends on who predominantly caused the damage.
If the compensation payments exceed the maximum amount, they are reduced proportionally.
What does this mean for dealers?
For rental companies and fleets this means: whoever hands over a rental vehicle remains liable as keeper; liability insurance therefore belongs to every rental vehicle.
With Zevra the dealer files registration and deregistration in the dealer portal. Registration costs from 10 € per case, deregistration 2 € net, plus official fees.
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- Recourse in motor liability insurance: obligations, purpose of use and maximum amounts
- Checking the driving licence: what the keeper risks under § 21 StVG
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- Temporary registration proof: valid for 10 days
- Documents posted by the authority: within 6 days
- Digital deregistration: documents from 01.01.2015
- Digital registration: documents from 01.01.2018
- Registration with Zevra: €10 net
- Deregistration with Zevra: €2 net · base fee: €0
Deadlines and cut-off dates according to: Bundesministerium für Verkehr
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Sources: Straßenverkehrsgesetz (StVG) § 7 – Haftung des Halters, Schwarzfahrt · Straßenverkehrsgesetz (StVG) § 12 – Höchstbeträge · Straßenverkehrsgesetz (StVG) § 12a – Höchstbeträge bei Beförderung gefährlicher Güter · Straßenverkehrsgesetz (StVG) § 17 – Schadensverursachung durch mehrere Kraftfahrzeuge · Straßenverkehrsgesetz (StVG) § 18 – Ersatzpflicht des Fahrzeugführers · Sources · Vehicle figures: tax, insurance, fines