Transport insurance at a glance – your cover

The global movement of goods is constantly growing – and with it the risks for companies and private individuals. Whether by road, rail, sea or air freight, transportation damage can quickly result in enormous costs. Transport insurance is therefore essential to protect against financial risks. But what damage is actually covered, what additional options are available and how do you find the right provider? This guide provides a clear insurance overview for transportation.

What damage does transport insurance cover?

Reimbursement insurance protects against financial losses if goods or merchandise are damaged, lost or delayed during transportation. It is relevant both for national transportation within Germany and for international deliveries and can be flexibly adapted to the individual needs of companies. Especially in global trade, where goods travel long distances by road, rail, air or sea, comprehensive cover is essential. Typical cases of damage are

• Theft or robbery. Time and again, truck loads are stolen at rest areas or during loading. Transport insurance covers the financial loss so that the company is not left with the costs of the loss.
• Transport damage. This includes breakage, deformation or scratches to sensitive goods such as glass, machinery or electronics, which can be caused by improper handling or inadequate packaging.
• Weather influences. Goods are particularly exposed to moisture, salt water or storms during transportation. But heavy rain, snowfall or heat can also damage goods in transit.
• Accidents. A traffic accident involving a truck or a crane error during reloading at the port can lead to considerable damage. In this case, the transport policy covers the costs of disability insurance or destroyed goods.
• Force majeure. Natural events such as floods, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions are almost impossible to predict and can have a massive impact on supply chains. Transport insurance also covers these events.
• Delays in delivery with consequential damage. Some policies also include protection if late deliveries lead to contractual penalties or financial losses.

In this way, the transport policy supplements the statutory insurance, which in many cases is not sufficient. This is because, by law, freight forwarders are usually only liable up to a certain, very low amount per kilogram of cargo. Especially for high-value goods such as machinery. electronics or luxury goods, additional cover is therefore essential to protect the actual values.

Property insurance importance for transportation

The importance of property insurance in transportation is reflected in the fact that it plays a central role in protecting material assets. While traditional property insurance primarily covers immovable assets such as buildings, operating facilities or technical equipment, transportation insurance is specifically designed for movable goods. These include raw materials, semi-finished and finished goods, machinery or particularly valuable consumer goods such as electronics or luxury goods.

Transport insurance is particularly important because goods in transit are exposed to a variety of risks – be it theft, transport damage, accidents or forces of nature. Without suitable insurance, companies would have to pay for losses themselves in an emergency, which can quickly threaten their existence.

Reimbursement insurance – what is possible?

Some insurers offer so-called reimbursement euro insurance. This means that if no claims are reported during the insurance period, companies or private customers can receive a premium refund. This works in a similar way to a bonus-malus system and is particularly interesting for companies with low claims risks.

Comparison of insurance providers for companies

The insurance overview is crucial for finding the right policy. Companies should not only pay attention to the price, but also to benefits such as

• Sums insured and deductibles;
• Covered transportation risks (road, sea, air, rail);
• Additional services such as worldwide protection or storage cover;
• Service quality and claims processing speed.

This is where an insurance broker can support companies by obtaining customized offers and transparently presenting the differences between insurers. Especially in international trade, it pays to have an experienced partner.

All in one insurance – is it worth it?

Many providers advertise an all-in-one insurance policy that combines various risks in one policy. In addition to transport insurance, this can also include public liability, property insurance or even modules such as the costs of occupational disability insurance.

Everything bundled in one insurance contract, often at more favorable conditions. The disadvantage: flexibility suffers as individual modules are not as customizable. However, this can be a sensible solution for small companies with manageable risks.

Transport insurance is an indispensable form of cover in the modern movement of goods. It protects against damage caused by theft, accidents or force majeure and supplements the often inadequate statutory insurance of freight forwarders. A thorough comparison of insurance providers and advice from an insurance broker can help you find the optimum solution.

If you are looking for additional security, you can also take out all-in-one insurance, but you will have to compromise on flexibility. In this way, the transportation of goods remains calculable – whether regionally, Europe-wide with Euro insurance, or in international business.