Procedure descriptions

Accident insurance – Register your business

Anyone setting up a business must register it with the relevant accident insurance provider within one week.

Under the law, the commercial employers’ liability insurance associations are responsible for all businesses, organisations and self-employed professionals, unless responsibility lies with the agricultural employers’ liability insurance associations or public-sector accident insurance providers. For those starting a business, therefore, a commercial employers’ liability insurance association is usually responsible.

Insurance claims under accident insurance cover work-related accidents and occupational diseases. Work-related accidents are defined as

  • all accidents sustained on the premises whilst carrying out the actual work, and
  • all accidents occurring whilst travelling to and from work (the direct journey from home to the place of work and back).

Forms/Online Services

Responsible department

  • the trade and agricultural employers’ liability insurance associations
  • public sector accident insurance providers
  • the German Social Accident Insurance

Details

Prerequisite

none

Procedure

  • You must register your business with the accident insurance provider responsible for you.
  • You can find an online registration form on the website of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV).
  • You will also find a PDF form there, which you can use to submit your registration.
  • Please send the PDF form to the employers’ liability insurance association that corresponds to your main sector and, therefore, the focus of your business activities.

Please note: You will receive a notice stating the amount of the contribution due.

Deadlines

Registration should take place within one week of the business commencing operations.

Required documents

none

Costs

  • Registration for accident insurance: none
  • Accident insurance contribution: varies
    The contribution is calculated on the basis of
    • the relevant remuneration,
    • the risk categories and
    • the contribution rate.

Miscellaneous

As an employer, you are obliged to report accidents at work or commuting accidents to the statutory accident insurance scheme. This applies in particular if an employee is unable to work for more than three days as a result of the accident. This is usually done using a form. Many employers’ liability insurance associations and accident insurance funds already offer the option of reporting incidents online via their websites.

For general information, you can contact the nationwide ‘Statutory Accident Insurance Infoline’ from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, on 0800 6050404. There, businesses and insured persons can obtain information on all matters relating to statutory accident insurance. If necessary, you will also be put through to the relevant employers’ liability insurance association or accident insurance fund. You can also contact the accident insurance scheme by email at info@dguv.de.

Legal basis

Siebtes Buch Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB VII):

  • § 150 Beitragspflichtige

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg, 28.05.2026