Liability Insurance Portfolios Shrink for Major German Providers, Dialog Records Largest Percentage Loss

A recent analysis of the German liability insurance market reveals a contraction in contract portfolios for many of the 50 largest providers between 2019 and 2024. While the overall market expanded by approximately seven percent to 50.8 million contracts, a significant number of individual companies experienced declines, with Ergo recording the largest absolute losses and Dialog Insurance AG suffering the most substantial percentage decrease.

Industry-Wide Trends and Key Findings

The “Industry Monitor 2024: Liability Insurance,” published by the German Insurance Industry Federation (GDV), indicates that 27 out of 50 major market participants saw growth over the six-year period (VersicherungsJournal, February 12, 2026). The study encompasses companies holding roughly 98 percent of the market share.

Ergo Leads in Absolute Contract Losses

Ergo Deutschland AG experienced the largest reduction in contracts, losing approximately 442,500 policies, bringing its total to under 1.6 million. Other companies with significant declines include Signal Iduna General Insurance AG (down 555,800 policies), Generali Germany Insurance AG (to 2.16 million), HDI Insurance AG (to 1.1 million), and Gothaer General Insurance AG (to 1.55 million).

Dialog Insurance AG Experiences Steepest Percentage Decline

Dialog Insurance AG saw its portfolio shrink to under 228,200 contracts, representing the largest percentage decrease among the companies analyzed. Hansemerkur General Insurance AG (down to around 359,350) and DEVK Deutsche Eisenbahn Versicherung Sach- und HUK-Versicherungsverein aG (to 509,100) also experienced notable reductions, ranging from 78,300 to 46,600 contracts.

Specific Factors Driving Portfolio Changes

Ergo attributed a substantial portion of its losses in 2021 – nearly 360,000 policies – to adjustments necessitated by the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (March 30, 2023). Signal Iduna’s decline was largely attributed to the non-renewal of 19 group contracts for official liability and company vehicle recourse insurance for members of the police union (Annual Report 2024).

Continuous Decline for Some Providers

DEVK VVaG, Hansemerkur, and Dialog Insurance AG all experienced a consistent decrease in their contract numbers throughout the observation period. While Cologne-based DEVK recorded the highest reduction rate in the final year, Hamburg-based Hansemerkur saw the largest decline in 2022. Dialog’s shrinkage has become more moderate recently, with declines of less than five percent, compared to over seven percent in 2020.

Growth Among Industry Leaders

Despite the overall trend of contraction for many, the largest providers with over 1.6 million contracts generally expanded their portfolios, with the exception of Generali.

Accessing the Full Study

The “Industry Monitor 2025: Liability Insurance” provides a more detailed analysis of the German insurance sector. The approximately 80-page study, covering the period from 2019 to 2024, is available for purchase as a PDF for EUR 892.50 (including VAT) from Maik Entrich via email or phone at 0341 24659262. It’s important to note that the study’s key figures do not differentiate between private and commercial customer premium income and primarily focuses on providers catering to private customers, excluding industrial insurers like Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS) or HDI Global SE.