Insurance Policy Translation for Germany

Names of classes of cover and their counterparts

Classes of insurance in Germany go by their own settled names, and the translation has to bridge those concepts correctly: liability insurance is Haftpflichtversicherung, compulsory motor third party insurance is Kfz-Haftpflicht, own damage motor cover is Kaskoversicherung (partial, Teilkasko; comprehensive, Vollkasko), and health insurance is Krankenversicherung. Instead of equating the words “kasko” or “trafik sigortası” in a Turkish policy with a German class, the scope of the cover is conveyed as the document states it, with the counterpart explained in brackets where that helps, since the product definitions of the two countries do not map onto one another exactly. Terms such as cover, risk, loss and deductible travel with their settled equivalents.

Health insurance holds a particular place in Germany: proof of valid health cover is looked for in residence permit and certain visa procedures, and the scope of cover and the period of validity of the policy are read in that light. The limit of cover, the deductible and the term stated in the policy are data the authority handling the matter, or the German insurer, assesses directly, which is why these fields are carried across in full and exactly as they stand.

The BaFin context and validity abroad

Insurance companies in Germany are subject to BaFin supervision, whereas a Turkish policy has been issued within the Turkish regulatory framework (SEDDK); the translation does not turn it into a German policy but carries it across with its own identity. That distinction also shows that how far the cover will be treated as valid in Germany is for the German insurer and the authority to assess; the translation prepares the ground for that assessment, it does not determine the outcome. Documents such as the green card (Grüne Karte), issued for the international use of motor vehicles, are separate documents evidencing the cross-border validity of the policy, and they are translated consistently with it.

Where a loss occurs abroad, the policy becomes the basis of the claim for indemnity; a loss is called a Schaden in German, and the claim file, meaning the Schadenmeldung, the loss adjusters’ reports and the invoices, is assessed together with the policy. A term in the policy that contradicts the wording of a claim document delays the examination of the claim, which is why the file is translated as a whole and in a consistent manner.

No claims history is another detail that often calls for translation in motor insurance; the German system applies a classification based on the driver’s claim-free years (Schadenfreiheitsklasse), and no claims information from a Turkish policy may be used in that assessment. When such a no claims or claims history document is translated, the number of years, the policy periods and any loss records are carried across exactly, because showing one year too few or too many affects the classification directly, and with it the premium. In the same way, where a document evidencing health cover is submitted in the context of a residence permit, the scope and the period of validity of the cover are set out in full; these are the fields the authority handling the matter looks at directly when deciding whether the cover is sufficient. The schedules and clauses of the policy are part of the same whole; leaving out an additional clause that narrows or widens a cover makes the true limit of that cover appear other than it is. For that reason, a policy submitted in Germany is translated not only on its face but together with the special conditions it refers to. If the policy has been varied during its term by an endorsement, the date and the amounts of that variation are also carried across in full, so that the document reflects its current state; otherwise it becomes unclear for which period and to what extent the cover applied.

• Do not equate a Turkish class of cover with a German product; convey its scope.
• Carry the limit of cover, the deductible and the term across exactly.
• Translate the policy and the claim file consistently, with one vocabulary.

Certification: apostille and the sworn translator

An insurance policy is a private law document; a sworn translation is often enough for an administrative claim file, while notarisation and an apostille may come into play once a dispute is taken to court. If the policy is to be notarised and submitted in an official procedure, the apostille is obtained from the governor’s office or the district governor’s office. A translation submitted in an official procedure in Germany bears the stamp of a translator sworn before the courts (öffentlich bestellter und beeidigter Übersetzer); as Germany is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, confirm the current position from the official HCCH list. You can run your claim file through our single office in Ankara Kızılay, see the cost on our pricing page and request a quote by uploading your document. This page is for general information and is not insurance or legal advice; consult your insurer about the scope of your cover.