Apply for exemption from the obligation to obtain a license as an insurance intermediary

If you would like to work as a self-employed ancillary insurance intermediary, you can be exempted from the licensing requirement for insurance intermediaries.

As a self-employed insurance broker, you generally need a license. Your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) is responsible for this. However, as a so-called product-accessory insurance intermediary, you can be exempted from the licensing requirement. To do so, you must submit an application to your local IHK.

You are a product-accessory insurance broker if you broker supplementary insurance policies in addition to your main activity. This means that the risk for which you broker insurance must arise directly from the product or service.

Example of such supplementary insurance brokerage:

• The brokerage of motor vehicle insurance in connection with the purchase of a car.
• The brokerage of life insurance as security for the conclusion of a loan agreement.
• The brokerage of transportation insurance in connection with delivery services.

You must also be entered in the register of insurance intermediaries. When applying for exemption from licensing, you can also apply to be entered in the register of intermediaries.

Special features for foreign nationals:

If you are a foreign national and have a branch in another member state of the European Union (EU), you must register in that country. You do not require a license exemption in Germany, nor can you be entered in the German insurance intermediary register.

Foreign nationals from non-EU countries are subject to the same regulations as German nationals. These also apply to EU nationals who only register a corresponding business in Germany.

Your local IHK

Your local IHK

Forms: can be obtained from your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce

Online procedure possible: partly, depending on the IHK

Written form required: yes

Personal appearance required: no

• They only broker the insurance policies as a supplement to other products or services (accessoriness)
  • Example: A car dealer also brokers car insurance when selling cars
• You carry out your activity:
  • on behalf of one or more insurance intermediaries with a license or
  • on behalf of one or more insurance companies
• Your client makes a declaration about:
  • Your personal reliability,
  • your qualifications and
  • your orderly financial circumstances
• You have taken out professional liability insurance. At present, a minimum cover of:
  • EUR 1,276,000 for each insured event and
  • EUR 1,919,000 for all insured events in one year in total

You can apply for the permit exemption in writing:

• Download the application form from the website of your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Fill it out completely.
• Then send it with the required documents to your local IHK.
• As soon as you have provided all the information and the documents are complete, the IHK will decide on your application.
• After a positive review, you will receive the license exemption and, if applicable, be entered in the insurance intermediary register.
• The granted license exemption is valid indefinitely. It only ends if you renounce it. Under certain circumstances, the IHK can revoke or withdraw the license exemption and have you deleted from the register of intermediaries.

Note: As a rule, your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce also offers an online procedure.

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