Installing a photovoltaic system on the roof of your own property can quickly cost tens of thousands of euros. If it breaks, it’s at least annoying, although usually not a threat to your existence. If you want to protect yourself against the financial consequences, you can do so with various insurance policies or additional modules. The experts from Finanztest magazine compared 80 available offers – only 33 of them meet the minimum criteria.
Additional module or separate insurance?
In principle, Finanztest recommends integrating the protection of a PV system into your home insurance – not least because it makes processing easier if the system and house are damaged. “If both the house and the solar system are damaged, there is no need for a possible dispute with different insurers who shift responsibility and costs to each other,” says Michael Nischalke, insurance expert at Stiftung Warentest.
With many providers this is possible via an additional module. Such a module is available for systems with seven kilowatts of peak output and a purchase price of 20,000 euros from 35 (Huk-Coburg and Huk24) to 120 euros (Black Forest) per year. Policyholders are then protected in the event of damage caused by fire, snow, hail or flooding.
Separate photovoltaic insurance may provide more comprehensive protection – including against risks such as theft, animal bites, operating and construction errors. It is available for 65 euros (Dema) to 107 euros (Inter).
Risk of underinsurance
Important to know: Some insurance companies only pay if the system was installed by a specialist company. Those who carry out the installation on their own often do not receive any protection. At least the testers assume that, in addition to the criteria already mentioned, they also have protection against lightning strikes, implosions, explosions, tap water, loss of income and insurance cases caused by gross negligence.
Even if you don’t protect your photovoltaic system with insurance, you should report its purchase to your residential building insurer, according to Finanztest. The reason: Such an installation increases the value of the house. If damage occurs, owners run the risk of being underinsured and only receiving partial compensation. Those affected should therefore accept a potentially higher insurance premium.
A contribution from SUPER.MARKT with material from DPA and Stiftung Warentest, February 14, 2024.
2024-02-19 18:01:18
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