ADAC Legal expenses insurance (Adac Rechtsschutz)
Underwritten by ADAC Versicherung AG · Germany
legal expenses insurance from ADAC for the Germany market, with online purchase.
Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Terms dated 2022-03-01Sources
Key facts
- ADAC
- Starting price: €8.45per monthAs published by the insurer — it does not say who the price is for
Unique selling points
Unlimited sum insured within geographic Europe, far above the typical market-standard capped limits.
Lowest complaint ratio of all legal expenses insurers in the 2024 BaFin complaint statistics.
Free choice of lawyer, with ADAC able to name a specialist from its own lawyer network on request.
Included legal services such as phone/chat/online first consultation and a contract check, available even without an open claim.
Can be bought without any ADAC club membership, with members receiving a price discount on the same cover.
Coverage limits
Compare tiers
Every tier of every insurer, answered field by field from the insurer's own terms.
| Policy feature | ADAC2 packages | |
|---|---|---|
| ADAC Rechtsschutz Exklusivfrom€21.21/ month | ADAC Rechtsschutz PremiumPrice on request | |
| Price | from €21.21 / month | Price on request |
| Standard deductible (Selbstbeteiligung) | ||
| Minimum / standard contract term | 12 monthsPage 18 | 12 monthsPage 18 |
| Ordinary cancellation notice | 1 monthPage 18 | 1 monthPage 18 |
| Deductible reduction after claim-free years | Set per policyPage 17 | Set per policyPage 17 |
| No deductible for first/phone consultation or mediation | IncludedPage 17 | IncludedPage 17 |
| Switching / difference cover (Differenzdeckung) | IncludedPage 15 | IncludedPage 15 |
| Sum insured – Europe / core territory | UnlimitedPage 16 | UnlimitedPage 16 |
| Sum insured – outside core territory | €300,000Page 17 | €300,000Page 17 |
| Criminal bail (Strafkaution) – core territory | €300,000Page 17 | €300,000Page 17 |
| Criminal bail (Strafkaution) – outside core territory | Not stated | Not stated |
| Max. covered stay outside core territory | 6 monthsPage 17 | 12 monthsPage 17 |
| Mediation limit per case | Set per policy€1,000 per caseApplies if the insured freely selects the mediator; if ADAC names the mediator, full cost is covered without a capPage 16 | Set per policy€1,000 per caseApplies if the insured freely selects the mediator; if ADAC names the mediator, full cost is covered without a capPage 16 |
| Mediation limit per year | Not stated | Not stated |
| Own lawyer, court and expert costs | IncludedPage 17 | IncludedPage 17 |
| Opposing party costs (if legally owed) | IncludedPage 17 | IncludedPage 17 |
| Area: Private (Privat) | ||
| Area: Work / employment law (Beruf) | ||
| Area: Home (Wohnen) – tenant/owner-occupier | ||
| Area: Traffic (Verkehr) – motor vehicles | IncludedSource | IncludedSource |
| Extended / special criminal defence (e.g. StrafrechtPlus) | Not includedPage 12 | IncludedModule: ADAC Rechtsschutz PremiumCovers intentional-only minor offences (vorsätzlich begehbares Vergehen) in private, employed and voluntary life, unless finally convictedPage 12 |
| Traffic disputes as pedestrian / passenger / cyclist (non-owner) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Contract and property law | IncludedFull scope requires Privat baustein; within Verkehr alone, limited to contractual/property rights in insured vehiclesPage 11 | IncludedFull scope requires Privat baustein; within Verkehr alone, limited to contractual/property rights in insured vehiclesPage 11 |
| Claims for damages (Schadenersatz) | IncludedPage 11 | IncludedPage 11 |
| Tax law | ||
| Social law | ||
| Administrative law | ||
| Criminal defence | Not stated | Not stated |
| Regulatory offences / fines (Ordnungswidrigkeiten) | IncludedGeneral (non-traffic) Ordnungswidrigkeiten only; Halt-/Parkverstöße excluded without PremiumPage 15 | IncludedPage 13 |
| Rights as victim of a crime (Opferschutz) | IncludedPage 13 | IncludedPage 13 |
| Online purchases and contracts | ||
| Copyright / online warning letters (Abmahnung) | €250 per casePage 13 | |
| Cyber-mobbing / online reputation | Not stated | Not stated |
| Identity theft / phishing | Not stated | Not stated |
| Data protection (GDPR) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Investments / securities | Not includedPage 14 | |
| Low-risk financial products | Not stated | Not stated |
| Limited side self-employment | Not stated | Not stated |
| University admission proceedings | Not includedPage 14 | Not includedPage 14 |
| Consumer insolvency | Not includedPage 14 | Not includedPage 14 |
| Termination agreement (Aufhebungsvertrag) negotiation | Not includedPage 11 | |
| Disciplinary and professional-standards law | ||
| Dismissal by employer | ||
| Collective labour law | Not stated | Not stated |
| Employer insolvency | Not includedPage 11 | |
| Employment discrimination (AGG) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Family law – consultation / extended limit | €1,000 per caseModule: ADAC Rechtsschutz PremiumLawyer may also act out-of-court beyond initial consultation; mediation includedPage 13 | |
| Inheritance law – consultation / limit | Not stated | Not stated |
| Marital / partnership law (incl. divorce) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Inheritance litigation (court) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Maintenance (Unterhalt) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Guardianship proceedings (Betreuungsverfahren) | Not includedPage 13 | |
| Powers of attorney / advance directives – consultation | Not includedPage 13 | |
| Will drafting / consultation | Not includedPage 13 | |
| Partner and children insured | Set per policyPage 21 | Set per policyPage 21 |
| Dependent parents / relatives in need of care | Not stated | Not stated |
| Tenant disputes (Mieter) | ||
| Landlord (Vermieter) cover | Not includedPage 10 | Not includedPage 10 |
| Owner-occupied home (Eigentümer) | ||
| Additional owner-occupied units | Not includedPage 10 | |
| Short-term letting (Airbnb) | Not stated | Not stated |
| Photovoltaics / renewable energy installations | IncludedRequires Verkehrs-, Privat- und Wohn-Rechtsschutz combination; PV installation must be permit-free and on the roof of the insured homePage 14 | IncludedRequires Verkehrs-, Privat- und Wohn-Rechtsschutz combination; PV installation must be permit-free and on the roof of the insured homePage 14 |
| Construction disputes (Baurechtsschutz) | Not includedPage 14 | Not includedPage 14 |
| Expropriation / planning procedures | Not includedPage 14 | Not includedPage 14 |
| Development charges (Erschließung / Anliegerabgaben) | Not includedPage 14 | Not includedPage 14 |
| Traffic administrative law (licence matters) | IncludedPage 12 | IncludedPage 12 |
| Vehicle purchase / repair contracts | IncludedSource | IncludedSource |
| Motor vehicles covered | IncludedPage 7 | IncludedPage 7 |
| Traffic fines / parking | Not includedPage 15 | IncludedPage 13 |
| Protection as driver / owner of a motor vehicle | IncludedPage 7 | IncludedPage 7 |
| Water and air vehicles | Not includedPage 9 | IncludedPage 9 |
| Interpreter for criminal case abroad | Not stated | Not stated |
| Waiting period – employment disputes | 3 monthsPage 15 | 3 monthsPage 15 |
| Waiting period – contract disputes | 3 monthsPage 15 | 3 monthsPage 15 |
| Waiting period – housing disputes | 3 monthsPage 15 | 3 monthsPage 15 |
| Waiting period – traffic | NonePage 15 | NonePage 15 |
| Waiting period – maintenance | Not stated | Not stated |
| Waiting period – inheritance litigation | Not stated | Not stated |
| Waiting period – divorce litigation | Not stated | Not stated |
| Waiting period – university admission | Not stated | Not stated |
| Services available without waiting period | NonePage 13 | NonePage 13 |
| Phone legal adviceService, not legal cover | IncludedPage 13 | IncludedPage 13 |
| Service-charge statement check (Nebenkosten)Service, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| Repair / rental defect checkService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| Travel documents serviceService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| RadMobilSchutz / CarSharingSchutzService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| Online chat with lawyerService, not legal cover | IncludedSource | IncludedSource |
| Mobile lawyerService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| Mediation / out-of-court settlementService, not legal cover | IncludedPage 16 | IncludedPage 16 |
| Contract / document checkService, not legal cover | IncludedPage 13 | IncludedPage 13 |
| Website / T&C checkService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| Online will generatorService, not legal cover | IncludedPage 13 | IncludedPage 13 |
| Advance-directive generatorService, not legal cover | IncludedPage 13 | IncludedPage 13 |
| Employment reference checkService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| Employment contract creatorService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| Fine notice checkService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| KBA driving-points checkService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| Flight delay / travel defect helpService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| Contractor credit checkService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| Psychological emergency consultationService, not legal cover | Not stated | Not stated |
| Cost recovery after conviction for intentional crime | Not includedPage 12 | Not includedPage 12 |
| Business activity excluded without business add-on | Not includedPage 15 | Not includedPage 15 |
"Not stated" means the documents we read do not say. It is not the same as "Not included".
Rules that apply to every policy
- Free choice of lawyer is a statutory right (§127 VVG) for all German legal expenses insurers.
- Disputes whose cause predates the policy start / waiting period are excluded by all insurers.
- Coverage must be confirmed against the Versicherungsschein and current ARB.
- Insurers may cancel after two claims within 12 months.
- Services (hotlines, generators, checks) are not equivalent to litigation cover; partner services can change without policy amendment.
Not an offer. Values come from product documents; the policy schedule (Versicherungsschein) and current ARB/IPID prevail.
Key conditions
Direct payment
The insurer reimburses the costs it owes once the policyholder proves that they are obliged to pay the lawyer or court, or has already paid; in practice ADAC confirms coverage (Deckungszusage) and settles invoices directly with the lawyer or court on this basis.
Territorial scope
Geographic Europe, non-European Mediterranean bordering states, Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira form the core territory with unlimited sum insured; outside this area cover is limited to EUR 300,000 and to the first six months of a stay (Exklusiv) or twelve months (Premium).
Where to buy
Listed alphabetically by seller. The order does not depend on whether Boleron earns anything from a sale.
Documents
ADAC Rechtsschutz - Consumer information and policy conditions (ADAC RB 2018, as of 01.03.2022) (opens in a new tab)
Terms & conditions · PDF
ADAC Rechtsschutz - Policy conditions, archived copy (ADAC RB 2018, as of 25.06.2018) (opens in a new tab)
Terms & conditions · PDF
ADAC Rechtsschutz - Insurance Product Information Document (opens in a new tab)
Product information sheet · PDF
Policy specifics
Unlimited coverage in Europe
Within Europe, the insurance sum is unlimited; outside Europe worldwide limit of EUR 300,000
SourceWaiting period
A contractually agreed waiting period must have elapsed for insurance protection to exist
SourceDeductible (optional)
Optional deductible can be agreed; if agreed, deductible is deducted once per legal case
SourceFour legal protection areas
Protection available in four selectable areas: traffic, private, professional, and housing
SourceCoverage of legal and court costs
Insurer covers attorney fees up to statutory rate, court costs, expert fees, witness compensation, and opponent's costs if obligated to pay
SourceOccurrence of insurable event
Insurable event occurs when assertion of legal interests becomes necessary, specifically when claim of rights violation is first made
SourceFamily and inheritance law exclusion
No coverage for disputes in family law, partnership law, and inheritance law areas
SourceWaiting period principle
Insurance protection begins earliest at agreed date if first premium paid on time; agreed waiting period must have elapsed
SourceDenial for lack of reasonable prospect of success
Insurer may deny coverage if expected cost is in gross disproportion to intended success and no special interests of insured override this
SourceIntentional conduct exclusion
No coverage if insured deliberately caused the insurable event and associated cost burden; if suspicion of intentional crime exists, insurer may provisionally refuse cost coverage pending clarification
SourceThree-year notification deadline
No claim exists if insurable event first reported to insurer more than three years after insurance period end for affected risk, unless insured without fault in delay
SourceSources
- adac.dehttps://www.adac.de/-/media/pdf/versicherungen/brs/verbraucherinfo_rechtschutzversicherung.pdf#page=2(opens in a new tab)
- adac.dehttps://www.adac.de/produkte/versicherungen/rechtsschutzversicherung/ueberblick/(opens in a new tab)
- adac.dehttps://www.adac.de/produkte/versicherungen/rechtsschutzversicherung/wohnen/(opens in a new tab)
ADAC Legal expenses insurance