Report damage after an accident involving a vehicle belonging to the State of Berlin
Schaden melden nach Unfall mit Beteiligung eines Fahrzeugs des Landes Berlin
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
Nach einem Verkehrsunfall können Sie Schadenersatzforderungen gegen das Land Berlin geltend machen. Voraussetzung ist, dass der Schaden durch einen Verkehrsunfall mit einem Kraftfahrzeug, dessen Halter das Land Berlin ist, entstand.
After a traffic accident, you can assert compensation claims against the State of Berlin. The prerequisite is that the damage arose from a traffic accident involving a motor vehicle whose registered keeper is the State of Berlin.
Procedure
• Submit a compensation claim online or informally in writing, with a detailed description of the damage, information on the type and extent of the damage, and enclosed evidence.
• The submitted documents and information are reviewed. If further evidence is required, it will be requested.
• Once all required information is available, a decision is made on whether a compensation claim against the State of Berlin exists and, if so, in what amount. The applicant will be notified of this in writing.
• If a claim exists, payment will also be made.
Book an appointment
Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)
Requirements
• Vehicle damage occurred after a traffic accident involving a motor vehicle whose registered keeper is the State of Berlin
e.g. a fire brigade vehicle or police car of the State of Berlin
• Deadlines
The applicable statutory deadlines and limitation periods apply.
Documents you need
• Damage report (Schadensmeldung)
You can submit the damage report online or informally in writing by post.
• For an online report, the total size of your files must not exceed 30 MB. A single file may be no more than 20 MB in size.
• Form releasing others from their duty of confidentiality (Schweigepflichtentbindung), for the purpose of examining a claim for damages/pain and suffering compensation
• Personal data
• For whom are you reporting a case of damage?
• Contact details (name, address)
• Bank account details
• Details of the vehicle that was damaged
• Make and model
• Vehicle identification number (VIN) and details of the owner
• Official license plate number and current mileage
• Year of first registration
• Details on the type and extent of the damage
• What is the (estimated) amount of the damage?
• What was damaged?
• How the damage occurred
• When and where did the damage occur?
• Who caused the damage, and are there any witnesses?
• Detailed description of the damage
• Evidence (photos, receipts, expert reports)
Photos of the damage, accident report, invoices, cost estimates, expert reports if applicable, release certificates if applicable, further evidence of the amount of the claim, and other documents relevant to the damage
• Please do not provide any sensitive data (e.g. medical reports).
Forms
• Release from the duty of confidentiality (Schweigepflichtentbindung) for the purpose of examining a claim for damages/compensation for pain and suffering www.berlin.de/sen/finanzen/service/download/formular-schweig
Fees
None
Legal basis
• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB – German Civil Code) §§ 823 et seq. - Liability for damages www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__823.html
• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) § 839 - Liability for breach of official duty www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aktuell.html
• Straßenverkehrsgesetz (StVG – Road Traffic Act) §§ 7 and 18 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stvg/
• Pflichtversicherungsgesetz (PflVG – Compulsory Insurance Act) § 2 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflvg/__2.html
• Versicherungsvertragsgesetz (VVG – Insurance Contract Act) § 115 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/vvg_2008/__115.html
• Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland (GG – Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany) Art. 34 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/art_34.html
Processing time
depends on the individual case
Responsible for you
Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.
- Senatsverwaltung für Finanzen
- Abteilung ZS – Zentraler Service
Original
Service number 330637 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/330637/