Insuring a robot dog or a humanoid at home: liability, theft, damage
In Italy no law requires you to insure a robot dog or a humanoid. If, however, the robot knocks over a passer-by or scratches the neighbour's car, under the Civil Code you are liable as its custodian (art. 2051 of the Civil Code), and the policy that can pay in your place is private-life liability insurance, known in Italy as "RC capofamiglia": it costs from a few tens of euros to a little over a hundred a year and covers "hobbies", "household appliances" and, with some insurers, model-making and drones too, but none of the four policies we read mentions robots. Theft goes through the home policy and almost always kicks in only with forced entry; damage to the robot itself is covered by none of these contracts. Here is what is actually written, with the clauses consulted on 20 September 2026. This is not advice: for your own contract you need a broker.
Who pays if the robot causes damage
A 15 kg quadruped running at 3.5 m/s or a 35 kg humanoid that loses its balance can hurt someone. There are three rules.
- The custodian. "Everyone is liable for damage caused by things in their custody, unless they prove an unforeseeable event" (art. 2051 of the Italian Civil Code). Whoever uses the robot is liable even without fault, and it makes no difference that the software chose the path.
- The manufacturer. If the damage stems from a defect, whoever manufactured or imported the robot is liable. Directive (EU) 2024/2853 on liability for defective products includes software in the definition of product and applies to products placed on the market after 9 December 2026 (EUR-Lex). The proposal for a specific directive on AI liability has been withdrawn (Official Journal C/2025/5423, 6 October 2025).
- The Italian AI law. The draft implementing decree of Law 132/2025, given preliminary approval on 10 June 2026, provides, for damage caused by AI systems, for the injured party's direct action against the insurer of the liable party and an obligation to declare within 30 days "the existence of the policy, the contract details and the name of the insurance company", but does not introduce a duty to insure (Assinews, 12 Jun 2026). As of 20 September 2026 the text is not final.
For drones, by contrast, insurance is compulsory: "UAS operations may not be conducted unless third-party liability insurance has been taken out and is in force" (ENAC UAS-IT Regulation, art. 27). For a walking robot there is no equivalent rule: cover is your choice.
Private liability cover: what it really includes (clauses checked)
Private-life liability insurance pays the compensation owed to third parties for death, injury and damage to property caused unintentionally by you and the family members living with you, outside work. We read four sets of policy documents to understand where a robot might fit.
| Insurer and product | What helps | What limits | Where it applies | Limit of indemnity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poste Assicura, Damage to third parties (form 61.3, Dec 2024 ed.) | "ownership and use of household appliances in general"; "model-making activities, including demonstrations or competitions (motorised too)"; "toys, motorised too" | excludes "model aircraft and remotely piloted aircraft, drones"; excludes damage "to property or animals owned by, or entrusted to or in the custody of, the insured" and damage "resulting from a cyber attack" | "worldwide" | €750,000 or €1,500,000 |
| Generali, Immagina Adesso, Armonia module (28 Jun 2025 ed.) | "hobbies in general, model-making and the use of radio-controlled model aircraft and drones, for recreational purposes only and in compliance with current rules" | excludes damage "to things held by any of the insured on any basis", "damage from breach of privacy" and any "Cyber Act and Cyber Incident"; €200 excess if stated in the policy | "worldwide" | chosen in the policy |
| Allianz Direct, Io e la mia Casa, family liability (Jan 2026 ed.) | "leisure activities such as DIY, camping, gardening, fishing"; "bicycles, skateboards, scooters and non-motorised vehicles" | excludes damage "to yourself, your family members and your property"; no reference to model-making or appliances | "in Europe and the countries bordering the Mediterranean" | as stated in the policy |
| Prima, RC Capofamiglia | "damage caused in leisure time and away from home", "in the home or the holiday home" | excludes "damage caused with drones or during their use" and professional activities | Italy, San Marino, Vatican, EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Andorra, Monaco, United Kingdom, Switzerland | €1,000,000 or €2,000,000 |
Sources consulted on 20 September 2026, listed at the end. Three things stand out.
Nobody names the robot. At home it may fall under "household appliances in general" or "hobbies in general"; away from home the nearest heading is model-making, which Poste and Generali include and Prima and Allianz Direct do not mention. A 35 kg humanoid in a shopping centre is a long way from all of these headings. Only the insurer's written answer on your case counts.
Damage to the robot is never covered. All four exclude property owned by or in the custody of the insured: if the robot falls down the stairs, liability cover does not pay. If a cyber attack takes control of the robot and it causes damage, Poste and Generali expressly exclude the cyber event.
Professional use is out. If you take the robot to a paid event or rent it out, private-life liability cover does not operate: you need a policy for the activity, like the one rental companies include in their fee (see the rental guide).
What it costs: "a modest cost, which can vary roughly between a few tens and a little over a hundred euros a year", depending on the limit of indemnity, household and home (Aelle Assicurazioni, 24 Apr 2026). It is often already inside the home policy: before buying one, check the one you have.
What to ask the insurer in writing
- Does a quadruped (or humanoid) robot of 15 (35) kg, used as a hobby at home and outdoors, fall under private-life liability cover? Under which heading of the policy?
- Does it still apply if the robot moves autonomously (following, patrolling), if a minor or a guest uses it?
- What limit of indemnity and what excess; where does it apply (worldwide, Europe, Italy)?
- Is damage "from a cyber attack" excluded?
- If I take it to a trade fair or a party for free, is that still "private life"?
Keep the answer with the policy: in the event of a claim it is worth more than any interpretation.
Theft: the home policy and its limits
A Go2 Pro costs €3,799 in Italy and a G1 €27,000: they are among the most expensive objects in a home. The theft of contents cover includes them, but on its own terms. With Allianz Direct (Jan 2026 ed.) the cover "operates if the external defences of the insured building have been breached" by breaking, forcing or false keys; robbery must take place "inside the home or its outbuildings"; after 60 days of the home being unoccupied the cover ceases. The €5,000 sub-limits per single item concern furs, paintings and jewellery: a robot is generic contents, so what counts is the overall sum insured, to be updated when the robot enters the home. Genertel offers theft of contents with a sum "from €500 up to €500,000", minimum excess €150, and excludes "losses of property left outdoors or in unprotected spaces" (genertel.it, 20 Sep 2026).
Away from home everything changes. Allianz Direct's robbery and bag-snatching cover applies "outside the insured property and in any case within the territory of the Italian Republic" to a closed list of items: clothing, bags, watches, glasses, phones, valuables, documents. A 15 kg robot dog is not on it: a Go2 stolen at the park is not, under these contracts, a reimbursable claim. What remains are the practical defences: the 4G with GPS on the Go2 Pro and X, a photo of the serial number, the invoice, an immediate police report.
Damage to the robot: what exists and what doesn't
For the fall down the stairs, water or a burnt-out motor there is, as of 20 September 2026, no Italian policy dedicated to personal robots: we found none. Home policies cover at most electrical damage (Allianz Direct: "portable electrical and electronic appliances" connected to the home mains, up to €1,500 per claim), i.e. a power surge while charging, not an impact. For the rest there are the manufacturer's warranty (6 months on the Go2 Air, 12 on the Pro and X, 2 years on the Rover X1 in the EU) and the 24 months of legal warranty if you buy from a European seller, which cover defects, not falls (guide to warranty and spare parts). Renters often get "damage protection" in the fee: today it is the only way to insure the robot itself.
Humanoids: same rules, higher risk
For the law a Unitree G1 or R1 is a thing in custody just like a robot dog; for the insurer it is a different risk: 35 kg that can fall onto someone, often used in public, worth €5,400 to €27,000. Ask for the highest limit of indemnity (€1.5–2 million) and a written answer on the policy heading; if the humanoid works, even for free, at trade fairs or in shops, you need dedicated liability cover; and recalculate the sum insured for contents, because at €27,000 a single robot exceeds what many standard policies used to insure in total. The models are in the guide to humanoids for sale.
Abroad: on holiday and if you live outside Italy
When travelling, what counts is the territorial scope of the liability cover: Poste Assicura and Generali "worldwide", Allianz Direct "Europe and the countries bordering the Mediterranean", Prima the EU plus a few states. The South Tyrol consumer centre (CTCU) has said it for years: "the policy must provide worldwide cover, especially if you travel a lot. Some companies in fact only cover damage occurring in Europe" (consumer.bz.it, Aug 2023). Theft of contents remains tied to the home: the robot in a hotel or a car is not covered.
If you live in another country the policy is the local one. In Germany the insurer VHV explains that for a robot lawnmower "damage occurring in private use is covered by our private liability insurance" (Privathaftpflicht) and that under the contents policy (Hausrat) the robot itself is insured against theft and fire "up to 5% of the sum insured" (vhv.de, 20 Sep 2026): the same logic as in Italy, with the same open question about a robot that walks.
On the rules for use on the street, in parks and on camera privacy, read robot dogs and the law in Italy; on the data the robot transmits, robots at home: data and security.
Frequently asked questions
Is it compulsory to insure a robot dog? No. There is, to date, no Italian or European rule requiring insurance for personal robots, unlike cars and drones (ENAC UAS-IT Regulation, art. 27). If the robot causes damage, though, whoever has it in custody is liable (art. 2051 of the Civil Code).
Does private liability cover include damage caused by a robot? It may cover it as a "household appliance", "hobby" or "model-making", but none of the policies we read (Poste Assicura, Generali, Allianz Direct, Prima) names robots; all exclude damage to the robot itself and some exclude cyber events. Ask for written confirmation.
Does home insurance reimburse the theft of a robot dog? Yes, as contents of the home, if the theft involves forced entry and the sum insured is sufficient. Away from home, "robbery and bag-snatching" cover applies to a list of personal items (bags, phones, watches) that does not include the robot.
How much does it cost to insure a robot? Private-life liability cover costs from a few tens to a little over a hundred euros a year (Aelle Assicurazioni, 24 Apr 2026) and is often already included in the home policy. For damage to the robot itself there is, as of 20 September 2026, no dedicated Italian policy.
What changes for a humanoid? Same rules, higher risk and value: a €1.5–2 million limit of indemnity, a written answer from the insurer, the contents sum insured recalculated. If it works at events, even for free, you need dedicated liability cover.
Sources
- brocardi.it — art. 2051 of the Civil Code — "Everyone is liable for damage caused by things in their custody, unless they prove an unforeseeable event" (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- eur-lex.europa.eu — Directive (EU) 2024/2853 — liability for defective products, software included in the notion of product, application to products placed on the market after 9 December 2026 (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- europarl.europa.eu — AI liability directive, Legislative Train — proposal withdrawn, Official Journal C/2025/5423 of 6 Oct 2025 (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- assinews.it — AI, direct action against insurers in the draft implementing decree of Law 132/2025 — 12 Jun 2026: preliminary approval of 10 Jun 2026, direct action, declaration within 30 days, no general duty to insure (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- enac.gov.it — UAS-IT Regulation, ed. 1 (4 Jan 2021) — art. 27 Insurance (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- poste.it — Poste Assicura, Damage to third parties module (form 61.3, Dec 2024 ed.) — household appliances, model-making, motorised toys, drone exclusion, property in custody and cyber attack, worldwide scope, limits €750,000/€1,500,000 (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- generali.it — Immagina Adesso, Armonia module, policy documents 28 Jun 2025 ed. — hobbies, model-making, recreational model aircraft and drones; exclusion of things held, privacy, cyber; worldwide scope; €200 excess (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- allianzdirect.it — Io e la mia Casa, policy documents Jan 2026 ed. — family liability (leisure, non-motorised vehicles, exclusion of own property, scope Europe and Mediterranean), theft with forced entry, robbery and bag-snatching with a list of items and only in Italy, electrical damage €1,500, sub-limits €5,000 per single item (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- allianzdirect.it — RC Famiglia — cover and exclusions in brief, valid abroad too (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- prima.it — RC Capofamiglia — limits €1 and 2 million, drone exclusion, territorial scope (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- genertel.it — Theft and robbery of contents — sum insured from €500 to €500,000, minimum excess €150, exclusion of property outdoors (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- consumer.bz.it — Private liability (or head-of-household) insurance — CTCU, Aug 2023: worldwide cover, exclusion of things held (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- aelleassicurazioni.it — How much head-of-household insurance costs in 2026 — 24 Apr 2026: "between a few tens and a little over a hundred euros a year" (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- vhv.de — So versichern Sie Ihren Mähroboter richtig — Privathaftpflicht for third-party damage by a robot lawnmower, Hausrat up to 5% of the sum insured (accessed 20 Sep 2026)
- Prices of the robots cited: Generation Robots (Go2 Pro €3,799, G1 €27,000 incl. VAT) and unitree.com (6/12-month warranties), 20 Sep 2026; Rover X1 2 years in the EU (inffnitech.com, 20 Sep 2026)
The clauses quoted are excerpts from the policy documents indicated, valid on the date of consultation, translated from the Italian: insurers update them and every contract may have different terms. Robot prices are indicative and include VAT where stated. This guide does not replace the advice of an insurance broker or a lawyer.
Before insuring it, do you know what it's worth? Robolero's free valuation gives you your robot's market value, useful for the sum insured; on the Unitree Go2 Pro and Unitree G1 sheets you'll find new and used prices, and in the marketplace the listings with the deal rating.