A non-life insurance is insurance that covers loss or damage to property. Buildings, the vehicles, the furniture, the goods of daily life and pets are considered material goods. for example, the household and real estate insurance apply when the insured's property is damaged.

The civil liability and legal protection insurance are also part of non-life insurance. The former are effective when third parties bring claims against the insured, the latter cover the costs incurred by legal disputes.

A life insurance is generally taken out for one in two reasons: or it protects the survivors of a sudden financial bottleneck (life insurance at risk) in the event of the death of the policyholder, either it is used for retirement provision (life insurance in capital or life linked to the fund).