Helvetia Versicherungen AG
Helvetia
Helvetia is a motor third-party liability insurance for the Austria market with no online purchase and limited assistance availability.
Direct payment
Helvetia settles justified compensation claims directly, fulfilling justified third-party damage claims and defending against unjustified ones on behalf of the policyholder, within the agreed insured sum.
Geographic scope
Europe in the geographical sense
Coverage applies in Europe in the geographical sense; the territorial scope can be contractually extended.
Unique selling points
- Selectable liability sums up to EUR 20 million, well above statutory minimums, with no deductible on the liability cover.
- Optional annual claim-free bonus (bonus-malus levels 0–7) prevents a downgrade in the bonus-malus scale after a claim.
- The Europe bundle combines MTPL, occupant accident cover and 24/7 Helvetia Card KFZ assistance, with accident benefits doubled abroad.
- Second-vehicle bonus grants up to 3 premium-level discounts for additional vehicles within the same household.
- Backed by Helvetia, Austria's oldest insurance AG with over 165 years in the market and part of the Swiss Helvetia Group.
Coverage limits
Bodily injury liability
Covered
Covers the fulfilment of justified compensation claims and the defence against unjustified claims for bodily injury caused by the use of the insured vehicle, within a combined liability sum selectable at EUR 10 million, EUR 15 million, or EUR 20 million (the latter included as standard in the Europe bundle).
Property damage liability
Covered
Covers the fulfilment of justified compensation claims and the defence against unjustified claims for property damage caused by the use of the insured vehicle. Property damage shares the same overall combined liability sum as bodily injury, selectable at EUR 10 million, EUR 15 million, or EUR 20 million.
Legal defence against unjustified claims
Covered
Core liability cover includes the defence against unjustified third-party claims for personal injury, property damage and financial loss, within the agreed liability sum. No separate sub-limit is specified; this is distinct from the optional standalone KFZ legal protection (Rechtsschutz) product.
Green Card
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Wie am österreichischen Kfz-Haftpflichtmarkt üblich, stellt Helvetia Kunden die Internationale Versicherungskarte (Grüne Karte/IVK) als kostenlosen Nachweis der bestehenden Haftpflichtdeckung zur Verfügung. Innerhalb der EU/EWR, Schweiz, UK, Andorra und Serbien ist sie nicht zwingend erforderlich (das Kennzeichen genügt als Nachweis), wird aber empfohlen; für Länder wie Iran, Israel, Marokko, Russland, Tunesien oder die Türkei muss eine eigene 'Große Grüne Karte' mit gesondertem Ländereintrag ausgestellt werden.
Roadside assistance (Helvetia Card KFZ)
Optional
Optional add-on to the MTPL policy providing 24/7 assistance: on-site technical/accident help up to EUR 210; towing up to EUR 230; recovery of the vehicle up to EUR 1,200; replacement vehicle up to EUR 80/day for max. 4 days; onward or return travel up to EUR 390 (domestic) or EUR 2,300 (abroad, the highest single sub-limit); vehicle transport up to EUR 740 (domestic) or EUR 2,200 (abroad); driver replacement/self-collection reimbursement up to EUR 350; plus vehicle storage, spare-part shipping, customs/scrapping assistance, replacement travel documents, 24h claims line and interpreter service.
Driver accident insurance
Optional
The MTPL liability cover itself excludes the driver's own compensation claims. Optional Kfz-Insassenunfallversicherung (AVIUB 2020) can be added to cover the driver for death, permanent disability, daily benefit and accident costs from a lump-sum insured amount shared among occupants present at the time of the accident; the benefit is doubled abroad if the MTPL sum is EUR 15m or 20m combined with a Helvetia Card KFZ.
Passenger accident insurance
Optional
Optional Kfz-Insassenunfallversicherung (AVIUB 2020) covers all occupants/passengers of the insured vehicle for death, permanent disability, daily benefit and accident costs (including repatriation up to 5% of the death/invalidity sum, max. EUR 5,000, and a EUR 10,000 funeral-cost cap for occupants under 15) from a lump-sum insured amount that is divided among the persons insured at the time of the accident.
Key conditions
Territorial scope
Coverage applies to Europe in the geographical sense; the territorial scope can be contractually extended.
Green card rules
The IPID confirms the territorial scope is geographical Europe and can be contractually extended; none of the reviewed sources give further detail on the issuance process for a physical Green Card.
Driver restrictions
No cover, restricted cover, or a right of recourse applies if the driver is alcohol- or drug-impaired, has no driving licence, if agreements on vehicle use are not observed, if more persons than permitted are transported, or if a vehicle other than the one bearing the assigned number plates is used under a swap-plate arrangement.
Claim notification deadline
Claims that lead to administrative or criminal proceedings must be reported to Helvetia within one week of becoming aware of them.
Bonus-malus rules
Policyholders can optionally add an annual claim-free bonus (available at bonus-malus levels 0–7, maximum one per year) so that a liability claim does not result in a worse bonus-malus rating and higher premium; a second-vehicle bonus grants up to 3 premium-level discounts for additional vehicles of the policyholder, spouse/partner or child in the same household.
Where to buy
Policy specifics
Coverage limit options
Motor Third-Party Liability Insurance offers selectable coverage sums of EUR 7.6 million, 10 million, 15 million, and 20 million
No deductible on liability coverage
Motor Third-Party Liability Insurance from Helvetia includes no deductible
Optional claim-free bonus
Optional annual claim-free bonus available: after a liability claim, the policyholder is not downgraded in bonus-malus scale
Optional assistance package
Optional assistance services available as add-on, including Helvetia Card KFZ with 24/7 emergency support
Optional occupant accident insurance
Optional Insured Persons Accident Insurance (AVIUB) available to supplement the liability coverage
Optional legal protection insurance
Optional legal protection insurance (Rechtsschutzversicherung) available as add-on for KFZ matters
Bonus-malus claim history system
Policyholders are classified into bonus-malus levels 0 to 7 based on claims history; claim-free years reduce premium
Insured persons
Coverage applies to the vehicle owner, authorized drivers, passengers, and persons instructing the driver
Types of vehicles covered
Coverage available for passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, and other motor vehicles registered in Austria
Types of damage covered
Covers fulfillment of justified damage compensation claims and defense against unjustified claims for personal injury, property damage, and financial loss caused by vehicle use
Policyholder disclosure and conduct obligations
Helvetia must be fully and truthfully informed about insured risk before contract conclusion and throughout contract duration; contractual agreements must be observed
Duty to minimize damage
Policyholder must keep every claim small and cooperate in damage assessment and investigation
Claim settlement method
For valid claims, Helvetia pays compensation in cash; it is authorized to settle directly with injured third parties without deduction of deductible
Claims-handling obligations
If claims are asserted against the policyholder, they must not acknowledge them; if claims are pursued in court, the policyholder must follow all of Helvetia's instructions and grant power of attorney to Helvetia's lawyer.
Sources
- attachment://Besondere_Vertragsbeilage_Nr_414954_AVIUB_2020.pdf
- attachment://Besondere_Vertragsbeilage_Nr_488962_AVBHC_2006.pdf
- https://durchblicker.at/autoversicherung/helvetia
- https://durchblicker.at/downloads/autoversicherung/helvetia/AKB_Helvetia_2020.pdf
- https://durchblicker.at/downloads/autoversicherung/helvetia/AVIUB_Helvetia_2020.pdf
- https://durchblicker.at/wissen/gruene-karte
- https://www.helvetia.com/at/web/de/privatkunden/versichern/fahrzeuge/kfz-versicherung.html
- https://www.sepastop.eu/de-at/kfz-versicherung/helvetia-kfz-versicherung/