Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. (Austria) - Zürich Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
Zurich
Zurich is a motor third-party liability insurance for the Austria market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
Zurich settles justified compensation claims of injured third parties directly (and defends against unjustified claims) on behalf of the policyholder; the policyholder is not required to pay the third party out of pocket first.
Geographic scope
Europe (geographically), all states party to the Green Card multilateral agreement, plus Morocco, Turkey (entire territory) and Tunisia, and additionally Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Russia (European part), San Marino, Ukraine, Vatican City and Belarus.
Coverage applies throughout the territorial scope described above (Art. 4 AKHB); in countries where an International Insurance (Green) Card is required or accepted in lieu, cover extends at least to that country's legally prescribed minimum, or to the higher sum agreed in the policy (Art. 5 AKHB). Cover ends when the policy ends, even if the Green Card shows a later validity date.
Unique selling points
- "Freischaden": the customer's bonus level is never downgraded, no matter how many claims occur, as long as the car stays insured with Zurich.
- Selectable liability sums up to EUR 25 million, well above the statutory minimum of EUR 7.76 million.
- Supplementary liability cover for rental cars, motorhomes and motorcycles rented abroad is included at no extra cost.
- Up to five bonus levels are gifted for a family's second car registered to a partner or a 23-30 year old child still living at home.
- Rated "sehr gut" (very good) by the Versicherungs Award Austria, with a 5% discount for online purchase, a 3% discount for low-emission cars and a further 3% for alternative drivetrains.
Coverage limits
Bodily injury liability
€7,760,000 – €25,000,000
Zurich pays justified third-party bodily injury (and property and pure financial loss) claims up to a single combined (Pauschal) sum insured. The statutory minimum stated by Zurich is EUR 7.76 million (the KHVG §9 statutory pauschal sum is EUR 7,790,000); Zurich Connect customers may instead choose EUR 8, 12, 15, 20 or 25 million.
Property damage liability
€7,760,000 – €25,000,000
Property damage (and bodily injury and pure financial loss) claims of third parties are paid from the same single combined sum insured described under bodily injury liability; there is no separate sub-limit for property damage.
Legal defence against liability claims
Covered
The insurance includes the satisfaction of justified and the defence against unjustified compensation claims raised against the policyholder or co-insured persons (Art. 1 AKHB). Costs, interest and other incidental expenses are credited against the sum insured (Art. 6.1 AKHB); if claims exceed the sum insured, litigation costs not caused by Zurich are borne only proportionally.
International Insurance (Green) Card
Covered
Zurich issues the International Insurance Card (Green Card) free of charge for cross-border travel; in countries requiring or accepting it, cover applies at least to that country's prescribed minimum, or the higher amount agreed in the policy (Art. 5 AKHB).
Roadside assistance
No limit stated
Roadside assistance is not addressed in the motor third-party liability terms and conditions reviewed (AKHB 2022) or on the product page.
Driver accident cover
Excluded
Motor liability insurance does not cover the driver's own injuries. Art. 8.1 AKHB excludes claims by the owner/keeper (and, in rental cases, the renter) against co-insured persons for property or pure financial loss, and liability insurance by nature only responds to claims of third parties, not the driver's own bodily injury.
Passenger accident liability cover
Covered
Passengers carried with the keeper's consent are co-insured persons (Art. 2.1 AKHB) and their bodily injury and other claims against the policyholder/keeper/driver are covered within the combined sum insured described under bodily injury liability. This is distinct from Zurich's separate optional Insassenunfallversicherung (passenger accident) product.
Key conditions
Territorial scope
Cover applies throughout Europe geographically and in all states party to the Green Card multilateral agreement of 30 May 2002, plus Morocco, Turkey (entire territory) and Tunisia (Art. 4 AKHB); the local scope additionally lists Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Russia (European part), San Marino, Ukraine, Vatican City and Belarus.
Green card rules
In states for which an International Insurance (Green) Card is issued, or for which its presentation is waived under the Green Card agreement, cover applies at least to the level prescribed in that state for foreign-registered vehicles, or the higher level agreed in the policy. Cover ends when the policy ends even if the Green Card shows a later validity date (Art. 5 AKHB).
Driver restrictions
The driver must be legally entitled to drive the vehicle, must not be impaired by alcohol or drugs, and the vehicle must not carry more persons than legally permitted (Art. 9.2 AKHB). Breach of these obligations can lead to the insurer being released from payment up to EUR 11,000 per breach and a maximum of EUR 22,000 per claim overall (Art. 11 AKHB), though this does not apply to the policyholder or other co-insured persons who could not, without fault, have recognised the breach.
Claim notification deadline
The insurer must be notified in writing within one week of becoming aware of the insured event, of a claim being asserted by an injured third party, or of related administrative or court proceedings being initiated (Art. 9.3 AKHB).
Bonus-malus rules
Premium is set by a Bonus-Malus scale of 18 levels (0-17, corresponding to 50%-200% of the tariff premium; Art. 15.6 AKHB). New contracts generally start at level 9 (100%). Each claim-free observation period (1 October to 30 September) moves the premium one level down at the next main due date; each claim charged to the insurer moves it three levels up. On top of this statutory mechanism, Zurich's 'Freischaden' feature keeps the customer's bonus level unchanged regardless of how many claims occur while the vehicle stays insured with Zurich, and up to five bonus levels can be gifted for a second vehicle registered to a spouse/partner or a 23-30 year old child still living in the household.
Where to buy
Policy specifics
Rental vehicle coverage limit
Supplementary liability coverage for rented vehicles (rental cars, caravans, motorhomes up to 3500kg) rented from licensed rental companies in foreign countries
SourceYoung driver claim surcharge
Claims surcharge applied when the vehicle is driven by a person under 23 years old
SourceNo-claims bonus protection (free damage)
Customer's bonus-malus level is preserved even if claims occur during the insurance period
SourceInternational insurance certificate (green card)
International insurance certificate (green card) provided at no cost for cross-border travel
SourceStatutory minimum coverage amount
Statutory minimum insurance sum as per Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Act (Kraftfahrzeug-Haftpflichtversicherungsgesetz §9)
SourceFamily multi-vehicle bonus
Bonus levels granted for second vehicles registered to spouse or children aged 23-30 living in same household
SourceMinimum policy duration
Standard insurance contract runs for minimum of 1 year unless otherwise agreed
SourceClaims notification deadline
Insured must notify Zurich of damages, claims and legal proceedings within 1 week
SourceInsured persons
Insurance covers vehicle owner, keeper (Halter), driver (Lenker), passengers, and instructors
SourceGeographic coverage territory
Coverage extends throughout Europe and European Economic Area countries per international insurance agreements
SourcePermitted vehicle use
Insurance covers only use of vehicle for purpose stated in contract; use for other purposes voids coverage
Source