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Personal liability insurance

Protection against the financial consequences of damage caused to others — because in Austria you are liable with all your assets.

What is personal liability insurance?

Liability insurance protects you against the financial consequences of causing damage to a third party. In Austria the principle is: whoever causes damage must make good — with all their assets. Liability insurance covers compensation claims and at the same time defends you against unjustified demands. For private individuals, personal liability cover is often included in home contents insurance, but there are also stand-alone solutions for special risks.

Why do you need liability insurance?

A moment of carelessness is enough to cause damage that changes your financial situation:

Statutory duty to compensate — in Austria you are liable without limit with all your assets
Personal injury claims can reach millions — e.g. if the injured person needs lifelong care
Even small everyday mishaps can be expensive — a glass knocked over onto a laptop is enough
The insurer checks and rejects unjustified claims (passive legal protection)
Cover for the whole family — partners and children are co-insured in most policies

What does the insurance cover?

Personal injury

Covers medical costs, loss of earnings and compensation for pain and suffering if you injure another person.

Property damage

Covers repair or replacement costs if you damage or destroy someone else’s property.

Financial loss

Protection against financial consequential losses that are neither personal injury nor property damage — e.g. loss of profit.

Passive legal protection

The insurer checks every claim and defends you against unjustified demands, including in court.

Damage to rented property

Protection for damage in a rented flat — from scratches on the parquet to water damage.

Lost keys

Covers the costs of losing someone else’s keys — replacing a locking system can cost thousands of euros.

A tip from your broker Check whether personal liability cover is already included in your home contents insurance — in Austria this is the case with most policies. Make sure the sum insured is high enough, at least 3 million euros, especially if personal injury is to be covered.

Cancellation and switching insurer

Switching pays off if the sum insured is outdated or comparable cover is available for noticeably less. The following rules apply:

At the main renewal date: open-ended contracts or contracts that renew annually can be cancelled at the end of the insurance year. The notice period is stated in the policy and is between one and three months (§ 8 para. 2 VersVG).
For contracts longer than three years: as a consumer you can cancel at the end of the third and every following insurance year with one month’s notice (§ 8 para. 3 VersVG). A discount for the long term may then be charged back.
After a claim: in liability insurance both parties can cancel within one month of the claim being acknowledged or rejected (§ 158 VersVG).

Before every cancellation we check that the new contract starts without a gap in cover and, if you wish, handle the switch for you.

Legal basis: Austrian Insurance Contract Act (VersVG), as of October 2026.

Who is it especially important for?

Liability insurance makes sense for everyone — because anyone can cause damage in everyday life. It is particularly important for:

Families with children — children often cause damage to third parties unintentionally
Dog owners — animal owner’s liability is compulsory in several federal states and covers damage caused by the animal
Tenants — damage to a rented flat can be expensive without insurance
Sports enthusiasts — during sport it is easy to injure others or damage their property

Which documents are needed?

What we need for an offer

Frequently asked questions

Is personal liability insurance compulsory by law?

No, it is voluntary — but given the unlimited liability with all your assets in Austria, it is one of the most important insurances of all.

Are my children insured too?

Yes, minor children living in the household are usually co-insured automatically; in many tariffs, children under 14 who are not legally responsible for their actions can also be covered.

Am I also insured abroad?

Yes, personal liability insurance usually applies worldwide in private life.

What if my child breaks a window with a ball?

Such damage is a classic case for personal liability insurance — the insurer checks the claim and settles justified demands.

Is voluntary work also insured?

Many tariffs automatically include voluntary work — we will gladly check this for your specific activity.

Content reviewed by: Agnieszka Valenta, insurance broker · As of October 2026

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We check whether personal liability cover is already included in your home contents insurance and whether the sum insured is sufficient for today’s compensation claims.

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