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Both arrange insurance — but they stand on different sides. Here we explain what this difference means for you.
An insurance agent (Versicherungsagent) is permanently authorised by one or more insurance companies to arrange insurance and acts on their behalf. An insurance broker (Versicherungsmakler), by contrast, must primarily protect the interests of their clients — even if they act for both sides.
| Insurance agent | Insurance broker | |
|---|---|---|
| On the side of | the insurer(s) with which they have an agency contract | primarily the client (§ 27 MaklerG) |
| Offer | products of their own company (companies) | comparison of many companies; restrictions must be clearly communicated (§ 28 MaklerG) |
| Remuneration | commission from the insurer | commission from the insurer, included in the premium — no extra cost for you |
The Austrian Brokers Act (Maklergesetz) imposes specific obligations on insurance brokers (§ 28 MaklerG). Among other things, a broker must:
A broker is worthwhile above all if you have several insurances, want to compare offers from different companies or, in the event of a claim, want someone at your side who represents your interests towards the insurer. Anyone who deliberately wants to stay with a particular company is in good hands with its agent.
You do not have to cancel anything. On the basis of a broker’s mandate (Maklervollmacht) we take over the servicing of your existing contracts, review them and suggest improvements where needed. We compare offers from 21 insurance companies and, as a brokerage in Breitenwaida in the Hollabrunn district, are available to you in person — in English too.
Legal basis: Maklergesetz (MaklerG) §§ 26–28; Wirtschaftskammer Österreich, Leitbild der Versicherungsagenten (in German). As of October 2026.
Content reviewed by: Agnieszka Valenta, Versicherungsmaklerin und Beraterin in Versicherungsangelegenheiten · As of October 2026
Would you like to know what a broker could improve in your existing insurance? We will review it free of charge and show you gaps and opportunities to save.
