Home › Frequently asked questions
More than 116 answers about all our insurances — sorted by topic for quick reading.
Yes. Every vehicle used on the road in Austria must have at least liability insurance. Without valid liability insurance, a vehicle cannot be registered or driven.
Your no-claims discount is basically retained: the new insurer takes over your bonus-malus level on the basis of a confirmation from your previous insurer (Vorversicherungsbestätigung).
Important: for every liability claim, you are usually moved up three levels – this also applies when you switch insurer, and it makes the premium higher. We will gladly calculate whether switching is still worthwhile.
After a longer break, not every insurer will accept your level: depending on the company, it can only be transferred for 1 to 3 years after deregistration.
In addition, usually only levels actually earned by claim-free driving are transferred – levels granted as a gift (e.g. in new-customer promotions) and insurers’ internal levels usually are not.
Our tip: keep the confirmation from your previous insurer (Vorversicherungsbestätigung) in a safe place – we will gladly check which insurer will recognise your level.
Liability insurance can be cancelled once a year at the main due date (Hauptfälligkeit) — the notice must reach the insurer at least one month beforehand. After the vehicle is deregistered, the contract ends on the day of deregistration. We will gladly check special cases such as a premium increase or a claim for you.
Yes – this is very important: the deregistration confirmation (Abmeldebestätigung) is not passed on automatically to the insurer. Please send it to the insurer yourself or simply to us – we will forward it and make sure the contract ends properly.
That depends on the tariff: some comprehensive tariffs cover the cost of new keys and replacing the locks if the keys are stolen, and some home contents policies pay for lost keys. Simply losing them is often not covered. We will gladly check which of your policies applies.
Yes, that is exactly the difference from partial comprehensive cover: fully comprehensive also covers damage to your own vehicle in accidents you caused yourself, minus the excess.
The key difference: fully comprehensive (Vollkasko) also covers damage that you caused yourself – partial comprehensive (Teilkasko) does not. Partial comprehensive cover also comes in a variant with parking damage and one without.
| Damage | Teilkasko without parking damage | Teilkasko with parking damage | Vollkasko |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severe weather, hail, storm, fire, theft, glass breakage, collision with game | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Parking damage caused by an unknown person | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Damage to your own car that you caused | – | – | ✓ |
Simplified overview – the exact scope depends on the tariff. We will show you which variant suits your car.
The premium depends, among other things, on the vehicle type, engine power and new value. When you change cars, we will gladly calculate the new premium before you decide.
As standard usually only to a limited extent — against theft from locked rooms. For full cover on the road we recommend a separate bicycle insurance.
Natural hazards such as flooding, landslides or avalanches are usually only covered with an additional module (Elementarschadenbaustein). Storm and hail, on the other hand, are often included in the basic cover.
Up to a certain limit, yes; above that it is worth declaring valuables separately so that you receive the full value in the event of a claim.
The insurance can usually be transferred to your new address. Please let us know in good time before your move so that we can adjust the policy.
That depends on the tariff. In many cases people belonging to the household are automatically co-insured — we will gladly check this for your specific situation.
No, it is not compulsory by law. If you take out a loan, however, the bank will usually require suitable buildings insurance as security.
Buildings insurance protects the building itself (walls, roof, permanently installed parts), while home contents insurance protects the movable contents inside. The two complement each other and are often combined.
Outbuildings such as a garage, carport or garden shed can usually be co-insured — what matters is that they are correctly declared when taking out the policy.
Escape-of-water damage, including the cost of opening up and restoring the wall, is usually part of buildings insurance — the exact scope depends on the tariff.
It is worth reporting major conversions or extensions, as they can affect the rebuilding value and therefore the sum insured.
Incorrect information can lead to the loss of insurance cover when a claim is made. That is why it is always worth answering the health questions carefully and honestly — we will gladly help you.
Yes. Contracts with regular premiums can in principle be cancelled at any time with effect from the end of the current insurance period (§ 165 VersVG). Depending on the type of contract and its duration, however, this may involve financial losses — it pays to get advice first.
Yes, the beneficiary designation can usually be changed in writing at any time while the contract is in force.
Many tariffs offer a premium holiday or deferral so that the contract does not lapse automatically. Please contact us early if your financial situation changes.
In most cases, yes — but the exact tax treatment depends on how the contract is structured. We will gladly discuss this with you in detail.
Statutory insurance only covers accidents at work and on the way to work. Accidents in your free time, at home or during sport are not covered — only private accident insurance applies here.
Yes, the disability benefit is paid according to the degree of permanent impairment and is usually the most important element of the contract.
That depends on the tariff — many policies also cover recreational sport, and there are usually separate add-ons for extreme sports.
With progression, the benefit rises disproportionately with the degree of disability — in severe cases you receive a multiple of the basic sum.
Yes, private accident insurance usually applies worldwide, 24 hours a day — at work and in private life.
Usually for 10 years. As a consumer, however, you can cancel a contract concluded for more than three years at the end of the third and every subsequent insurance year (§ 8 para. 3 VersVG) – the insurer may then charge back the discount granted for the long term.
Yes, some insurers offer tariffs entirely without health questions. This is particularly interesting with pre-existing conditions. We will gladly compare which tariffs are suitable and what they offer.
By law only in the compulsory nursery year before starting school – and only at nursery, on outings and on the way to nursery. Before that and in their free time there is no statutory cover, so we recommend private accident insurance for children.
No, a waiting period applies to most modules, usually three months. Motor legal expenses often has none. We will gladly discuss the details individually.
Yes, if necessary it covers lawyers’, court and expert fees and, if you lose, any costs of the other side.
With the right module (employment legal expenses), yes — this is usually not standard but must be added.
If the matter is covered, the insurer pays for initial advice within the agreed limits — usually without an excess.
In principle, yes. Whether this comes at no extra cost depends on the tariff: with tariffs that include an excess, you usually bear part of the costs yourself if you choose your own lawyer. If you wish, the insurer can also recommend lawyers. Before you sign, we show you how your tariff handles this.
In some tariffs, yes: disputes arising from membership of an association or from voluntary work in an association are covered by employment legal expenses (Arbeitsrechtsschutz). We will gladly check how this works in your tariff.
In principle, no: once you have the policy and the first premium is paid, you are insured. Exceptions apply to some benefits:
With pre-existing conditions, the insurer may also exclude the condition from cover, charge a risk surcharge or apply a waiting period. We check which insurer offers the best terms in your situation.
As of October 2026 – tariff conditions may change.
Anyone who answers the health questions untruthfully or incompletely takes a big risk:
Our advice: answer the questions completely and have your medical records to hand – better one detail too many than too few. We will gladly help you fill them in.
The order matters: submit the bill first to the statutory insurance (Sozialversicherung) and only then to your private health insurance – with many tariffs the costs are then reimbursed 100% up to the annual maximum.
Bills can be sent conveniently by email, via the online portal or the insurer’s app.
With pre-existing conditions, this is possible. We check without obligation with several insurers which has the most favourable acceptance rules in your situation.
Yes, that depends on the chosen tariff — from special class with a single room to contributions towards outpatient visits, many things can be combined.
Dentures and major dental treatment are often only covered by a separate module or supplementary tariff — we will gladly show you the options.
For longer stays abroad, it is worth taking out additional travel medical insurance, as the cover of private health insurance abroad may be limited.
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.
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.
Yes, personal liability insurance usually applies worldwide in private life.
Such damage is a classic case for personal liability insurance — the insurer checks the claim and settles justified demands.
Many tariffs automatically include voluntary work — we will gladly check this for your specific activity.
In principle every business — from a one-person company to a large enterprise. A single case of personal injury or property damage to third parties can threaten the existence of the business.
Employees are usually co-insured automatically. For subcontractors and helpers, a separate check of the contract is recommended.
That depends on the exact wording of the contract — damage caused by commissioned subcontractors should be checked separately.
For damage caused by defective products there is product liability insurance, which is often part of business liability insurance.
Yes, because the premium often depends on turnover, significant changes should be reported so as not to risk a gap in cover in the event of a claim. Many business contracts therefore have an annual premium adjustment (Prämienregulierung): the insurer sends us a questionnaire on actual turnover or payroll, we forward it to you, you complete it together with your tax adviser and send it back to us. The premium is then adjusted to the actual figures – up or down.
Especially for professions involving advice or expert reports, e.g. tax advisers, architects, IT consultants or doctors, where a single advisory error can cause high financial losses.
Yes — business liability covers personal injury and property damage from ongoing operations, whereas professional liability covers pure financial losses resulting from wrong advice or professional activity.
With a retroactive cover clause, damage from commissions that are already completed but not yet time-barred can also be covered.
That is exactly the core of professional liability — it covers financial losses caused by a mistake in advice or execution, even without direct personal injury or property damage.
Yes — precisely as an EPU you bear the full personal liability risk, which is why professional liability is particularly important here.
It replaces lost profit and continuing fixed costs (e.g. rent, wages) if operations come to a standstill due to an insured event such as fire or water damage.
It is usually taken out as a supplement to existing property or fire insurance, because it is linked to the same insured risks.
There is usually a short waiting period after the damage occurs, after which compensation is paid for the agreed period (Haftzeit).
With a suitable clause for supplier businesses, the failure of important suppliers can also be covered — this should be checked individually.
The basis is usually the lost contribution margin (Deckungsbeitrag) based on recent financial years, which we determine together with your tax adviser.
Yes, many tariffs cover both the costs of IT forensics and system recovery and the resulting business interruption loss.
Yes — cyber attacks increasingly affect small and medium-sized businesses too, which often have fewer IT security resources of their own.
Some tariffs provide support here, but legally and in insurance terms it is a special case — we will gladly discuss it with you in detail.
Cyber insurance supports you in notifying affected persons, with legal consequential costs (e.g. GDPR proceedings) and with restoring your systems.
Most insurers require a minimum level of IT security (firewall, backups, up-to-date software). We help you meet the requirements of the chosen insurer.
In most cases, no: the state benefit is often much lower than your previous income and is granted under stricter conditions than a private occupational disability pension.
Because the risk of occupational disability depends heavily on pre-existing conditions, insurers check particularly carefully here. Complete, correct information secures your entitlement to benefits when you need them.
Occupational disability (Berufsunfähigkeit) refers to your specific, most recently practised profession. Incapacity to earn a living (Erwerbsunfähigkeit) is a broader term and concerns the ability to do any kind of paid work.
Many tariffs offer a guaranteed increase option, allowing you to raise the sum on certain occasions (e.g. a pay rise, starting a family) without a new health assessment.
Payment of the pension then usually ends, because the benefit is linked to the existence of occupational disability.
The state care allowance is usually only a contribution towards the actual costs of care. 24-hour care or a place in a care home in particular usually cost much more — this is where private long-term care insurance steps in.
The earlier, the lower the premium and the less likely health restrictions are when taking out the policy. Many people take it out at 40 or 50.
Yes, many tariffs pay regardless of whether care is provided at home by relatives, by a 24-hour carer or in a care home.
Yes, a health questionnaire is usually required. The younger and healthier you are when you take out the policy, the easier the acceptance.
The classification is usually based on a medical assessment, similar to the state care allowance, often in cooperation with the insurer.
The statutory pension is usually lower than your last net income. With higher incomes the gap grows, because contributions only count up to the maximum contribution basis (Höchstbeitragsgrundlage) — private provision helps close it.
Depending on the product, you benefit from tax advantages when paying in or paying out. We will gladly show you which model brings the most in your situation.
Private pension contracts are independent of your employer and continue unchanged when you change jobs.
Many tariffs allow you to adjust the monthly instalment or make additional one-off payments — we will show you the options in your contract.
That depends on the chosen product — some contracts are tied to retirement age, others offer more flexibility.
Depending on the tariff, existing conditions can be covered to a certain extent. Please contact us before you travel so that we can find the right cover.
Ideally right after booking — only then are sudden reasons for cancellation covered from the start.
With the right module, yes — many tariffs refund additional costs for delays or missed connecting flights.
Many insurers have special family tariffs in which children are often insured free of charge or at a reduced rate.
Not necessarily — if you travel often, an annual travel insurance policy that automatically covers all trips in the year may be worthwhile.
No, for that you need separate pet health insurance. Home contents insurance at most covers damage your animal causes to third parties, as part of personal liability cover.
Many tariffs accept new animals up to a certain age. The younger and healthier the animal when the policy starts, the easier the acceptance.
Some tariffs include a preventive module for vaccinations and check-ups — but this is not standard with every insurer.
Pre-existing illnesses may be excluded from cover — so it is worth taking out a policy early, while the animal is still healthy.
Many tariffs apply at least within Europe — for stays abroad it is worth checking the exact terms.
In many bicycle insurance tariffs, yes — including damage caused by a fall, short circuit or improper use — an important difference from classic bicycle insurance.
Most tariffs require a lock of a certain security standard and locking the bike to a fixed object — please check the conditions of your tariff carefully.
That depends on the tariff — some policies require a locked bike room or an additional lock for theft cover.
Falls you cause yourself are often only insured with comprehensive (casco-type) cover — pure theft insurance usually does not include this.
Yes, the proof of purchase with the frame number is usually a condition for settling a claim — please keep it safe or leave a copy with us.
No — as an independent brokerage, we combine the best elements of different insurers for you instead of tying you to one provider.
An agent acts on behalf of one insurer. As a broker we represent you and independently compare offers from 21 companies.
We recommend an annual review and also whenever something important changes in your life, such as moving house, a new family member or a new job.
In our view only in two areas:
For other types of insurance we do not recommend bundled policies.
No, our advice is free for you — like an agent, we receive a commission from the insurance company.
Yes, that is straightforward with a broker mandate (Maklervollmacht) — you don’t have to cancel anything; we take over the servicing of your existing policies. Usually, however, the current contract is kept until its main renewal date (Hauptfälligkeit), cancelled in good time and then switched to a better-suited offer. We keep an eye on the notice periods for you.
As your broker, we usually find out in advance when an insurer is considering cancellation because of unpaid premiums or many claims – and we work to make sure it doesn’t come to that. Without a broker, clients often only find out when the cancellation arrives.
If you have received a cancellation, please contact us immediately: with a cancellation it is difficult to find a new insurer. Ideally, send us the current contract and the claims history straight away – with a short explanation of how the claims came about.
How easy a new contract will be depends on the reason: claims are assessed differently from unpaid premiums. In any case, expect a higher premium – instead of a discount there is usually a surcharge.
Public and business liability insurance is considered the basic cover for practically every business — which further elements make sense depends on the sector and size.
Yes, sole traders (EPU) in particular bear the full personal liability risk and benefit especially from suitable cover.
Whenever turnover changes, you take on new staff, open new locations or start new activities, it is worth reviewing your cover.
Yes, we will gladly put together an individual package of public liability, professional indemnity, cyber and business interruption insurance.
In that case we coordinate communication with all the insurers involved on your behalf, so you don’t have to deal with it.
As your broker, we usually find out in advance when an insurer is considering cancellation because of unpaid premiums or many claims – and we work to make sure it doesn’t come to that. Without a broker, clients often only find out when the cancellation arrives.
If you have received a cancellation, please contact us immediately: with a cancellation it is difficult to find a new insurer. Ideally, send us the current contract and the claims history straight away – with a short explanation of how the claims came about.
How easy a new contract will be depends on the reason: claims are assessed differently from unpaid premiums. In any case, expect a higher premium – instead of a discount there is usually a surcharge.
The earlier, the lower the premium and the greater the compound interest effect — many people start with their first income.
The statutory pension is usually lower than your last net income — private provision helps to close this gap.
Occupational disability insurance protects against loss of income during your working life, while long-term care insurance covers the cost of care — regardless of age.
Yes, many clients combine occupational disability insurance, long-term care and pension provision into an individual package.
For some products, yes — we will gladly show you which tax advantages apply in your situation.
Yes, we will gladly check whether refinancing or follow-on financing on better terms is possible for you.
No, a first non-binding conversation also makes sense if you are just planning and want to know what is realistic.
Building society savings (Bausparen) combine saving with a later low-cost loan, while a classic loan is usually available immediately — the two can also be combined.
No, here too we advise free of charge and without obligation.
Yes. Credit brokerage is handled by our financial partners, who compare offers from different banks and building societies. We accompany you through the process and coordinate financing with insurance.
Gerhard Valenta founded the agency in Hollabrunn in 1998; since 2012 the office has been in Breitenwaida. Agnieszka Valenta has worked in the agency since 2014, took it over in 2018 and has run it as an independent insurance broker since 2019.
No, we look after clients from Lower Austria, Vienna and Burgenland — on site, by phone or, if needed, by video consultation. Advice is available in German, Polish, English, Serbian and Bosnian.
Our back-office team is available for day-to-day matters, so you will receive support quickly then too.
No, we are an independent brokerage and compare offers from 21 insurance companies for you.
The easiest way is via our contact form, by phone or by email — we will get back to you quickly.
No problem — just write or call, we will gladly answer you personally.
