In Austria, taking out dog liability insurance with a coverage amount of at least 725,000 euros is mandatory in almost all federal states. Dog owners who do not take out dog liability insurance face fines of 300 euros or more.
The Kurier reported on this back in 2015. However, many dog owners are still not sufficiently informed about this obligation. And even if they are: The use of technical insurance terms makes it almost impossible for laypeople to understand and compare contracts.
Various tests conducted in Germany, however, showed that only comparing several dog liability insurance policies protects against expensive mistakes. This also applies to Austria.
Without a comparison, dog owners therefore give away hundreds of euros over the years and could still not be optimally protected in an emergency.
To protect dog owners from this, we reveal the 3 most important aspects you must pay attention to when taking out dog liability insurance
These 3 points must be considered by dog owners when taking out dog liability insurance
Consider contract duration
Consumers usually have the choice between a term of 1, 3, 5, or 10 years. A longer contract duration usually results in a cheaper premium. However, dog owners are then tied for years and are therefore inflexible.
Here, every consumer must find a suitable middle ground for themselves.
Set the coverage amount appropriately
The coverage amount for dog liability insurance must be at least 725,000 euros. This is required by law.
As a rule of thumb, however: The coverage amount should be between 1 and 3 million euros. Otherwise, you are not sufficiently protected in the event of a claim.
With a higher coverage amount, however, the insurance premium also increases.
Keep the deductible as low as possible
In order not to have to pay large parts of the accident costs yourself in an emergency, the deductible should be kept as low as possible or, in the best case, excluded entirely.
Uncertainties regarding dog liability insurance: New website educates consumers
All information in this article comes from the new website hund-richtig-versichern.at. The site offers dog owners the opportunity to obtain comprehensive information about dog liability insurance.
Technical terms of insurance language are explained using practical examples. In addition, users learn how to properly report a claim and which damages are excluded from the insurance.
To avoid making a serious mistake, a step-by-step checklist for taking out a policy is also offered.
Users who feel sufficiently informed can then use the dog liability comparison calculator and take out a suitable dog liability insurance policy online.
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
Read also: Driving with a dog
