Best Insurance Providers in Austria
Jules de Bruin
Expat in Vienna
Updated: April 24 2026
Updated April 2026 — Wiener Städtische leads Austria's insurance market as the flagship VIG brand, with the strongest local agent network in the country. VIG (Vienna Insurance Group) is the largest insurance holding in Central and Eastern Europe, with over 50 subsidiaries. DONAU Versicherung is VIG's Austrian retail arm, strong in car and home. UNIQA remains Austria's other major insurer with 7.5 million customers. Personal liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) costs EUR 60 to 150 per year, and statutory health insurance via ÖGK is automatic for employees at 3.87 percent of gross salary.
How Do You Choose an Insurance Provider in Austria?
Austria has a mature, highly regulated insurance market with over 100 licensed carriers. For expats, the key is matching your legal obligations and personal risks to the right mix of policies. Here are the steps to take:
- 1
Confirm your statutory health coverage first
If you are employed, your employer registers you with the ÖGK. Check your e-card arrives within 2 to 3 weeks. Self-employed residents register with SVS instead.
- 2
Compare quotes on Durchblicker.at or Check24.at
Both are independent Austrian comparison portals. Enter your details once and receive quotes from 20+ insurers side by side for liability, household, car, and legal cover.
- 3
Check the provider's financial strength and claims record
The FMA (Finanzmarktaufsicht) publishes solvency data for all Austrian insurers. UNIQA, VIG brands, and Generali all maintain strong A-range ratings.
- 4
Request an English-language policy document
Generali, Allianz, and UNIQA offer English policy documents on request. Smaller regional insurers typically only work in German, which can complicate claims.
- 5
Bundle policies for a 10 to 20 percent discount
Combining household (Haushalt), liability (Haftpflicht), and legal (Rechtsschutz) insurance with one provider typically saves 10 to 20 percent versus separate contracts.
What Types of Insurance Do Expats Need in Austria?
Some Austrian insurance types are legally mandatory, others are strongly recommended, and a few are optional. Here is how they break down:
- Health insurance (Krankenversicherung): Legally required. Automatic for employees via ÖGK. Self-employed register with SVS. Non-working residents need a private policy for their residence permit.
- Car insurance (Kfz-Haftpflicht): Legally required for all vehicles. Minimum third-party liability is EUR 7.6 million bodily injury + EUR 1.3 million property damage.
- Personal liability (Privat-Haftpflicht): Strongly recommended. Covers accidental damage you cause to others. Often bundled with household insurance.
- Household insurance (Haushaltsversicherung): Recommended. Covers theft, fire, water damage to your contents. Many landlords expect you to have it.
- Legal insurance (Rechtsschutzversicherung): Optional but popular. Covers lawyer fees and court costs. Common in Austria given an active litigation culture.
- Life insurance (Lebensversicherung): Optional. Relevant if you have dependents or a mortgage. Often used as a tax-advantaged savings vehicle.
Start with liability and household, add legal once settled
How Much Does Insurance Cost in Austria?
Typical Austrian insurance premiums for a single adult in Vienna, as of April 2026:
- Statutory health insurance (ÖGK): 3.87 percent of gross salary, deducted automatically.
- Private health insurance add-on (Zusatzversicherung): EUR 40 to 150 per month for private hospital room, specialist access, and shorter wait times.
- Personal liability (Haftpflicht): EUR 60 to 150 per year for EUR 5 million coverage.
- Household insurance (Haushalt): EUR 100 to 250 per year for a 70 m² Vienna apartment.
- Legal insurance (Rechtsschutz): EUR 180 to 400 per year depending on modules (traffic, rental, labour).
- Car insurance (Kfz-Haftpflicht): EUR 400 to 900 per year for a mid-size car, depending on engine power (motor-related tax is folded into the premium).
What affects your premium
- Location: Vienna and urban Salzburg cost more than rural Burgenland or Carinthia.
- Deductible (Selbstbehalt): Choosing a EUR 150 or EUR 300 deductible cuts premiums by 10 to 25 percent.
- Bundling: Bundling 2 or 3 policies with one insurer yields a 10 to 20 percent multi-policy discount.
- Cost of living: Insurance is around 2 to 3 percent of a typical Viennese expat budget. See our cost of living guide for the full breakdown.
Top 7 Best Insurance Providers in Austria
Based on market share, financial strength, expat-friendliness, and product range, these are the leading Austrian insurers in 2026.
1. Wiener Städtische
The flagship Austrian brand of Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) and the market leader in Austria. Wiener Städtische is known for its dense local agent network across all nine federal states, a full product range from health to property, and deep integration with the wider VIG group.
Best for: Clients who want Austria's market leader with a strong local agent in every federal state
Pros
- +Market leader in traditional Austrian insurance lines
- +Strongest local agent network in the country
- +Part of VIG with very strong solvency ratios
- +Wide bundle discounts across health, home, and car
Cons
- −Service is predominantly in German
- −Less digital-first than newer direct insurers
- −Agent pricing can vary versus online quotes
2. VIG (Vienna Insurance Group)
The listed parent holding of Wiener Städtische, DONAU, and more than 50 insurance companies across Central and Eastern Europe. VIG is the largest insurance group in CEE, offering group-level solvency, investor relations, and cross-border expertise through its local brands.
Best for: Clients and partners who want exposure to CEE's largest insurance holding through its local brands
Pros
- +Largest insurance group in Central and Eastern Europe
- +Portfolio of 50+ subsidiaries across 30 markets
- +Very strong group solvency and ATX listing
- +Access to local brands like Wiener Städtische and DONAU
Cons
- −Retail policies are sold through local VIG brands, not VIG directly
- −Corporate-level website, not a consumer portal
- −Claims handled by local subsidiary, not the holding
3. DONAU Versicherung
VIG's dedicated Austrian retail subsidiary, focused on domestic private and SME clients. DONAU is particularly strong in car and household insurance, with a nationwide agent network and competitive premiums backed by VIG group solvency.
Best for: Drivers and homeowners who want competitive pricing from a large VIG-backed Austrian insurer
Pros
- +Competitive car and household insurance premiums
- +Nationwide Austrian agent network
- +VIG-backed financial strength
- +Strong bundle discounts for multiple policies
Cons
- −Limited English-language customer service
- −Overlapping product range with Wiener Städtische
- −Digital tools less polished than larger direct insurers
4. Omniasig
VIG's Romanian subsidiary and one of Romania's leading non-life insurers. Omniasig serves both retail and corporate clients with motor, property, health, and liability cover, and is the natural choice for VIG clients with cross-border exposure to Romania.
Best for: Clients with business or property in Romania who want VIG-group coverage with local claims handling
Pros
- +Top-tier non-life insurer in the Romanian market
- +Backed by VIG group solvency and reinsurance
- +Strong motor and property lines for expats in Romania
- +Cross-border continuity for VIG group clients
Cons
- −Primarily relevant to Romania-based risks
- −Romanian-language policies and documents
- −Limited direct presence in Austria
5. Funk International Austria
The Austrian arm of Funk Gruppe, Europe's largest owner-managed industrial insurance broker. Funk does not underwrite policies itself but structures tailored industrial and commercial insurance programmes for SMEs and large corporates, negotiating with the full Austrian and international market.
Best for: Austrian SMEs and corporates who need a tailored industrial insurance programme across multiple carriers
Pros
- +Independent broker, not tied to a single insurer
- +Specialist in industrial, liability, and D&O programmes
- +Access to global Funk network across Europe
- +Strong risk management and claims advocacy
Cons
- −Focused on business and corporate clients, not consumers
- −Minimum programme size typical for SME and above
- −Not a retail insurer for individual expats
6. UNIQA
Austria's other major insurance group, serving 7.5 million customers across Central and Eastern Europe. UNIQA offers a broad product range, from statutory health add-ons to household, liability, car, life, and pension products, with a dense branch network in every federal state.
Best for: Clients who want a large non-VIG Austrian insurer with a full product catalogue
Pros
- +Large insurer in Austria with 7.5 million customers
- +Full product range, from health to life to property
- +English-language policy documents available on request
- +Solid digital claims portal and mobile app
Cons
- −Premiums can be higher than direct-only online insurers
- −Agent-led sales process means some upselling
- −Complex product catalogue takes time to navigate
7. Generali Austria
The Austrian arm of Italian insurance giant Generali, one of the largest insurers in Europe. Generali is popular with international clients in Vienna thanks to its English-language support, multi-country policies, and expat-friendly onboarding.
Best for: International clients and expats who want English-language service and cross-border continuity
Pros
- +Strong English-language customer support
- +Global Generali network with cross-border continuity
- +Solid digital tools and mobile claims app
- +Competitive premiums on household and liability
Cons
- −Smaller branch network than VIG brands or UNIQA
- −Some niche products sold through brokers only
- −Car insurance pricing less competitive for young drivers
Entity References
Full factual profiles for each brand covered on this page:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do expats need private insurance in Austria?
Expats employed in Austria are automatically enrolled in the statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) through ÖGK, which covers most medical needs. However, liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) and household insurance (Haushaltsversicherung) are strongly recommended but not legally required. Non-employed residents and students may need to arrange private health insurance to meet residence permit requirements. As of April 2026, basic private health coverage starts at around EUR 50 per month. See our health insurance guide for a full breakdown.
Which is the cheapest insurer in Austria?
Direct insurers like HanseMerkur and online-first brands often offer the lowest prices for basic liability and household coverage, with policies starting around EUR 60 to 80 per year for Haftpflichtversicherung. Among traditional insurers, DONAU and GRAWE tend to be competitive on price, while UNIQA and Wiener Städtische offer strong value through their large agent networks and bundled discounts. Always compare quotes on Durchblicker.at or Check24.at before signing.
Does Austrian health insurance cover expats?
Yes. Once you register your employment in Austria, you are automatically enrolled in the ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) through your employer. Coverage begins on your first day of work and includes GP visits, specialist care, hospital treatment, and prescription medication with small co-pays. EU citizens can also use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for short stays. As of April 2026, the employee contribution is 3.87 percent of gross salary.
Can you switch insurance providers in Austria?
Yes. Most Austrian insurance contracts run for one year and renew automatically. You must give written notice (Kündigung) at least 1 to 3 months before the renewal date, depending on the policy. You can also cancel within 14 days of signing (Rücktrittsrecht) or after a premium increase. Bundling home, liability, and legal insurance with one provider typically yields a 10 to 20 percent discount.
What does Haftpflichtversicherung cost?
Personal liability insurance (Privat-Haftpflichtversicherung) in Austria costs between EUR 60 and EUR 150 per year as of April 2026, depending on coverage limits and provider. Most policies include coverage up to EUR 5 million for bodily injury and property damage you accidentally cause to third parties. It is strongly recommended for all residents and often bundled with household insurance for a combined premium of EUR 150 to 300 per year.