Coverage
Passenger insurance – useful protection or superfluous?
What is passenger insurance and what risks does it cover? When can it be useful? Comparis clarifies the most important questions.
11.04.2025
iStock/Cucurudza
1. Passenger insurance: simply explained
Passenger insurance, also known as passenger accident insurance, is an additional component of car liability insurance, partial casco or full casco insurance. Passenger insurance covers injuries to the driver and passengers in the event of an accident.
The insurance can be taken out separately for drivers, passengers or all occupants of the vehicle.
2. What costs does passenger accident insurance cover?
Passenger accident insurance usually covers:
Treatment costs for hospital stays in the semi-private or private ward
Daily allowances for hospital stays or incapacity for work
Payment of a specified amount in the event of death
Payment of a specified amount in the event of disability
When does passenger accident insurance pay out?
A benefit is paid immediately – regardless of who caused the accident. It is particularly useful if compensation from liability insurance is delayed or reduced.
However, the benefits in the event of a claim differ significantly depending on the insurer.A thorough comparison of car insurance policies is therefore advisable.
3. Do I need passenger accident insurance?
In many cases, it is not necessary to take out passenger accident insurance.
People living in Switzerland
through their health insurer or their employer insured against accidents. Swiss car occupants are therefore adequately covered by accident insurance. Anyone staying in Switzerland with a Schengen visa must have both health and accident insurance. Here no passenger accident insurance is necessary.
Business clients as passengers
Passenger accident insurance can be worthwhile for company cars used to transport customers, for example, if a quick claims settlement is required. Passenger accident insurance pays out immediately, without the need to clarify fault first.
Foreign passengers
Do you often have foreign passengers? Sometimes foreign nationals have no or only inadequate insurance. In this case, taking out passenger accident insurance can be useful.
4. Is passenger accident insurance useful for rental cars?
Rental car providers usually sell insurance in addition to the rental, which often includes passenger coverage. Whether the insurance is useful depends, among other things, on the country you are travelling to, any travel insurance you may have and your need for security. To find out who pays in the event of an accident abroad, read here.
5. Passenger insurance: costs
The premiums for passenger accident insurance can vary greatly depending on the provider, the insured amount and the scope of cover. It is therefore worth comparing offers – this way, you can see at a glance which offers the best value for money.
This article was first published on 11.08.2018
