Passenger accident insurance: useful or unnecessary?

1. Passenger accident insurance: what is it? 

Passenger accident insurance, also known as passenger insurance, is a voluntary supplementary insurance to third-party motor insurance, partial casco or full casco insurance. Passenger accident insurance covers injuries to drivers and passengers in the event of an accident. 

You can take out the insurance separately for drivers, front-seat passengers or all passengers in the car. Some insurance policies also cover injuries to pets travelling in the car.

2. What does passenger accident insurance cover? 

Passenger accident insurance usually covers the following expenses: 

• Medical expenses in case of hospitalisation 

• Daily allowances in the event of hospitalisation or incapacity for work

• Hospital benefits

• Payout of a lump sum in the event of death

• Payout of a lump sum in the event of disability

• Depending on the insurance policy, also outpatient treatment costs as well as medicines and medical aids 

• Depending on the insurance policy rescue and search operations

When taking out the insurance, you can choose the sum insured as well as the amount in the event of death and disability.

3. Is passenger accident insurance necessary in Switzerland? 

In many cases, it is not necessary to take out passenger accident insurance.

People living in Switzerland

In Switzerland, people who are resident must have accident cover, either taken out with their health insurer or provided by the employer through their health insurer or their employer. Swiss passengers are therefore adequately covered by accident insurance. However, with accident insurance through your health insurer, you must pay the deductible and coinsurance amounts. 

Even those who are in Switzerland with a Schengen visa must have health and accident insurance. In this case, no passenger accident insurance is necessary in this case. 

Travelling with business clients as passengers

Passenger accident insurance can be worth taking out in the context of company cars that often have customers as passengers. For example, if you would like to have your claims dealt with quickly. Passenger accident insurance pays out immediately after the claim is reported, without first clarifying the question of who is at fault. 

Foreign passengers

Do you often drive with foreign passengers in your car? Sometimes, people from outside Switzerland have no insurance at all or are inadequately insured. In this case, it may make sense to take out passenger accident insurance a good idea . 

4. Is passenger accident insurance a good idea when renting a car? 

Car hire companies usually sell insurance, which is added to the rental price. One of these additional insurance policies is often passenger accident cover. Whether the insurance is a good idea depends, among other things, on the following factors factors: 

• the country you are travelling to  

• any travel insurance: Some include passenger accident insurance. 

• your personal need for security 

So first check whether you and the other passengers are, if applicable, already insured This way, you avoid double costs.  

6. Frequently asked questions about passenger accident insurance