Dog Insurance Austria 2025: Requirements, Costs & Comparison

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Over 700,000 registered dogs live in Austria – and for their owners, insurance can be confusing. When is dog insurance mandatory? What does it cost? And is dog health insurance worth it? This guide answers all the important questions.

Dog Liability: Mandatory in Which States?

The most important point first: Dog liability insurance is legally required in 6 of 9 Austrian states.

State	Dog Liability	Fine for Violation
Vienna	Required	up to €7,000
Lower Austria	Required	up to €7,000
Upper Austria	Required	up to €7,000
Styria	Required	up to €7,000
Salzburg	Required	up to €7,000
Tyrol	Required	up to €7,000
Carinthia	Optional	—
Burgenland	Optional	—
Vorarlberg	Optional	—

Warning: Even in states without mandatory requirements, dog liability is highly recommended! As a dog owner, you are liable without limit for all damages your dog causes.

The Two Types of Dog Insurance

1. Dog Liability Insurance

Dog liability protects you from compensation claims when your dog:

• Injures people (e.g., bite injuries)
• Damages property (e.g., furniture, clothing)
• Causes accidents (e.g., startles a cyclist)

What's covered?

• ✅ Personal injury (treatment costs, pain compensation)
• ✅ Property damage (repair, replacement)
• ✅ Financial losses (e.g., lost wages)
• ✅ Rental property damage
• ✅ Passive legal protection (defense against unjustified claims)

Why is this so important?

An example: Your dog jumps at a cyclist. They fall, break their leg, and can't work for 3 months. The costs:

• Hospital stay: €5,000
• Rehabilitation: €8,000
• Pain compensation: €15,000
• Lost wages: €12,000
• Total: €40,000

Without insurance, you pay this out of pocket!

2. Dog Health Insurance

Dog health insurance covers veterinary costs:

Variants:

Plan	What's Covered?	Cost approx.
Surgery Only	Only surgeries	€150-300/year
Accident + Illness	Treatments after accident or for illness	€250-400/year
Full Coverage	Everything incl. preventive care	€400-700/year

What's typically covered?

• ✅ Vet visits and treatments
• ✅ Surgeries and aftercare
• ✅ Medications
• ✅ Diagnostics (X-ray, blood tests, etc.)
• ✅ Emergency treatments
• ⚠️ Preventive care (depending on plan)

Important: Pre-existing conditions are usually excluded. Therefore, get insurance as early as possible – ideally as a puppy!

Dog Insurance Costs

Premiums vary depending on breed, age, and chosen coverage:

Insurance Type	Cost per Year
Dog Liability Basic	€40 - €80
Dog Liability Premium	€80 - €150
Dog Health Surgery Only	€150 - €300
Dog Health Full Coverage	€300 - €600
Combo Package	€400 - €700

Savings Tip: By comparing, you can save up to €300 per year! Coverage and prices vary significantly between providers.

Listed Dogs: Special Rules

For so-called "listed dogs" (also called dangerous breeds), special regulations apply in many states:

Typical Requirements:

• Higher insurance premiums (often 2-3x)
• Proof of expertise (dog license)
• Special keeping permit
• Muzzle and leash requirements

Commonly Listed Breeds:

• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Bull Terrier
• Pitbull Terrier
• Rottweiler
• Dogo Argentino
• Tosa Inu

Note: Lists differ by state. Check with your municipality for exact regulations.

Does Household Insurance Cover Dogs?

Short answer: No, usually not!

Most household insurance policies in Austria explicitly exclude dogs. Some offer an extension, but:

• Often only liability, no health insurance
• Coverage limits often too low
• Listed dogs usually excluded

Our recommendation: Separate dog insurance offers better protection and is often cheaper than extensions.

What to Look For When Purchasing

For Dog Liability:

1. Coverage limit: At least €3 million combined
2. Rental property damage: Should be included
3. Puppies: Are they automatically covered?
4. Abroad: Does coverage apply on vacation?
5. No deductible for personal injury

For Dog Health Insurance:

1. Waiting period: Often 30 days after purchase
2. Maximum benefit: How much per year?
3. Deductible: 0%, 20%, or more?
4. Age limits: Usually accept up to 7-10 years old
5. Pre-existing conditions: Always excluded

Compare Now and Save

Austrian insurers' offerings differ significantly. Comparing is worthwhile!

Compare Dog Insurance

Conclusion

• Dog liability is mandatory in 6 states – and highly recommended even without requirement
• Costs are manageable: From €40/year for liability, from €150/year for health insurance
• Get covered early: Health insurance is most worthwhile for young dogs
• Comparing pays off: Up to €300 savings per year possible

Protect yourself and your four-legged friend – good dog insurance gives you the peace of mind you need.

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As of December 2025. All information without guarantee.