Dog, cat, golden hamster – in principle it is no problem to take your furry family member with you on vacation. However, good preparation and early information about entry regulations of the home or destination country are essential. In addition, you should always ask yourself whether the animal would not be more comfortable in a boarding kennel or with a pet sitter. The welfare of the animal should always your first priority.

Vacation and pet – is that possible?

Yes, in principle it is possible. Traveling with a pet is not an obstacle in most EU countries, and one can certainly be reconciled with the other. However, spontaneous trips are not advisable. Early planning and preparation is indispensable. How much preparation is actually needed depends on the desired travel destination. If one can reach its vacation country with the own vehicle, it requires less preparation, than if one would like to transport its domestic animal by airplane or with a ferry.

Cats and dogs travel quite easily in the EU if they are in possession of a “Pet Passport”. The animal passport is issued by the veterinarian after rabies vaccination has been completed. However, young animals up to the twelfth week of life cannot be vaccinated yet and the vaccination protection must be older than 21 days when leaving Switzerland. In addition to rabies vaccination protection, other country-specific requirements may apply. Great Britain, Ireland, Malta and Finland, for example, also require treatment against tapeworms. This must also have taken place within a specified period before departure and must be entered in the “Pet Passports” by the veterinarian.

Another mandatory requirement is the microchip or a readable tattoo with a code, which is also noted in the “Pet Passports”.

If you want to take your canary or rabbit with you on vacation, you will be confronted with other official hurdles. With these animals it depends on the respective country-specific regulations of the vacation destination. Outside the EU, these also apply to dogs and cats.

Both the owner and his furry friend can also expect a quarantine of several weeks if he wants to enter Australia, Canada or Asia, for example. At the latest now, an alternative solution as mentioned at the beginning is worth considering again.

Which means of transport?

Traveling by plane means stress for the pet. The longer the flight, the longer the pet is in a stressful situation. This is probably also the reason why animal welfare organizations advise against air travel with animals unless it involves a stay abroad of several months or even emigration. According to the animal welfare organization PETA, there are two other problems in addition to the great potential for stress.

In the cargo holds of airplanes – in which our pets also fly – only limited oxygen is available and temperature regulation is not possible.

The far less stressful means of transport is therefore by car or train. Here, pet owners can at least influence the oxygen supply and temperature themselves.

Always inform yourself in advance about the currently valid regulations.

In this blog you will find practical information about the international motor insurance card.

What is the international motor insurance card?

The international motor insurance card, also known as the “green card” because of its original colour, is a document that serves as proof of sufficient motor vehicle liability insurance cover in various European countries.

Where in Europe is the international motor insurance card valid?

The current member states can be found on the website of the National Insurance Office www.nbi-ngf.ch.

Is my number plate not enough proof of sufficient insurance cover?

Our neighbouring countries and many other European countries have signed the Multilateral Agreement. In these countries, your vehicle registration number is sufficient proof of valid insurance cover.

In the European countries that do not participate in the Multilateral Agreement, it is mandatory to carry the international motor insurance card.

How do I know which countries have “only” signed the Green Card Agreement and which have also signed the Multilateral Agreement?

This information can also be found on the website of the National Insurance Office www.nbi-ngf.ch.

I am travelling light – is a photo of my insurance card on my mobile phone enough?

No, the original international motor insurance card must be carried at all times. Except in the countries of the number plate agreement, here your vehicle number plate is generally sufficient as proof of sufficient insurance cover.

However, the insurance card is not only required in case of accidents. It often also facilitates entry into a country. If you are involved in an accident, the international insurance card will make it much easier to settle the claim and save you some trouble.

What do I do if I want to travel to a country that is not listed on the international motor insurance card?

In this case, it is advisable to take out border insurance when entering the country. Depending on the country, this may also be compulsory.

Where can I get the international motor insurance card?

You can obtain it from your motor vehicle liability insurer.

How long is the international motor insurance card valid?

Normally, the period of validity of the Green Card corresponds to the period of validity of your insurance contract. To be sure, check the validity date at the top left of your card.

I am travelling with my neighbour’s car – who must the international motor insurance card be issued to?

The insurance card is specific to the vehicle and not to the person. However, different rules may apply depending on the country. Find out in good time whether you are allowed to enter the country with a foreign car at all and whether you need written permission from the vehicle owner as proof that you are allowed to drive the car.

What should you do if you lose your card during your holiday or if you simply forget it at home?

Contact your insurer immediately. They will find a way to send you a new insurance card effortlessly and without complications.

XpertCenter wishes you happy holidays and accident-free driving!

This longing for faraway places, for discovering new and unknown things. The desire to travel to foreign countries and explore new cultures, but also to look forward to coming home again.

The travel-hungry among us didn’t get their money’s worth in the last two years. So, it’s all the better now that the borders are open again and the pandemic situation allows us to pack our bags and escape the daily grind.

Statistics show that holidays by car have increased sharply since the pandemic.

Following our blogpost in November 2021, in which we outlined what to do in the event of a road accident abroad, today we explain what to keep in mind when repairing a vehicle abroad.

If you are involved in a traffic accident abroad with your own vehicle, you can either repatriate it to Switzerland in an unrepaired condition or have it repaired abroad.

If you decide to have your vehicle repaired abroad, you need to know the following:

If repairs or other modifications are carried out abroad on a vehicle registered in Switzerland that exceed the value of CHF 300, these must be declared to the customs office.

For this purpose, you must present the repair invoice to both the foreign and the Swiss customs office. At the Swiss customs office, you must pay Swiss VAT of 7.7% on the repair costs. This will then be refunded to you by your insurer (depending on coverage and liability).

The foreign value added tax is therefore not due. Payment of the repair costs by your insurer is therefore always exclusive of foreign VAT (depending on coverage and liability).

It is important that you ask the foreign repairer for a detailed invoice showing the type, weight and value of the newly fitted spare parts, as well as the labour costs incurred.

Present the repair invoice at the border crossing without being asked; otherwise, you run the risk of paying a heavy fine.

The exact customs regulations can also be found on the back of your vehicle registration card.

We wish you a safe journey and a relaxing holiday!

The results are pleasing: Overall satisfaction has increased again in 2022. In all business units, customers are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” overall with XpertCenter.

Thanks to the lively participation of our customers, a representative picture emerges with valuable input and numerous suggestions.

These help us, as part of our continuous improvement process, to align our innovative products and services even more closely to customer needs and to maintain high quality.

The focus is on modernising IT systems and accelerating digitalisation for more efficient processes and an even easier exchange with customers and partners.

Results of the 2022 survey

XpertCenter would like to thank the participating customers for their partnership and successful cooperation.

It is hard to imagine the streets without them: the nimble and agile e-scooters

Laughed at only a few years ago, they are now used by people of all ages. Whether casual or in a business look with shirt and tie, everyone cuts a fine figure onboard the colourful scooters with electric drive.

Particularly popular are the rental e-scooters, which can be rented in many major European cities via a mobile app. This puts some pep in your city trip and saves you from aching feet in the evening.

But beware! The rules applicable in Switzerland are not necessarily the same in our neighbouring countries.

Here is an overview*:

*Note: This overview is for information purposes only. It does not claim to be complete, nor does it claim that the information presented is one hundred percent correct. Last updated: May 2022

With the acquisition of DEKRA Suisse, XpertCenter becomes number two for international claims handling of motor vehicle liability claims in Switzerland

DEKRA Suisse has decided to cease its operations in Switzerland at the end of April 2022. Thanks to its excellent reputation in the market, the DEKRA Group asked XpertCenter if it wanted to represent their foreign insurance partners in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

As of May 1st 2022, the operating business and the five employees will be integrated into the corporate structure of the Mobiliar subsidiary. The name DEKRA Suisse will disappear.

Strategic step in international claims

“This step corresponds perfectly with our strategy”, says Gilles Bezençon, Head of International Claims XpertCenter. In addition, XpertCenter will benefit from DEKRA’s extensive know-how and further expand its international network. “This will enable us to offer our customers even better solutions.”

International claims volume increases

The acquisition strengthens XpertCenter’s market position in Switzerland and Europe: XpertCenter thus becomes the number two in Switzerland for the international claims handling of motor vehicle liability claims (Green Card System and 4th Motor Vehicle Liability Directive). XpertCenter has been working for many years successfully with various partners on an international basis.